The Bannister Creek Barge Shipwreck
New York and New Jersey's (Wreck Valley)
Historical and current New York ands New jersey Shipwreck Information and images for scuba
divers and fisherman.
BANNISTER CREEK BARGE
DIRECTIONS: (Atlantic Beach, Nassau County)
Take Sunrise Highway into the town of Lynbrook; turn south onto
Broadway and continue. Broadway will change into Empire Avenue.
Drive south. Turn left onto Seagrit Boulevard then before going over
the Atlantic Beach Bridge turn onto the dirt lot on the east side.
Parking here is usually not a problem.
Note: It is recommended to use a small boat or raft while
crossing Bannister Creek.
CONDITIONS:
The Bannister Creek Barge, rumored to be an old abandoned fire works
barge, is located at the mouth of a side creek on the east side on
Bannister Creek. The Barge is only partially submerged and can be
easily located. The only down side or hazard to diving this site is
the boat traffic when crossing Bannister Creek. Because the crossing
is usually done close to the mouth, near Reynolds Channel, boats
have very little time after turning into the creek to see and avoid
divers. This is why it is highly recommended to use a small boat to
cross this creek. Once at the barge divers will find an intact wood
barge sitting on a sand and silt bottom. The Barge rests on a
30degree angle. Divers do not have to be concerned with currents in
this side creek but should schedule their dive around high tide to
assure the greatest possible visibility.
Penetration into the barge is possible through a square deck hatch
on the west side of its deck. Once inside divers will find a maze of
cross beams along with a lot of silt. I have only been inside this
barge a few times and there was truly nothing inside worth seeing.
The only aquatic life thriving here were the largest bay eels I have
ever seen. The exterior of the barge is covered with growth and is a
good place to take macro photographs.
(Please Note: The above listed conditions do not currently apply to
this sight. During the 1992 Nor Easter this entire cove filled in.
The Barge is now completely covered with sand. The cove which had
been 20 feet deep in spots is now 2-3 feet deep.)
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DIRECTIONS: (Atlantic Beach, Nassau County)