The Pliny Shipwreck
New York and New Jersey's (Wreck Valley)
Historical and current New York and New Jersey Shipwreck Information and images for scuba
divers and fisherman.
PLINY
DIRECTIONS: (Deal, Monmouth County)
Take the Garden State Parkway to Exit 105. Take Rt 36 until the
traffic circle. At the circle get on Rt 32, Wall St. Take Rt 32 to
Monmouth Rd and turn right. Turn left on Cedar Ave and take it to
the end. Turn right on Ocean Ave and head south. Turn right on
Phillips Ave and park. The wreck is located directly in front of
Deal Casino.
CONDITIONS:
The British cargo ship Pliny was built by Barrow Ship Builders
Company of England in 1878. She was 288.4 feet long, had a 33.3 foot
beam and displaced 1,671 gross tons. The Pliny was owned by
Liverpool, Brazil & River Plate Company and was powered by compound
inverted engines.
On April 22, 1882,the Pliny left Rio De Janeiro with a general cargo
of 20,000 bags of coffee,300 bales of hides, 21 passengers and 34
crew. On May 13, the schooner rigged vessel ran aground during a
fierce storm. The Lifesaving Service quickly assembled and rescued
all passengers and crew. Operations to remove the Pliny's cargo
continued until May 16th, when the Pliny broke in two. According to
diver and shipwreck historian, Bill Davis, "It was discovered later
that a passenger had $3,000 in gold coins locked up in the safe of
the captain's cabin. It is assumed that this safe was never
recovered."
The wreck now rests in ten to 25 feet of water, about 200 yards out,
directly in front of the Deal Casino Beach Club. According to diver,
Dan Lieb, the wreck is half buried in the sand and lies with her bow
pointing south. Her stern is covered in seaweed. Her rudder post
plus her propeller remain easily recognizable. Dan goes on to report
that her flywheel has spokes large enough to swim through. Although
the Pliny is not well known for recovering artifacts, in the bow of
the wreck divers can find brass spikes from her wooden decking. Bill
Schmoldt reports there is a five foot fluted anchor on the eastern
side of the wreck. Bill Davis reports that the north side of the
wreckage consists of a long propeller shaft held up off the sand by
steel and brass supports. Midships are her engine and other related
equipment. Diver, Howard Rothweiler reports that large black fish
inhabit this wreck, and in the past he has speared some in excess of
ten pounds.
Pliny Shipwreck. Courtesy Dan Berg New Jersey Beach Diver Collection.
Sketch of the Pliny Shipwreck. Sketch by Dan Lieb
Sketch of the Pliny wreck area. Courtesy Dan Berg New Jersey Beach Diver Collection.
Dan Berg navigates to the Pliny Shipwreck. Courtesy Dan Berg New Jersey Beach Diver Collection.
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DIRECTIONS: (Deal, Monmouth County)
The wreck now rests in ten to 25 feet of water, about 200 yards out,
directly in front of the Deal Casino Beach Club. According to diver,
Dan Lieb, the wreck is half buried in the sand and lies with her bow
pointing south. Her stern is covered in seaweed. Her rudder post
plus her propeller remain easily recognizable. Dan goes on to report
that her flywheel has spokes large enough to swim through. Although
the Pliny is not well known for recovering artifacts, in the bow of
the wreck divers can find brass spikes from her wooden decking. Bill
Schmoldt reports there is a five foot fluted anchor on the eastern
side of the wreck. Bill Davis reports that the north side of the
wreckage consists of a long propeller shaft held up off the sand by
steel and brass supports. Midships are her engine and other related
equipment. Diver, Howard Rothweiler reports that large black fish
inhabit this wreck, and in the past he has speared some in excess of
ten pounds.
