The Manasquan Shipwreck New York and New Jersey's (Wreck Valley)

The Manasquan 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.

MANASQUAN WRECK

DIRECTIONS: (Manasquan, Monmouth County)
Take the Garden State Parkway to Exit 98. Take Rt 34 South, you will pass straight through two traffic circles. After the second circle get on Rt 35 South. Turn left onto Union Ave, then right onto Fisk Ave. Fisk will turn into Brielle Rd. Stay on Brielle Rd to the end and turn right onto First Ave. The wreck is located just south of Pompano Ave.

CONDITIONS:
The Manasquan Wreck sits in 30 feet of water and lies 300 yards offshore and 1,000 feet north of Manasquan Inlet. She appears to be the remains of an old English sailing ship. Her stern is facing shore and its very easy to miss the wreck when trying to navigate to her from the beach. The stern section is about 30 feet long. Dan Lieb reports that loads of artifacts are found on this site.

This wreck is rumored to be the privateer Thistle, which was sunk in 1813. Due to the assortment of artifacts found here, she is also nick-named the Rickel Wreck, after the chain of hardware stores. Diver Frank Litter who explored this wreck back in the early 1960's tolled me that divers also used to call it the Hardware Wreck or Barrel Wreck. Frank went on to say that he had recovered some pewter spoons from one of her cargo barrels labeled "T. Hill" which is a British manufacturer. The spoons were made for only one year 1846 to 1847. The dates on Frank's spoons would seem to rule out the possibilities of this wreck actually being the Thistle. I have heard various rumors of a cannon located in the area of the wreck, which may indicate upon investigation that the Thistle is located close by. My friend Bill Schmoldt who also does not think that this wreck is the Thistle says he knows of at least one diver who has found a cannon ball near the wreck. Bill believes that the Manasquan Wreck may be the remains of the Elizabeth or, the San Juan. Another diver Dave Schwartzman, lifted one of the barrels from the wreck and found it to contain hoe heads for farming. Other artifacts recovered include knife handles, draw handles, disassembled flintlocks, silver bells, brass pots, buttons, chains, wire, buckles and pewter. This wreck is better to dive from a boat but many do choose to make the swim from the beach.

Products by Capt. Dan ORDER FORM

Shipwreck Expo Free Newsletter
Sign up for our free e-mail shipwreck, diving and Treasure Hunting newsletter. Capt. Dan Berg has designed this e-mail service for all wreck divers, maritime historians and treasure hunters.