ShipwreckExpo
 

The Army Tanks (artificial Reef) 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.
 
 
 

 Capt. Dan Berg's Wreck Valley Collection   

 
 
   Reef-Ex is a joint military operation that was designed to provide obsolete war tanks and vehicles for reef construction. In 1985 the program successfully deployed 58 vehicles, including Sheridan tanks of NJ in addition 34 vietnam-era tanks were deployed as artificial reefs on the sandy ocean floor off Long Island, NY and New Jersey.

       (REEFEX) is a joint Department of Defense program benefiting the military as well as America's coastal economies. Under REEFEX obsolete combat armament such as M-60 and M-48 tanks and M-113 armored personnel carriers are submerged as artificial reefs, attracting sea life and increasing commercial and recreational fishing and scuba diving opportunities. Before any of the vehicles could be used to construct the reefs, Reserve component soldiers and sailors drain all fluids and remove components such as the engines, transmissions and hydraulic systems. This way the vehicles will not pollute or cause any damage to the environment they are now deployed to aid.

       Steve Heins of New York's DEC worked with the Army under REEFEX to obtain 34 vehicles for local Long Island reefs. His year long project was successful when on September 18th 1 M-60 and 4 M-551 tanks were pushed off a barge onto the Shinnecock reef site. A few hours latter 3 M-60s and 5 M-551's splashed into the water onto the Moriches reef site. Due to sever weather the balance of the tanks deployment was delayed. On August 25 qty 2 M-551 tanks and 5 M-113 armored personnel carriers were pushed into the sea on Fire Islands Reef. The Navy barge then steamed west and pushed 2 M-551's and 5 M-113 onto the Jones Beach reef and 1 M-551 and 5 M-113's onto the Atlantic Beach reef site. Divers have already visited the new underwater attraction at the Fire Island site and report the tanks sitting upright and within easy swimming distance of each other. The entire project was filmed and will air as an episode of Dan Berg's DIVE WRECK VALLEY television series, which airs on Sports Channel cable network.

 Bill Figley of New Jerseys division of Fish & Game has also obtained surplus army tanks for its artificial reef program. To date many of these tanks have been sunk just off Manasquan Inlet.

Underwater Photo by Herb Segars: An M60 Army tank on the Axel Artificial Reef off Bayhead, New Jersey, USA. The M60 Patton main battle tank is now primarily found in US Reserve and National Guard units, but served as the primary US main battle tank for two decades prior to the introduction of the M1. Developed from the M48 Patton series, the M60 was fitted with a 105mm main gun and manned by a four-man crew. Criticized for its high profile and limited cross-country mobility, this durable tank proved reliable and underwent many updates over its service life. Initially produced in 1960, over 15,000 M60s were built by Chrysler and first saw service in 1961. Production ended in 1983, but 5,400 older models were converted to the M60A3 variant ending in 1990.

Army Tanks artifical reef. Photo by Dan Berg

Side Scan sonar image of the tanks on the bottom. Jones Beach artifical reef site. Image by Capt. Dan Berg

Army Tanks artifical reef. Photo by Dan Berg

Side Scan sonar image of the tanks on the bottom. Jones Beach artifical reef site. Image by Capt. Dan Berg

Army Tanks artifical reef. Photo by Dan Berg

 

How to SHIPWRECK DIVING Guide By Capt Dan Berg 

The Shipwreck Diving E-Book  Instant Downloadable E-Book 

Shipwreck Diving, by Capt. Dan Berg is a complete how to book about the sport of wreck diving. This book is packed with information and heavily illustrated with over 80 sensational color photographs.

 
 
 

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WRECK VALLEY III
By Capt. Dan Berg

The most comprehensive, accurate, illustrated collection of information, photographs, sketches and stories ever written about the shipwrecks that lie off Long Island, New York and New Jersey.

Soft cover, 8x10", 188 pages
printed in full color. $39.95 +P&H

The original Wreck Valley book was published back in 1986. At the time it was not only the first but the only book for area divers that detailed local shipwreck history and dive conditions. Capt. Dan's 2nd edition was printed in 1990 and became the most popular of his shipwreck publications. Wreck Valley III  is a completely new update, expanded and enhanced edition of the Wreck Valley books. Wreck Valley's 3rd edition covers the history, legend, present condition, aquatic life, and pertinent dive information on over 140 shipwrecks. This text includes over 550 illustrations, comprised of over 400 color photographs, 111 black and white historical photographs, 35 sketches, 20 side scan sonar images and nine 3D underwater shipwreck illustrations. Capt. Dan completely changed the books format and design to accommodate all of the research and images collected in 30 years of local shipwreck diving. The collection of historical photographs alone would take years of archive research to locate and would cost a small fortune if purchased separately. Many of these rare images have never before been published. Wreck Valley III includes a GPS list of accurate artificial reef and shipwreck locations. Divers, fisherman, marine historians, armchair sailors or anyone with a general interest in history, diving or the sea will surely find this book informative, fascinating, and the perfect addition to their library.
 

 WRECK VALLEY III   Sample Pages

 
     
 
     

 

 

WRECK VALLEY III
By Capt. Dan Berg
Get your autographed copy of Capt. Dan's new book today.
only $34.95 + 4.95 (priority mail)

 

 

 

 

***Also available as instant Downloadable ebook***
Only $16.95 -for ebook version

  
15.9 MB instant download, printable  PDF file

 

Check out Capt. Dan's instant downloadable eBooks
and shipwreck sketches.

 

 
 
WRECK VALLEY Vol II  ebook
A Record of Shipwrecks off Long Island's South Shore and New Jersey.

NOTE: The 2nd edition is out of print but has now been made available as an instant download ebook.

Buy Now   only $9.95
12.3MB instant download, printable  PDF file

This is the most comprehensive, accurate, illustrated collection of information, photographs, sketches and stories ever written about the wrecks that lie off the Long Island, New York, and New Jersey shores. This ebook is a completely new updated, expanded and enhanced edition of Daniel Berg's original Wreck Valley book. Wreck Valley Vol II covers the history, legend, present condition, aquatic life and pertinent dive information on over 90 shipwrecks. This text includes over 265 illustrations comprised of 137 color photographs, 97 black and white historical images, 32 sketches, plus one map. The collection of historical photographs alone would take years of archive research to locate and would cost a small fortune if purchased separately. Many of these rare photographs have never before been published. Divers, fisherman, marine historians, armchair sailors or anyone with a general interest in history, diving or the sea will surely find this ebook informative, fascinating and the perfect addition to their library.  

 
Check out Capt. Dan's other shipwreck and Diving eBooks

 

 

 
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2745 Cheshire Dr
Baldwin NY 11510
E-Mail Wreckvalle@aol.com

   


  
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