Eagle Wreck

Dutch built coastal freighter scuttled in 1985 off Lower Matecumbe Key, Islamorada's signature wreck dive and one of the four hulls on the Florida Keys Wreck Trek. Hurricane Georges snapped the 287 ft hull in two in 1998 — the bow and stern now lie about 100 ft apart on a sandy bottom, listing to starboard. Mast tops climb to 22 m, deck rails sit at 24 m, propeller and rudder rest at 33 m. Resident goliath grouper claim the cargo holds and machinery spaces; great barracuda hang motionless off the kingposts; tarpon, amberjack, jacks, and dense bait clouds drift through the gap between the two halves. Gulf Stream eddies push moderate current most days. Wreck certification is needed for hold penetrations.