Shipwrecks
of Monomoy Island This is the place to get both maritime historical and dive site information about the
ships that that went down off the coast od Cape Cod. The ones near Monomoy Island are the
most accessible, and they are the focus of this page.
Located at the elbow of Cape Cod, Monomoy Island (Massachusetts) is home to a widely
varied and abundant wildlife population. To learn more about the amphibians, birds, fish,
mamals, and reptiles of the Cape Cod National Seashore, check out the on-line National
Park Fauna database (National Park Service and National Biological Survey). For further
information about the NPF database, contact: Dr. James F. Quinn, Division of Environmental
Studies, University of California, Davis, CA 95616; phone (916) 752-1768; FAX (916)
752-3350.
Vanderbilt's Luxury Yacht ALVA Fog played a key roll in the fate of two vessels. One, a luxury yacht, was bound from Bar Harbor, Maine to Newport, Rhode Island. The other was an American-built steamship making one of its numerous trips between New York and Boston. They would meet off Cape Cod, but one would not complete its journey.
Joy Line Steamer ARANSAS Probably the best artifact dive in Cape Cod waters.... but she's hard to find.
Steamer HORATIO HALL In 1892, the Metropolitan Line's H. F. Dimock sank William K. Vanderbilt's luxury yacht Alva. Seventeen years later, the Dimock sank another ship, the Horatio Hall, at almost the same location in Pollock Rip Channel. That narrow passage was part of the main New York to Boston shipping route, running Easterly from the Southern tip of Monomoy Island at the elbow of Cape Cod. This is the story of the Hall's demise.
T-2 Tanker PENDLETON No matter what your dive objective, you will have ample time at a maximum depth of about 35'. This dive site offers visibility that generally exceeds 20'. Relatively warm Summer water temperatures often reach into the low 70's. Be aware of the moderate to strong currents during tide changes and dive only around the time of slack water. Her remains now offer some of the best lobster habitat to be found in this region.
Got any interesting stories about the shipwrecks of Monomoy Island? Pass them along and we'll post them for all to enjoy. Send your stories to Metrowest Dive Club
This Page was Last Updated 07/04/02