floridakeys.noaa.gov · Official
NOAA Shipwreck Trail page for City of Washington with location, history, and depth context.
City of Washington is Key Largo's classic shallow wreck.
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Boat-access shipwreck-trail site reached by Key Largo charters; no shore entry.
City of Washington is Key Largo's shallow Elbow Reef wreck, where a broken steamship hull, exterior-only exploration, and fish-packed rubble make it a classic shipwreck-trail dive.
Conservative baseline from public research. No community dives logged yet.
Depth range, seasonality, and planning context.
Reported Depth
6.1m - 9.8m
Depth Note
Wreck is generally reported at 20-32 ft, with the lower hull and keel visible around 25 ft.
Best Season
year-round
Typical Conditions
Shallow wreck diving with usually mild currents, decent structure reading, and occasional crowding on calm boat days.
Hazards, restrictions, and access requirements.
Key Hazards
Safety Notes
Keep buoyancy tight around the wreck, avoid entering the structure, and stay alert for boat traffic on the trail.
Access Restrictions
Exterior exploration only; do not enter the wreck structure.
Legal Notes
Shipwreck Trail wreck with exterior-only viewing expectations; follow sanctuary and operator rules for wreck etiquette.
Community notes to help plan your visit.
Scuba Diving
Open-water wreck dive with a manageable profile and exterior-only exploration; ideal when you want structure and fish rather than deep penetration.
Freediving
Not a primary freedive site; the wreck is better suited to scuba than to routine breath-hold exploration.
Snorkeling
Some operators treat the shallow wreck outline as snorkel-friendly in calm water, but scuba gives the better read on hull details.
Use the planner to scan this week, inspect today in local time, and understand how exposure shapes conditions at City Of Washington.
Directional shelter context for incoming swell.
Community dive logs and visit reports for this site.
No Dive Logs Yet
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Average conditions based on logged dives & visits.
Planning answers for access, conditions, timing, and site logistics.
Last Updated
Research Sources
NOAA Shipwreck Trail page for City of Washington with location, history, and depth context.
Indiana University research page with site depth, current, and biological community details.
Florida Scuba Diving guide with wreck history, depth, and marine-life observations.
Operator page with site depth, popularity, snorkel/night-dive notes, and marine-life context.
Key Largo wreck overview citing shallow depth and training-site usefulness for City of Washington.
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