floridakeys.noaa.gov · Official
NOAA shipwreck-trail page for the Benwood Wreck.
Dive Spot Guide•
SS Benwood (Wreck)
Shallow Key Largo wreck dive off French Reef
Boat-access wreck in the Florida Keys with moderate current, good visibility, and a beginner-friendly profile for wreck and night dives.
About SS Benwood (Wreck)
SS Benwood is a shallow Key Largo wreck dive on a WWII-era freighter that now sits as an artificial reef between French Reef and Dixie Shoals. It is an easy boat dive with broad visibility, gentle to moderate current, and a turtle-and-parrotfish wreck profile that works well for beginners, night dives, and relaxed recreational wreck days.
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Research Estimate At SS Benwood (Wreck)
Conservative baseline from public research. No community dives logged yet.
VisibilityVisibility: 25m
AccessSimple entry
CoralHealthy coral
Aquatic LifeGreat variety
FacilitiesGood facilities
Crowd / PopularityQuite busy
CurrentModerate current
SurgeLight surge
Where Is SS Benwood (Wreck)?
This spotNearby spotsExplore nearby spots on the map
Community sourced coordinates.
SS Benwood (Wreck) Planning Details
Depth range, seasonality, and planning context.
Reported Depth
7m - 14m
Depth Note
The Benwood lies in roughly 25-45 ft (about 7.5-14 m) of water between French Reef and Dixie Shoals.
Best Season
Year-round
Typical Conditions
Open-water wreck conditions with light-to-medium current and generally good visibility.
Safety & Access At SS Benwood (Wreck)
Hazards, restrictions, and access requirements.
Key Hazards
Boat trafficStrong current
Safety Notes
Watch current on the open-water approach and keep good buoyancy around the broken hull and sandy edges.
Access Restrictions
Boat access only; plan on a guided wreck charter and stay within the site briefing.
Legal Notes
The wreck is a protected resource inside the Florida Keys National Marine Sanctuary.
Local Intel For SS Benwood (Wreck)
Community notes to help plan your visit.
Scuba Diving
Popular wreck diving with enough structure for careful exploration and night dives.
Freediving
Not a freedive-first site; the wreck profile and open-water conditions make scuba the better fit.
Snorkeling
The shallow wreck profile makes calm-water snorkeling possible, though the site is best explored by scuba.
Wildlife at SS Benwood (Wreck)
Species commonly reported at this site, with direct links into their wildlife guides.
Recent Logged Visits At SS Benwood (Wreck)
Community dive logs and visit reports for this site.
Dive Spot Log Averages At SS Benwood (Wreck)
Average conditions based on logged dives & visits.
Conditions
Avg. Visibility25m
Activity
No dive activity logged yet.
