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South County Reef notes on buoy placement and reef life.
Dive Spot Guide•
Tug Orange (Wreck)
Boat-accessible artificial-reef tug with classic Gulf fish life.
Local operator required
A charter or local boat with reef familiarity is the practical way to run this site.
Tug Orange is an upright South County Reef wreck off St. Petersburg, reached by boat and known for reef fish, rays, and calm-weather wreck diving.
About Tug Orange (Wreck)
An 80-foot steel-hulled harbor tug built in 1903, Tug Orange now rests upright on South County Reef as a recreational artificial-reef wreck dive in the Tampa Bay area. Divers plan it as a boat-only site with open-water descents, moderate relief around the hull, and enough structure to make a straightforward wreck profile while still rewarding careful buoyancy and a calm weather window. The site draws reef fish, rays, barracuda, and other Gulf species around the hull and surrounding rubble.
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Research Estimate At Tug Orange (Wreck)
Conservative baseline from public research. No community dives logged yet.
VisibilityVisibility: 9m
AccessModerate entry effort
Aquatic LifeGreat variety
FacilitiesBasic facilities
Where Is Tug Orange (Wreck)?
This spotNearby spotsExplore nearby spots on the map
Community sourced coordinates.
Tug Orange (Wreck) Planning Details
Depth range, seasonality, and planning context.
Reported Depth
14m - 24m
Depth Note
Published site summaries place Tug Orange upright in about 45 ft of water, with average depth around 50 ft and a maximum depth around 80 ft.
Best Season
Year-round; calm Gulf weather windows are best.
Typical Conditions
Open-water wreck conditions with variable visibility, moderate surface chop on active days, and the best dives on calm weather windows.
Safety & Access At Tug Orange (Wreck)
Hazards, restrictions, and access requirements.
Key Hazards
Boat trafficWaves
Safety Notes
Keep a sharp lookout for boat traffic, use a visible diver-down flag, and choose calm weather windows when possible.
Access Restrictions
No practical shore access; plan for boat-only entry and surface support.
Legal Notes
Florida diver-down rules apply in open water: display a proper flag or buoy and keep boats at idle speed within 300 feet. Divers should stay within the flag radius as well.
Local Intel For Tug Orange (Wreck)
Community notes to help plan your visit.
Scuba Diving
An upright wreck in relatively shallow water, suitable for recreational scuba dives.
Freediving
Not a standard freedive target; scuba is the better fit, with breath-hold diving only for experienced divers in calm conditions.
Snorkeling
Snorkeling is mostly surface viewing around the boat or marker; the wreck itself sits below normal snorkel range.
Wildlife at Tug Orange (Wreck)
Species commonly reported at this site, with direct links into their wildlife guides.
Recent Logged Visits At Tug Orange (Wreck)
Community dive logs and visit reports for this site.
Dive Spot Log Averages At Tug Orange (Wreck)
Average conditions based on logged dives & visits.
Conditions
Avg. Visibility9m
Activity
No dive activity logged yet.
