The coast of Connecticut is a beautiful, tranquil place along the shores of Long Island Sound. Before, and sometimes after, the many lighthouses were installed, ships frequently sunk along the reefs, ledges and points that that extend from the mainland. Long Island Sound, which separates the state of Connecticut from Long Island, New York, is the final resting place for many ships. Diving Connecticut’s wrecks could be a full time job, if you wanted it to be! Here are some of the all-time favorite shipwrecks of the Connecticut shore.
Chinese Schooner - Connecticut Dive Sites
The so-called “Chinese Schooner” is in about 65 feet of water off Bridgeport. Her history is basically unknown, as no one has discovered any identifying information, such as a bell, yet. While the location of this wreck is carefully guarded, some local charters do know where it is, and they can get you there.
The remains of this schooner include wooden ribs and a debris field that extends for about thirty feet. She regularly yields porcelain artifacts, including teacups and saucers – many of them completely intact! If you make it to the schooner, use caution, since mud and silt limit visibility.
Poling Bros #2 - Connecticut Dive Sites
The Poling Bros #2, a small tanker built in 1863 at Renfrew, Scotland, now lies in approximately 68 feet of water in Long Island Sound, about 1 ½ miles south of Great Captain Island, just off Bridgeport. On the freezing cold date of February 7, 1940, the boat was enroute to Cos Cob from New York, when she struck ice. Everyone on board made it into lifeboats before she sank.
Today, Poling Bros #2 sits upright. Her iron over wood construction is incredible to see, and at 116 feet long by twenty three feet wide, this wreck is fairly impressive. Area charters recommend diving this wreck at slack tide, since there is normally a current at other times. Visibility can be poor, and penetration is not recommended.
Gwendolyn Steers - Connecticut Dive Sites
The Gwendolyn Steers, a tugboat that was manufactured in 1899 at Jersey City, NJ, maneuvered through Long Island Sound for over sixty years before finally succumbing to heavy seas and howling sixty mile an hour winds on December 30, 1962. Nine crew members lost their lives in the tragic accident, and the Gwendolyn Steers now rests in 55 feet of water outside the entrance to Huntington Harbor. A single lifeboat containing the frozen body of one crewman was found washed ashore the next day, and just a few days later, two more bodies were found. The other six remained unaccounted for.
The tug sits upright on the bottom of the sound, and while visibility is often poor, she is almost completely intact, and in excellent condition.
USS G-2 - Connecticut Dive Sites
Three men lost their lives when the USS G-2, a United States Navy submarine, accidentally sunk in a 1915 Navy experiment gone afoul. Built in 1912 at Bridgeport, CT, she now rests in 65 feet of water, in Twotree Island Channel, off Waterford, CT.
Although the submarine has been salvaged, she is still mostly intact. Strong currents pull along her 161 foot length, and at a slender thirteen feet across, this steel-hulled ship is an intriguing sight, and a chilling testament to the power of the sea.
Diving these, and the many other Connecticut shipwrecks is a real adventure, and like every other underwater adventure, wreck diving can be treacherous. Be sure to choose a charter company with a solid track record, knowledgeable crew, and cautious dive masters. You will be able to get to the sites you want to see safely, and you will enjoy yourself more, knowing that you’re in good hands.