Reefwander

Clearwater, Dunedin & Tarpon Springs · United States · Artificial reef

Betty Rose

An intact 23 m barge, also known as Mecco’s Barge

The Betty Rose, also called Mecco’s Barge, is a 23 m (75 ft) barge resting intact in 14 m (45 ft) of water, about 18 km (11 miles) from John’s Pass. The barge is small enough to circle in a single dive. Its modest depth and intact shape make it a manageable first look at a sunken hull.

Also known as Mecco’s Barge.

Where it is and how deep

Depth profile of Betty Rose: typical dive to 14 m (to 46 ft) 18 m · Open Water30 m · Advanced40 m · Recreational limit14 mtypical dive
Depths on a shared scale to 40 m (130 ft); dashed lines mark common certification limits.

27.7101° N, 82.9711° WApproximate position — the dashed circle shows where the site lies; your operator's briefing has the mooring.

The dive

The Betty Rose, also called Mecco’s Barge, rests intact on the bottom in 14 m (45 ft) of water, about 18 km (11 miles) from John’s Pass. Divers descend onto a barge 23 m (75 ft) long, a compact enough target that the whole hull can be covered on a single tank, and because it is intact its outline stays easy to follow from end to end.

A circuit around the outside of the barge stays at the depth of the surrounding bottom, 14 m (45 ft), for the whole dive. At that depth there is plenty of no-stop time for a slow look along both sides and the ends of the hull before divers return to the ascent line and head back up to the boat.

Marine life and season

The sources we used don't single out particular species here.

Month-by-month season rating for Betty Rose
JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec
GoodGoodGoodGoodGoodFairFairFairFairGoodGoodGood

Season follows Clearwater, Dunedin & Tarpon Springs: No month stands out. The water is coolest in January at about 18 °C and warmest in August at about 30 °C; June-September is the wet season.

Dive videos

Hogfish hogfish tampa , st pete betty rose wreck Diver Casey · ADC - Professional Underwater Services on YouTube

Questions divers ask

How deep is the Betty Rose barge?+

The Betty Rose, also called Mecco’s Barge, rests intact in 14 m (45 ft) of water.

Sources

  1. Betty Rose — Scubago

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