Fort Myers & Sanibel · United States · Artificial reef
Boxcar Reef
Train boxcars sunk as a reef in 22 m off Boca Grande
Several train boxcars sunk in the late 1980s to create an artificial reef, now sitting in 22 m (72 feet) of water 32 km (20 miles) off the coast of Boca Grande. At that depth it sits between the shallow Edison Reef and the deep offshore wrecks such as the Mohawk.
Where it is and how deep
26.6972° N, 82.6011° WPublished position for this site.
The dive
The boxcars sit in 22 m (72 feet) of water 32 km (20 miles) off the coast of Boca Grande, so the day starts with a long boat ride out into the Gulf of Mexico. The descent goes down to the bottom, where several train boxcars were placed to form the reef.
The dive is a tour of the boxcars on the seabed. The cars were placed here in the late 1980s to create an artificial reef and have lain on the bottom ever since. At 22 m (72 feet) the bottom time is moderate, and the dive ends with a return to the line and the ascent to the boat.
Marine life and season
The sources we used don't single out particular species here.
| Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Fair | Fair | Fair | Fair | Fair | Fair | Fair | Fair | Fair | Fair | Fair | Fair |
Season follows Fort Myers & Sanibel: Diving runs all year; no month stands out. January has the coolest water, near 19 C, and the summer peak reaches about 30 C.
Questions divers ask
How deep is Boxcar Reef off Boca Grande?+
The boxcars sit in 22 m (72 feet) of water, 32 km (20 miles) off the coast of Boca Grande in the Gulf of Mexico.
Sources
- Dive Charters - Island Coast Excursions — Island Coast Excursions
- FWC Artificial Reef Locations in Florida (deployment records) — Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission
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