Marathon & the Middle Keys · United States · Wreck · Artificial reef
Thunderbolt
An upright, intact mine planter with resident goliath grouper
The Thunderbolt is a 57 m (188 ft) former US Army mine planter scuttled south of Marathon in 1986 as an artificial reef. It sits upright and nearly intact on a sand bottom in 37 m (120 ft), and it is the deep wreck dive off Marathon, with resident goliath grouper on the hull.
Also known as Thunderbolt Wreck, Major General Wallace F. Randolph.
Where it is and how deep
24.6611° N, 81.1031° WPublished position for this site.
The dive
Divers follow the permanent buoy line down to a hull that stands upright and nearly complete on sand at 37 m (120 ft). Visibility usually runs 15 to 30 m (50 to 100 ft), so much of the ship shows on the descent. Resident goliath grouper hold close to the wreck alongside barracuda, jacks, snapper and permit, with the odd black grouper and reef shark passing through.
The wreck
- Vessel
- Major General Wallace F. Randolph
- Type
- US Army mine planter
- Length
- 57 m (187 ft)
- Sunk
- 1986
- Cause
- Donated to the Florida Keys Artificial Reef Association and scuttled as an artificial reef
- Lies
- Upright and nearly intact on sand in 37 m (120 ft), 4 nautical miles south of Marathon and Key Colony Beach
The Thunderbolt began life as the Major General Wallace F. Randolph, a 57 m (188 ft) mine planter. After its service years the ship was donated to the Florida Keys Artificial Reef Association, which scuttled it 4 nautical miles (7.4 km) south of Marathon and Key Colony Beach on 6 March 1986. In the decades since, the hull has gathered fish and coral and become one of the most recognisable wrecks in the Florida Keys.
Marine life and season
- Groupers
- Barracuda
- Trevally & jacks
- Reef sharks
| Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Fair | Fair | Fair | Prime | Good | Good | Good | Good | Good | Good | Fair | Fair |
Season follows Marathon & the Middle Keys: April pairs the calmer April-October weather with the good visibility of the cooler December-April months; November-March is windier, and May-September is hurricane season.
Know before you go
- A light current is usually running, and it can become considerable, which with the depth makes this an advanced dive.
Dive videos
MASSIVE Grouper at the USS Thunderbolt Wreck in Marathon, FL with Captain Hook's - 4K · The Dive Planner on YouTube
Questions divers ask
Can a newly certified diver join the Thunderbolt dive?+
Advanced certification is encouraged, and a log showing earlier deep dives matters more, because the wreck sits at 37 m. Divers must be at least 15 years old.
Sources
- Thunderbolt Wreck — Captain Hook's Marina and Dive Center
- Dive Trips — Tilden's Scuba Center
- USAMP Major General Wallace F. Randolph — Wikipedia
More dive sites in Marathon & the Middle Keys
Reef
Six separate patch reefs to roam inside one preservation area
Coral spurs and sand grooves at the foot of the Sombrero Key Lighthouse
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