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Dive the Stolt Dagali Wreck New Jersey

Dive the Stolt Dagali Wreck New Jersey

Written by Nevin
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Published on October 6, 2009

Lying 18 miles east of Point Pleasant beach New Jersey,  half of the Stolt Dagali  a 583 foot, 19,150 ton Norwegian steel hulled tanker lies at the bottom of the Atlantic Ocean and attracts thousands of Scuba divers each year and is considered one of the best Jersey Shore wreck dives.

In November 1964 while carrying a cargo of vegetable and coconut oil  from Philadelphia to Newark, N.J., the Stolt Dagali collided due to dense fog with a 629 foot, Israel passenger luxury liner S.S. Shalom, which was bound for the Caribbean and sailing recklessly through the fog. The Shalom’s bow crashed into and sliced neatly through the Stolt Dagali’s port side sheering off her stern.  The Dagali’s 145 foot stern sank immediately killing 19 crew members instantly while they lay asleep in the stern section. The bow section, which stayed afloat due to her watertight compartments, was towed back to the port of New York and several crew members survived.

Today the 145 foot stern section of the Stolt rests in 130 feet of water, with its highest point at a depth of just 65 feet. The wreck is simply stunning to observe up close and the waters surrounding it offer good visibility usually between 30-50 feet. This allows both novices and advanced Scuba Divers to appreciate the wreck, with the more adventurous being able to penetrate the wreck and explore the interiors and search for artifacts.  The Wreck itself lies  on its starboard side at a 30 degree list and has deteriorated considerably over time with its smoke stack crumbling and body gradually crumbling and covered with an array of mussels and anemones. However with the majority of it still intact, divers can dive several sections of the ship and explore the propeller screws and rudder sections that lie nearby.

The waters off New Jersey are cold, and divers require cold water scuba diving equipment; dry suits or full wet suits with hoods only during the summer months May to September.

Lobsters are prolific around the wreck making lobstering a popular wreck dive activity, and apart from them, divers can spot several schools of cod, tuna, sea turtles and sharks in and near the wreck.

Divers can get to the wreck by local dive charter boats that offer comprehensive pre-dive briefings and layout of the wreck allowing divers to get familiar with the various diveable portions. It is also advisable to learn of the history of the collision and the stories re told by the survivors of the Dagli, which add that bit of significance to your dive.

Overall the Stolt Dagali is a must dive wreck for anyone brave enough to dive in the cold Atlantic  waters around New Jersey ,with its rich history, fascinating stories of survival, hundreds of artifacts recovered from the wreckage, fascinating aquatic life and  large penetrable sections, the site offers no opportunity