6 Best Shipwrecks on Biscayne’s Maritime Heritage Trail

DEPTH & ACCESSIBILITY

The Mandalay rests at just 8–11 feet—the shallowest wreck on the trail and the only one ideal for snorkelers. You'll swim around the hull in clear, calm conditions; no diving certification required. This depth makes it perfect for families and first-time wreck visitors.

The wreck sits on a sandy bottom with excellent visibility in winter months. Four mooring buoys anchor visitor boats, limiting stays to 4 hours.

WHAT YOU'LL SEE

Coral has encrusted the teak deck—once the ship's most luxurious feature—and brass fittings still catch light underwater. Mahogany interior details and structural elements persist despite salvage teams removing navigational instruments and masts shortly after the 1966 grounding.

THE STORY

The Mandalay, a steel-hulled auxiliary schooner, was known as the 'red carpet ship of the windjammer fleet'—a luxury sailing yacht that ferried Caribbean tourists with teak, mahogany, and ivory finishes. On New Year's Day 1966, it ran aground with 23 vacationers and 12 crew aboard, ending its career but creating one of Biscayne's most iconic wrecks.

BEST TIME

December through April brings 30–50 foot visibility and calm seas. March and April offer warmth alongside excellent clarity. Avoid summer (July–August) when afternoon thunderstorms reduce visibility to 15–30 feet.

DEPTH & ACCESSIBILITY

At 10–20 feet, this wreck bridges snorkeling and diving. The upper hull sits shallow enough for snorkelers to survey the wreck; divers can descend to deeper sections to see the engine block and mast remnants. The broad depth range makes it ideal for mixed-ability groups.

WHAT YOU'LL SEE

Coral has heavily encrusted the lower hull, creating a living reef on the iron structure. Visible iron beams, the rudder, and mast fragments scatter across the seafloor. The wreck hosts abundant marine life—schools of snappers, groupers, and sergeant majors circle the structure year-round.

THE STORY

This iron-hulled screw steamship sank February 20, 1878, near the Fowey Rocks Lighthouse construction site. At 1,480 tons with a 250-horsepower engine, it was a working cargo vessel built during the transition from wooden sailing ships to steam power. The wreck marks an important maritime evolution.

THE MYSTERY

This wreck's identity remains a puzzle. Two candidates exist: the Ledbury (1769) or the Hubbard (1772). Recent research using birch timber analysis and recovered ceramics suggests a New England-built merchant vessel. The wreck's true name may be revealed as conservation continues.

WHAT YOU'LL SEE

Remarkably well-preserved ceramics—creamware and salt-glazed stoneware—litter the wreck site, still bearing fire stains. Iron padlocks, terracotta religious figurine fragments, and Spanish-made ladrillos (bricks) add layers of history. Evidence of fire damage extends to the ship's keel, suggesting the sinking followed an onboard blaze.

ARCHAEOLOGICAL TREASURE

This site is actively studied by park archaeologists. Recovered artifacts will eventually display at the Dante Fascell Visitor Center, offering deeper context. The wreck represents a rare snapshot of 18th-century Atlantic trade and maritime disasters.

SCALE & DEPTH

At 350 feet long, the Lugano was the largest vessel to wreck in the Florida Keys at the time of its 1913 sinking. The wreck sits at 18–25 feet, requiring scuba certification to explore safely. The sheer size means a dive can cover different sections each visit.

WHAT YOU'LL SEE

The broken mast and smokestack dominate the site—visible even in moderate visibility. The hull structure sprawls across the seafloor with structural beams and cargo areas distinguishable. Despite 110+ years underwater, the scale of the vessel is immediately apparent.

THE STORY

This British merchant cargo steamer—a single-screw vessel displacing 3,770 tons—sank March 9, 1913 on Long Reef. The wreck has become a significant dive site thanks to its size and structural complexity, offering exploration opportunities not found at smaller wrecks.

DEPTH & LOGISTICS

The Alicia rests at 16–20 feet, accessible only to certified scuba divers. Four mooring buoys mark the site. The depth allows for a substantial bottom time to examine the hull structure and scattered debris.

WHAT YOU'LL SEE

Hull structure remains visible and approachable. Cargo hold remnants and scattered debris mark where silks and silverware once sat. The wreck is less visually dense than Lugano or Erl King but offers good preservation of the vessel's framework.

LEGAL LEGACY

The Alicia's sinking and subsequent salvage dispute became a watershed moment for U.S. maritime law. The controversy over recovery rights and vessel ownership shaped modern salvage regulations that remain in effect today. This wreck is not just history—it's the origin of maritime law that still governs ocean salvage.

DEPTH & DIVE PROFILE

The Erl King sits at 15–20 feet, deeper than Arratoon Apcar but shallower than the largest wrecks. Four mooring buoys provide secure tie-offs. The depth is manageable for intermediate divers and offers good bottom time for exploration.

WHAT YOU'LL SEE

The hull outline remains visible on the seafloor, marked by concrete-filled shapes where wooden cargo barrels once sat. Shipworms destroyed the barrels long ago, leaving only iron bands and the concrete that formed around them as they decayed. Iron beams and structural elements scatter across the site.

MARITIME MILESTONE

Sunk December 16, 1891, the Erl King represents the maritime transition period—an iron-hulled vessel rigged with sailing masts but powered by a steam engine. This hybrid design shows how the shipping industry evolved from pure sailing vessels to steam-driven cargo ships. The wreck is a floating (or rather, sunken) museum of that turning point in history.