Mercedes I

Deep, advanced wreck dive on a famous Florida freighter.

Boat Access
25m Avg Depth
30m Max Depth

About this dive site

This dive site presents the wreck of the Mercedes I, a freighter that ran aground in 1984 and subsequently salvaged in 1985. Located on Palm Beach, Florida, the wreck sits at approximately 197 feet (60 meters) below the surface. The initial grounding was caused by severe weather, resulting in significant damage to the vessel over time. Numerous storms have taken their toll, leading to collapses and the scattering of hull sections across the seabed. While not a pristine wreck, it remains an intriguing dive due to its history and the visible evidence of past events. The salvage operation in 1985 removed much of the ship, but considerable portions still remain on the beach. The location near Mollie Wilmot’s home adds a layer of local interest to this dive.

Diving Freediving Snorkeling

Site Ratings

Big Marine Life Very Good
Macro Marine Life Good
Landscape Quality Very Good
Water Visibility Very Good Viz
Famousness Famous

Plan Your Visit

wreckdrift divesharkturtle

Marine Life

Goliath grouperBull sharkGreat barracudaAtlantic spadefishSnapperEelsSpiny lobster

Things to Note

Difficulty:

Advanced

Wreck is deep (30m) with potential for moderate to strong currents.

Hazards:
currentdepthboat traffic
Current Strength:

Moderate

Diving Conditions

Water Temperature Now: 29.7°C

Wind

Tide

Swell

Swell Height (m)
Swell Period (s)

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