Captain Dan Wreck

← All local wrecks and reefs

The Captain Dan is the former U.S. Coast Guard buoy tender Hollyhock. It sits upright and intact about 1.5 miles off Pompano Beach, just outside the third reef line.

History

The Hollyhock was launched in 1937 and served the Coast Guard until 1982. It was sunk on February 20, 1990, in memory of Capt. Dan Garnsey of the drift-fishing boat Helen S.

What you'll see

Amberjack, jacks, grouper and barracuda. Large access holes connect the forepeak, cargo hold and engine room, so trained wreck divers can go inside.

Who can dive it

Advanced Open Water, Deep specialty recommended. This dive site goes deeper than 80 feet, so you need to be Advanced Open Water certified. Advanced Open Water certifies you to 100 feet, and parts of this dive site are deeper, so we recommend the PADI Deep Diver specialty (to 130 feet). Start with our PADI Advanced Open Water course, and add Nitrox for more bottom time. If you want to go inside a wreck, you need wreck penetration training, like the PADI Wreck Diver specialty.

Nearby dive sites

• RSB-1 Wreck – about 80 ft at the top to 108–120 ft at the sand
• Union Express Wreck – about 110 ft at the sand
• Rodeo 25 Wreck – 68 ft at the mast, 100 ft at the deck, 120 ft at the sand
• See all our local wrecks and reefs

FAQ

How deep is the Captain Dan?
About 110 feet at the sand, 90 feet at the deck and 70 feet at the wheelhouse.

What certification do I need?
Advanced Open Water at minimum. The PADI Deep specialty is recommended because the sand is past 100 feet, and the Wreck Diver specialty if you want to go inside.

How do I book a dive here?
Check the dive sites listed on each trip in our boat dive calendar, or call us at 954-420-0009. Our captain chooses the dive sites for each trip based on the conditions that day.

Depths and details come from our crew's dive site notes and public artificial reef records. Conditions change, so always follow your captain's and divemaster's briefing.