Sea Emperor Wreck
The Sea Emperor is a 171-foot hopper barge sunk just south of Boca Inlet in 1991. It landed upside down and spilled its load of concrete culverts, so there's a lot of structure for fish and for divers to explore.
| Type | Shipwreck / artificial reef |
|---|---|
| Depth | 50 ft at the top to 70 ft at the sand |
| Skill level | Open Water (certified to 60 ft) |
| Size | 171 ft hopper barge |
| Sunk | October 3, 1991 |
| Area | South of Boca Inlet, on the Deerfield Beach–Boca Raton line |
History
The barge was donated as part of a dredging company's fine for reef damage off Palm Beach. It flipped as it sank and the culverts spilled around it.
What you'll see
Goliath grouper, southern stingrays and a friendly green moray are regulars. You can follow the line of culverts south to the United Caribbean wreck.
Good to know
The culverts make swim-throughs, but only enter overhead areas if you're trained for it, such as with the PADI Wreck Diver specialty.
Who can dive it
Open Water dive. Open Water divers must stay shallower than 60 feet. You can enjoy this wreck by staying above 60 feet on the deck and upper structure (about 50 feet at the top); the sand is at about 70 feet. Not certified yet? Start with PADI Open Water. Want more confidence and more dive sites? Take PADI Advanced Open Water. If you want to go inside a wreck, you need wreck penetration training, like the PADI Wreck Diver specialty.
Dive it with DXDivers
Dive it with us on our dive boat, the Lady Go Diver, out of Deerfield Beach. Our captain picks the dive sites for each trip based on the conditions that day, so check the dive sites listed on each trip in our calendar, or call us at 954-420-0009.
See boat dive trips Call 954-420-0009
Diving often? Save with our dive trip packages, see all dive trips and tank fills, or book the whole boat with a private charter.
Nearby dive sites
- United Caribbean Wreck – 50 ft at the top to 70 ft at the sand
- Boca Artificial Reef Ledge – about 60–70 ft (sand at 70 ft)
- Noula Express Wreck – 55 ft at the deck to 78 ft at the sand
- See all our local wrecks and reefs
FAQ
How deep is the Sea Emperor?
About 50 feet at the top and 70 feet at the sand.
Is the Sea Emperor good for Open Water divers?
Yes. Open Water divers can enjoy it by staying above 60 feet on the top of the wreck; the sand is at about 70 feet. It's also a great wreck for the Advanced Open Water wreck adventure dive.
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.
OUR LOCATION
DXDIVERS · 455 South Federal Highway, Deerfield Beach, FL 33441 · (954) 420-0009