Things to do nearSS Benwood

The SS Benwood began its life as a British cargo freighter launched in 1910. On the night of April 9, 1942, sailing under wartime blackout orders, it was struck by the tanker SS Robert C. Tuttle in the waters north of Key Largo. Badly damaged, the Benwood drifted and eventually settled on the reef, where it has remained ever since. The U.S. Navy later blasted portions of the hull to remove a navigation hazard, which is why the wreck today appears in scattered sections rather than one intact shell.

For divers, the site rewards exploration at every depth. The shallowest portions of the hull break 15 feet below the surface, making them accessible to confident snorkelers, while the deepest sections slope toward 45 feet for certified divers. Coral-encrusted ribs and plating form natural archways, and the surrounding sand flats host spotted eagle rays and the occasional nurse shark resting in the shade. Operators offering scuba diving trips from Key Largo reach the wreck in under 30 minutes.

The site falls within the Florida Keys National Marine Sanctuary, so collecting artifacts or disturbing the reef is prohibited. That protection has allowed the wreck to mature into a genuinely spectacular artificial reef. Nearby, John Pennekamp Coral Reef State Park offers additional dive and snorkel sites for visitors who want to extend their time on the water. Few wrecks in the continental United States combine history, accessibility, and marine richness quite like the SS Benwood.