The Alexander Wreck is named after Chet Alexander who purchased the ship for scrap in 1962. The actual name of the vessel is the the USS Amesbury. It was meant to be sank in deeper water but ran aground and then broke apart in a storm. The wreck lies in two pieces, one of which is so shallow it is a navigational hazard and is marked with a buoy.
The ship is in 20-30 of water and the visibility of the water in the area is highly variable. The wreck is good spot to dive when there are strong easterly or southern winds, making the the Atlantic side less friendly. The ship is home to thousands of fish, and if you look inside you will see schools of lane snappers, jewfish , spade fish and others.
Alexander Wreck is unique because it’s the only shipwreck that’s explorable by beginner snorkelers. This shipwreck offers even those who stay in the boat a glimpse of a real live shipwreck and the colorful coral that grows everywhere on its surface. For those interested in shipwrecks or underwater photography but who might still be beginners in either hobby, this is a defiinte Key West dive site to put on your list.
Since it’s in the Gulf, where vis can be a little murky much of the time, it’s good to arrange your snorkeling or dive trip to include other spots as well. Try Cottrell Key on the way to Alexandar’s Wreck. Both Cottrell Key and Alexandar’s Wreck are also good destinations when the wind is blowing hard from the South. The land mass of Key West will protect you a bit from the choppiness.
