Episode 204: Sinking the Vandenberg

In the turquoise blue waters of the Florida Keys, a new attraction is drawing scuba divers from around the world: The USNS General Hoyt S. Vandenberg. The Vandenberg is the world’s second largest intentionally sunk shipwreck.

Prior to being sunk, this mighty ship transported troops to the battlefields of World War II, carried European refugees to distant shores, and later helped win the Cold War. Left abandoned for years as part of a ghost fleet, the Vandenberg has at last found her final resting place – seven miles off Key West, in the Florida Keys National Marine Sanctuary.

In her last mission as an artificial reef, this massive ship is already attracting a variety of fish and other marine life. Now, natural resources managers are trying to determine what impact this artificial reef has on fish populations and the health of the surrounding natural reefs.

Experts

Meet the experts featured in this episode.

Episode Photos

Josh Goldurs

1 / 10

Changing Seas Videographer Jeremy Nicholson filming on the Vandenberg.

Josh Goldurs

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Changing Seas Videographer Jeremy Nicholson filming on the Vandenberg.

Josh Goldurs

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Surrounded by fish, a diver makes his way around one of the ship's many superstructures.

Josh Goldurs

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Experts hope "The Vandenberg" will continue to attract fish and help to relieve fishing pressures off nearby natural reefs.

Josh Goldurs

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Once the home to many U.S. servicemen, "The Vandenberg" is now home to a variety of marine fish.

Josh Goldurs

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Near one of "Vandy's" many iconic satellite dishes.

Changing Seas

7 / 10

Changing Seas Videographer Sean Hickey zooms in on tourists at the "Southernmost Point" monument in Key West, FL.

Changing Seas

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A sailing ship during sunset in Key West, Florida.

Changing Seas

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Say "Cheese!" In front of the Ingham Museum Left to Right: Sean Hickey, Alexa Elliott, Pat Clyne, Joe Weatherby, & Kandra Velez.

Alexa Elliott

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Setting up for a location shoot next to the "Southernmost Point" monument.

Special Thanks:

Florida Keys & Key West
Tourism Council
1-800-FLA-KEYS

ARTTOMEDIA 3D Dive Maps
424 Chemin Pincourt
Mascouche (Qc), J7L 2W3
Canada
1(450) 968-0955

Dive Key West Inc
3128 N. Roosevelt Blvd.
Key West, FL 33040
(305)296-3823

Best Western
Key Ambassador Resort Inn
3755 S Roosevelt Boulevard
Key West, Florida 33040-5255
(305) 296-3500

Cypress House Key West
601 Caroline Street
Key West, FL 33040
(305) 294-6969

Doubletree
3990 South Roosevelt Boulevard
Key West, FL 33040
(305) 293-1818

Image Credits

Changing Seas would like to thank the following individuals and institutions who kindly allowed their footage, images and other media to be used in this production:

Vandenberg Entertainment, LLC

Artificial Reefs of the Keys

Bill Horn
Florida Fish & Wildlife Conservation Commission

Pat Clyne
Paradigm Productions, LLC
Key West, FL

Howard Livingston

Stevens Institute of Technology

National Archives & Records Administration
Universal Newsreels

Wisconsin PTV

NASA

Air Force Missile Test Center
United States Air Force

Aris System Management Group
Sperry Gyroscope Company
Division Sperry Rand Corporation