Diving With a Purpose returns to the Keys to investigate unidentified wreck

Twenty-one instructors and members of the nonprofit organization Diving with A Purpose (DWP) will join Florida Keys National Marine Sanctuary’s Maritime Heritage Team beginning June 4, 2023, to document an unidentified shipwreck near Horseshoe Reef off Key Largo. The shipwreck, lying in 20-feet of water at the base of an inshore coral patch reef, is one of more than 800 historical sites located within sanctuary waters and appears to be the remains of a mid-nineteenth century sailing vessel. Little is known about the shipwreck, and the underwater mapping efforts of the DWP team could reveal its history.

DWP and sanctuary researchers have collaborated for over a decade to investigate underwater cultural heritage and discover untold stories of Florida Keys history. Their week-long visit will culminate in graduation for instructor candidates.

DWP is dedicated to the conservation and protection of submerged heritage resources by providing education, training, certification and field experience to adults and youth in the fields of maritime archaeology and ocean conservation. A special focus of DWP is the protection, documentation, and interpretation of African slave trade shipwrecks and the maritime history and culture of African-Americans.

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