I
t’s hard to believe a quarter-century has passed since
the U.S. Coast Guard cutters Bibb and Duane were
sunk off the south end of Key Largo, Fla. But a dive on
these wrecks today reveals a vibrant cloak of orange
cup corals, encrusting sponges and other marine life that
clearly confirms the passage of time.
It was the day after Thanksgiving in 1987 when the
USCGC Duane slipped beneath the waves to land perfectly
upright in 125 feet of water, its bow jutting proudly into
the current. It was a textbook success in the world of
reefing ships. The next day the Duane’s sister ship, USCGC
Bibb, was sunk using the exact same method. By whatever
The Silver Anniversary
of the USCGC
Duane
20
|
FALL 2012
DIVE SLATE
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