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WINTER 2014
R
hode Island, “The Ocean State,” has almost
400 miles of tidal coastline. It is without a
doubt an ocean-lover’s dream. Although it’s
the smallest state in the U.S., it is one of the
country’s treasures.
When planning to dive Rhode Island, one of the first
things that might come to your attention is the U-853,
a Type IXC U-boat, which fought in the Battle of the
Atlantic for the German Kriegsmarine during World
War II. American warships sank the U-853 during the
Battle of Point Judith on May 6, 1945, which resulted in
the loss of its entire crew. The wreck — Rhode Island’s
most famous scuba diving attraction — lies broken and
torn just east of Block Island in 120 feet of water.
In addition to being home to some of the country’s
finest wreck diving, Rhode Island also offers blue
and mako shark expeditions that deliver some of the
most intense and unforgettable open-water shark
encounters you can find anywhere in the world.
BLUE SHARKS
Named for their radiant
color, blue sharks
are among the most
distinctive sharks in the
sea. Their torpedolike
bodies are equipped
with extremely long
pectoral fins and an
elongated caudal fin
to provide exceptional
swimming power. Adults can grow to
12 or 13 feet long. A blue shark’s diet consists
mainly of small fish along with invertebrates such as
cuttlefish and squid.
Found worldwide, they migrate thousands of miles
each year, roaming the vast open ocean. In certain
areas they travel closer to shore, which gives rise to
opportunities for diving with them. When scuba diving
T E X T B Y B I L L F I S H E R
P H O T O S B Y J O E R O M E I R O A N D B I L L F I S H E R
RHODE ISLAND BLUES
–AND MAKOS
LOCAL DIVING
From top: a shortfin mako; a blue
shark breaks the surface.
