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Cuyahoga USCG
VA
Max Depth: 111-120ft/34-37m
Entry Type: Boat
Bottom Composition: Sand
Aquatic Life: Plenty To See
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Rating: 5.00 by 1 divers
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Cuyahoga USCG is a boat accessible salt water dive site, located in VA. This dive site has an average rating of 5.00 out of 5 from 1 scuba divers. The maximum depth is 111-120ft/34-37m.
Year Built 1927
Date Sunk 20 October 1978
Depth 100 feet
Gross Tonnage 320
Dimensions 125’ x 24’ x 8’
Vessel Type C. G. Cutter
Power Twin Diesels
Builder N.Y. Ship Building
Official Designation WIX-157
Owner U.S. Coast Guard
Location 27022.4 41369.6
Home Port Yorktown, VA
Cause of Sinking In 1978, the Coast Guard cutter Cuyahoga was traveling near the mouth of the Potomac River when a coal freighter slammed into its starboard side. The Cuyahoga was dragged backwards for a minute before rolling on her side and quickly sinking below 57 feet of water.
The coal freighter rescued 18 survivors from the water, but the remaining 11 passengers were lost. A few weeks after the accident, investigators raised the Cuyahoga for inspection.
In Brief;
11 sailors died after this Coast Guard Cutter was struck and sunk by the MV Santa Cruz II. The Marine Casualty Report stated that "possibly contributing to the loss of life in this casualty was the large amount of bed, personal clothing, and other equipment for which there was no proper stowage or means of securing on Cuyahoga. On impact, this material came adrift, and may have impeded the escape of those men below decks" .
After being raised for the investigation it was determined that the boat was not worth repairing and was resunk near the wreck "John Morgan" as an artificial reef.
The wreck is upright and relatively intact and easy to enter (although entaglement hazards exist) and is considered an excellent lobster wreck.
Source "Shipwrecks of Virginia" Gary Gentile 1992
The wreck rest in 120 fsw and is an artificial wreck, it is a lobster hang out and flounder are sometime found here. Since it is small and intact it gives a diver a chance to do something a little deeper here without fear of getting lost . The wreck has no artifact value, but is a very cool dive to do.Vessel is a Coast
Guard cutter 125 x 24 x 8 Wiki:
en.wikipedia.org/wiki/USCGC_Cuyahoga_(WIX-157)