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Cuyahoga USCG - VA


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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)

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Comments

jshoemaker_1 - 6/11/2012 8:02 AM
Rating Added: 5
Still intact. One of our group made it down to 117fsw. The ship is still mostly intact and some penetration is possible. This was an air dive so we did not make it very far but it was a blast. Some came back with flounder that were well into the 20" range.