Wreck or Reef?

[djtimmy77]

In my very limited diving experience, so far I greatly prefer reefs

 

[Teamcasa]

Reefs.
Diving has much the same appeal as walks in the woods. Getting away from as much man-made crap as possible.

I feel pretty much the same way. When I dive a wreck, I dive it to see what is living and growing on it.

I just don't get much of a thrill looking at a ship where man and machine both suffered the misfortune of sinking. I can see plenty of junk on land.

Caveat: I would not mind visiting some wrecks that have some profound historical importance, like the Arizona but that's pretty much it.

 

[Scuba Laura]

I love them both equally, and prefer doing a wreck and a reef on a two tank. Wrecks in the caribbean provide homes for our many turtles and nurse sharks. Right now the 12 footers are coming in to mate. To watch a newly sunk ship grow into an artificial reef is fascinating. Junk - ask the fish what they think.

 

[Doc]

If you were to look at the raw number of "looks" or hits on wreck photos versus critter images (here on SB Albums), you'll see that the wrecks are the attraction.

I think most divers prefer wrecks because most divers are new divers and wrecks are really easy to spot... comparatively.

As others have said:

- If the wreck has a historical significance, that's cool. (The Thistlegorm)

- If the wreck is useful as a navigational focus (aid) of the dive, that's useful. (The Oriskany)

- If the wreck is overgrown, it becomes an interesting microcosm study of niche reef structure. (The Prince Albert, Roatan)

This is especially apparent and obvious at a place like CoCoView. The placed Prince Albert Wreck being 200' from your room is a huge draw in terms of pre-trip questions and interest.

Many people are intrigued by wreck penetration, even if it is on fairly a beginner level. The mere mention of the word "wreck", whether a "placed artificial reef structure" or nautical misfortune, conjures up images of high adventure.

As long as a wreck is as overgrown as a wall (my preferred reef structure), I like them both.

If the wreck has no growth on it, I'm likely the first one diving on it, and the attraction there is something entirely different.

 

[Jim Lapenta]

Wrecks- the bbetter preserved the more I like em. THis does however mean deep and cold. But 20 minutes on the bottom in 40 degree water on a wreck that went down in the 1800's or early 1900's is more fun than a 55 minute reef dive in 80 degree water to me.

 

[lmorin]

I make the distinction between "steel diving" and "reef diving." I prefer the biology of reefs and overgrown wrecks. Bare steel is of zero interest.

 

[Ontwreckdiver]

Without question wrecks!
Intact wrecks though not a pile of boards on the bottom. That's what's great about the Great Lakes, you can dive anything from 150 year old wooden sailing ships to modern steel freighters.

 

[ryshannon]

I love them both equally, and prefer doing a wreck and a reef on a two tank. Wrecks in the caribbean provide homes for our many turtles and nurse sharks. Right now the 12 footers are coming in to mate. To watch a newly sunk ship grow into an artificial reef is fascinating. Junk - ask the fish what they think.

I agree with Laura : When its too cold up here to dive the wrecks head down south to dive the reefs & wrecks down there.