Mercedes I

The Mercedes, a 62m freighter, was beached during a storm on november 23,1984. She came to rest near the oceanside pool of a Palm Beach socialite. The event was well-recorded by the national television networks. It took over three months and a quarter million dollers to remove the vessel. The derelict freighter was pruchased by the Broward County Environmantal Quality Control Board qho, whith the help of the South Florida SCUBA Divers Club, prepared the shop for sinking. She was placed down on March 30 1985, off Fort Lauderdale Beach, a half mile north of Sunrise Blvd. She now rests even keel in 30m of water. The deck is at 20m and ther tower starts at 15m. Just to her east the bottom drops to 33m; to the west, 32 m several exit holes were cut in her hulle and bulkheads to enable fish to enter and exit the vessel. Plenty of sunlight brightens the interior. Often there is a current that runs north, at 1 to 1½ knots, that must be negotiated by divers. It si generally stronger near the surface. The condition, plus the depth, combine the make the Mercedes an advanced open-water dive.