OCEAN DIVE - TOLTEN - JULY 8
Tolten is a boat accessible salt water dive site, located in 11 miles off Barnegat, NJ. This dive site has an average rating of 4.75 out of 5 from 4 scuba divers. The maximum depth is 91-100ft/28-30m. The average visibility is 16-20ft/5-6m.
The Tolten, a Chilean cargo ship, was torpedoed and sunk by a German U-boat in March 1942. The Tolten was en route from Baltimore to NYC with her lights turned off when the U-404 slammed a torpedo into her hull just below the bridge. Of her 28 crew there was only 1 survivor. (The U-404 sank another ship, the Lemuel Burrows, off Atlantic City the following night.) After the war, the wreck of the Tolten was wire dragged to reduce the risk to shipping. U-boat crews referred to 1942 as "the Happy Time" since their hunting off the target-rich US coast was almost completely unopposed.
As with many wrecks like this, most of the remaining structure is found at the bow and stern, while in-between is mostly flattened-out albeit still with sights to see. The broken bow rises at least 20 ft off the bottom and in the stern area there are several large enclosed spaces that may be entered. The wreck lies roughly east-west and is contiguous, which simplifies navigation.
Much of the wreckage is overgrown with a luxurious layer of hydroids, anemones, and other marine life. Lobstering seems to be better along the south edge and around the fallen masts and hull plates, and the Tolten is a regular producer in this regard. Conditions this far offshore are often excellent.
This is a long swim all around the wreck, starting near the bow and going aft past the boilers, and down the shaft alley. Around the stern to the propeller, and then back to the bow and the anchor.
Availability: Contact us for booking information