Ernst Reef
Conditions & tides
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Marine forecast via Copernicus Marine. Score is a rule-based guide from swell/wind vs. the site's exposure — always dive your own assessment.
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About this site
Ernst Reef is an artificial reef wreck site located off Stuart, Florida (27° 09.312' N, 80° 03.225' W), consisting of three barges that were sunk in 2002 and named in honour of Edgar Ernst, a well-known and respected local angler. The barges offer no penetration opportunities but can all be visited within a single dive.
The site reaches a maximum depth of 72 feet (21.9 m) with an average depth of around 68 feet (20.7 m). Depending on current conditions, local operators run the dive either as a drift or on an anchor line; either way, all three barges are accessible in one dive.
Visibility typically ranges from 30 to 50 feet (9 to 15 m), and currents can affect conditions at the site. The wrecks attract considerable marine life and are also a favourite spot for anglers in the area. Divers should be alert to ghost monofilaments that may still be present around the barges.
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Ernst Reef is rated for Advanced Open Water divers as a minimum certification, reflecting the depth and the medium currents that can be encountered. Access is via a temporary line.
Marine life here
Confirmed by our research team, reported by independent divers, or observed nearby via iNaturalist — each entry is labelled with its source.
Loggerhead Sea TurtleCaretta carettaReported here · unconfirmed
Durable tips from divers — access, hazards, marine life, facilities. For day-of conditions, use the report tool in the conditions card above.
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