Pocahontas

Palm Beach, United Stateswreck23 m max

Conditions & tides

PocahontasPalm Beach

Fair · 4/5

Approximate area — exact dive location unconfirmed; conditions reflect the general vicinity

Fair4/5

Some chop right now — best window today 7 AM–5 PM.

Wind8 kn NNE

Current~1.4 kn NNE · model

Swell

0.8 m · 7s · NE

Water

28 °C

Max depth

23 m

Conditions through the day

6 AM6 PM

Calmest current near slack — 00:30 & 13:15 local

Sunrise 06:34 · Sunset 17:33 local

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Tide · local

Outlook — select a day for full conditions

On-face swell 0.8 m — the component of the swell aimed at this site’s exposed face. Current is a regional model value (Copernicus, ~9 km grid) — a guide to the area, not a precise reef measurement. Imagery © Esri · not depth or visibility.

Scored by DiveConnect's site-physics model

Marine forecast via Copernicus Marine. Score is a rule-based guide from swell/wind vs. the site's exposure — always dive your own assessment.

Dived here today? How were conditions vs. what we showed?

About this site

The Pocahontas is a tugboat that now rests on the seafloor off Palm Beach, Florida, under the name the Danny, a site formally known as the Danny McCauley Memorial Reef. It is an artificial reef created from the M/V Pocahontas, a World War II vintage tugboat built in 1944. The vessel was acquired through a joint effort by the McCauley family, the Palm Beach County Dive Association, and Palm Beach County Environmental Resources Management. The reef is named for Danny McCauley, a young Palm Beach diver and fisherman who died in 2012. The wreck was sunk on February 22, 2013, just north of the Lake Worth Inlet.

The tugboat sits in 74 feet (22.5 m) of seawater with its deck in the 50-foot (15 m) range, placing it less than two miles northeast of Lake Worth Inlet. Sources vary slightly, some reports place it in 85 feet (26 m) of water, but the most specific dive-log accounts consistently put the bottom at approximately 74–76 feet (22–23 m), with a relief of around 25 feet (7.6 m). The wreck has many large openings that let in plenty of light. Before sinking, all environmentally hazardous materials and fluids were removed, holes were cut into the hull, and potential hazards to divers were cleared away.

The wreck rapidly colonized with marine life, and during the yearly goliath grouper spawning season it has been covered with more than fifty goliath groupers. Although the season passes and the goliath groupers scatter, a few year-round residents remain. Goliath groupers have made themselves at home in the nooks and crannies deep within the wreck; their loud barking sounds reverberate through the hull. Goliath groupers, barracudas, and abundant tropical fish swarm the wreck and surrounding area, and Caribbean reef sharks patrol the nearby reef and bridge tender debris to the east. Grouper and angelfish are also commonly found hanging around inside the structure. A good abundance of marine life, both large and small, have settled on the wreck, with metal already covered in algae and encrusting sponges. The goliath grouper spawning aggregation peaks in August and September.

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The Danny McCauley Memorial Reef sits approximately one mile offshore of Singer Island. This is a boat-only dive. Because this collection of wrecks sits in close proximity to the Gulf Stream, currents can vary widely from little to strong; Palm Beach County's artificial reef program has placed most of the region's wrecks in a linear pattern in line with the Gulf Stream's northerly flow up the coast. Expect to drift on many days. It is dived from a live boat, usually as a drift.

Palm Beach County can be dived year round, with water temperatures ranging from the upper 60s°F to the lower 80s°F (approximately 20–28°C) and visibility ranging from 40 to 100 feet (12–30 m). On calmer days, dive reports have logged 40–45 feet of visibility, 77°F (25°C) water, and a minimal north current. On better days, over 50 feet of visibility, no current, and 80°F (27°C) water are achievable. Summer months bring warmer water temperatures ranging from 78°F to 82°F (25.5–28°C). Winter months drop into the upper 60s°F (approximately 20°C). Visibility is most affected by Gulf Stream proximity and post-storm surge.

The primary hazard at this site is current, the Gulf Stream influence can turn a mild drift into a strong one with little warning. Boat traffic in and out of Lake Worth Inlet is active; a properly displayed dive flag is required under Florida law. Holes were cut into the hull before sinking to allow diver access and light penetration, but partial penetration of a steel wreck still carries entanglement and silt-out risk for divers without wreck training. Goliath groupers are a protected species throughout Florida waters and must not be touched or harassed.

The wreck's depth range of roughly 50 to 74 feet (15–22.5 m) makes it accessible to both Open Water and more experienced divers, though the Gulf Stream current and live-boat drift entry mean that at least Advanced Open Water certification and some experience with drift diving is advisable. Nitrox extends bottom time at these depths and is recommended when available. Andrea's Reef sits directly next to the Danny, an artificial reef made up of underwater statues including Roman columns, treasure chests, and a life-sized mermaid sculpture, making it easy to combine both sites on a single dive when current is light. The proximity of several other wrecks north of the inlet means that, on the right day, a single boat trip can cover multiple sites.

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