Pedernales Wreck

The Pedernales Wreck is the midsection remains of the SS Pedernales, a shallow-bottomed oil tanker now lying largely intact on its keel in about 8–10 m of clear water. The rusting hull and scattered debris form an artificial reef and the wreck structure is the main attraction, providing easy, sheltered diving often used for training and underwater photography. The dive is shallow (about 8–10 m), with warm water around 26–28 °C and high visibility, typically 25–30 m. Conditions are generally calm with very little current, and access is primarily by boat with descent on a buoy or anchor line; shallow shore access from Palm Beach is possible. There are no penetrable overhead areas and safety stops are commonly done directly over the wreck. Divers should beware sharp edges and unstable metal, avoid entering the unlit interior, use a surface marker to reduce boat traffic risks, and maintain buoyancy to avoid stirring sand. SS Pedernales was built in 1938 and was torpedoed by a German U-boat in 1942; the bow and stern were salvaged and the damaged midsection was left grounded near Palm Beach, where it remains as a broken but largely intact section with features such as anchors, rust-stained decks and corroded plates.