Wreck Summary
| Type |
Shipwreck |
| Build |
Steel Freighter |
| Location |
Barcelona, NY
|
| Depth |
128 feet |
| Length |
? feet |
| Built |
1928 |
| Sank |
1932 |
| Access |
Boat |
| Experience Level |
Advanced |
| Orientation |
Nearly Inverted
|
The John J. Boland is an overturned freighter, almost. Well, it’s definitely a freighter, it’s just ALMOST overturned. It is on it’s starboard side with the keel well up off the silty bottom causing the deck to loom over you as you swim alongside the ship.
This is the kind of wreck that has something for just about everyone. A scan of the outside reveals plenty of interesting structure and machinery, with even more to be found inside for those who are properly trained but beware the silt inside is very easily disturbed as you can see in one of the photos below - it’s the one that looks like a rust storm and little else.
There is rather a lot to see on this site including the prop, cargo holds, and superstructure which appears to be entirely intact (aside from a slight amount of crushing from having the weight of a ship on top of it, go figure). Water seems to be on the cool side at the site, particularly on the bottom but you’ll warm up as you ascend through the thermocline(s) in the summer.
If you choose to visit the Boland the operation to use is definitely Osprey Charters out of Barcelona, NY, they are a fantastic company with some of the best captains around, and very close to the wreck site which means you’ll spend less time getting there and more time enjoying it.
