Scuba Diving the Ebenezer II in Fort Lauderdale
Reading Time: 4 minutes The Ebenezer is a 95′ shipwreck in Fort Lauderdale ideal for divers seeking epic wreck penetration opportunities.
Diving the Ebenezer II Shipwreck
Ebenezer II
5/14/2002
95′ Freighter
Yes. Possible in multiple locations.
70 feet.
Open Water and Advanced
26° 00.398′ N 80° 05.589′ W
History of the Ebenezer II Shipwreck
According to the FWC’s artificial reef locations database, the technical name for this ship is actually the Eben-Ezer-2. However, local dive operators in Fort Lauderdale simply refer to it as the Ebenezer.
We don’t know much about the history of the Ebenezer other than it sunk in 2002 as a part of Broward County’s Artificial Reef Program south of Port Everglades Inlet. Its life prior to sitting on the ocean floor is a bit of a mystery.
After fluttering to the sandy bottom on May 14, 2002, the Ebenezer sits fully intact listing to its starboard side with its bow facing directly south. Keep this in mind if you’re looking to penetrate the halls below deck as they’ll be slanted at a 45° angle due to the listing.
Speaking of penetration, the Ebenezer is the ideal shipwreck for practicing wreck entry in Fort Lauderdale. The cargo bays below are blown out, the wheelhouse is open, and a tight entry point exists in the main cabin. It’s an exciting adventure for those seeking some overhead environments in their dive adventures!
Navigating the Ebenezer II Shipwreck
Sitting in 70 feet of water in the sand, the Ebenezer can be enjoyed by advanced and open water divers. Just a stone’s throw to the east, a vast expanse of patch coral reef sprawls throughout the landscape. Its seemingly endless, so don’t go too far away from the wreck or you might not make it back! (unless you’re doing a drift dive, of course).
As far as the wreck itself, we recommend circumnavigating the wreck near the sand before ascending slightly to explore the inside. On the starboard side toward midship you can find an entry point into the cargo bays. They’re completely blown out and free of any hanging metal. It’s the perfect spot for new wreck divers to test their skills!
In the middle of the ship on top deck is a port to explore the insides of the main cabin. It’s one long, narrow swim-through but the other rooms to the side are worthy of peeking inside. A ladder and small port ascends to the wheelhouse – it’s an extremely tight fit up the ladder though, so proceed with caution and only enter if you’ve been properly trained to do so.
Dive Shops that Visit the Ebenezer Shipwreck
Two dive charters in Fort Lauderdale make frequent trips to this dive site:
- American Dream Dive Charters: aboard their 46′ Newton Dive Boat, the American Dream operates a pristine operation suitable for divers of all levels. Their crew is professional, knowledgable, and accommodating for any passenger that climbs aboard!
- Sea Experience: this full service dive shop is tucked away in the Bahia Mar Marina on Fort Lauderdale Beach. Their twin engine catamaran provides a smooth ride to and from all the best dive sites in the Fort Lauderdale area!
What You May See Diving in Fort Lauderdale
Keep your eyes peeled for blue tang, schools of grunts, hogfish, and an occasional yellow jack passing through. The nearby coral reef is a great spot to see some out-of-the-ordinary things, as well!
Dive Planning in Fort Lauderdale
Reef Smart Guides makes the best book for diving throughout Broward County. If you plan to do any reasonable amount of diving in the area, I recommend you purchase it!
Reef Smart Guides – Fort Lauderdale
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Read More About Scuba Diving
We hope you enjoyed our post on diving the Ebenezer. Hopefully, you’ll find it useful on your next adventure! Here are a few more dive sites we think you might enjoy:
Have you been to this shipwreck before? What are your thoughts? Be sure to leave any photos, videos, or insights in the comments below!
