The Most Catastrophic Florida Shipwrecks in History

Shipwrecks unfortunately aren't uncommon. In fact, there are thousands of shipwreck sites in U.S. waters. According to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), there are about 10,000 wrecks dotting U.S. waters, some of which have been beneath the surface and untouched for centuries. If you're a SCUBA diver or simply find these underwater marvels intriguing, then you'll want to check out these 15 Florida shipwrecks dating back more than 450 years.

On May 3, 1942, the Ocean Venus, a British Liberty ship that was on its inaugural voyage, was torpedoed by U-564 just 12 nautical miles from Cape Canaveral. The unescorted ship sank and five crew members died in the accident. Built under the Lend-Lease Act, the ship represented the close cooperation between Britain and the United States during World War II. After the war, the remains of the Ocean Venus were wire-dragged and detonated by the U.S. Navy and Coast Guard. The ship was one of 60 "Ocean" class vessels, key to strengthening the British navy during the conflict.

On April 10, 1942, near Jacksonville, the SS Gulfamerica was torpedoed by the German U-123 submarine. The tanker, which was on its maiden voyage, was filled with furnace oil, and when it was struck by the torpedo, it burst into flames. The vessel was destroyed, and the lives of 19 crew members and armed guards were lost. The U.S. Coast Guard was able to save some survivors, but the Gulfamerica was a complete and total loss.

On February 22, 1942, near Cape Canaveral, the Cities Service Empire — an American steam tanker — was attacked by German U-boat U-128. The tanker was struck by two torpedoes and immediately caught fire. The ship, destroyed, broke apart and sank 240 feet to the ocean floor. While 14 people died, a surprising 36 crew members were rescued by another Navy vessel.

The steamship Tarpon, originally the Naugatuck, was built in 1887 and became known as the Tarpon in 1903, and for more than 30 years, Captain Willis Barrow was at the helm. On August 31, 1937, the Tarpon left Mobile, Alabama, and was by all accounts overloaded with cargo. On its journey, it battled strong winds, and with the extra weight of the excessive amount of cargo, the vessel couldn't withstand the assault. The tarpon sank off the coast of Panama City Beach, and 18 of the 31 people on board died.

In September 1929, a lumber freighter called the Tarmarco wrecked near Flagler Beach. The vessel was transporting 435,000 feet of lumber from Jacksonville to St. Vincent, West Indies, when high seas overtook it and washed it ashore, splitting the hull in two. Crew member Ed Brown drowned trying to climb aboard a lifeboat.

On October 18, 1906, the St. Lucie, a 19th-century paddle wheeler carrying 100 passengers, sank during a hurricane near Elliott Key in Biscayne Bay, Florida. Captain Steve Bravo tried to anchor the boat, but it ultimately capsized during the storm killing 26 people. The wreck location was unknown until July 2024, when the ship's anchor and chain were located in Biscayne National Park.

On October 16, 1904, the Italian barkentine Georges Valentine was traveling to Buenos Aires, carrying a load of mahogany and cedar. On its journey, the ship encountered a Nor'easter, causing it to strike reefs and sink off the coast of Stuart. Five crew members died in the sinking.

In 1898, the Lofthus, originally named the Cashmere, was traveling to Buenos Aires with a load of lumber. The cargo ship encountered a storm, which caused the ship to wash aground near Boynton Beach. Everyone on board survived, but the ship and its cargo were a complete loss.

The Maple Leaf was originally a freight and passenger ship that was converted to a troopship used by the Union Army during the American Civil War. On April 1, 1864, the Maple Leaf struck a Confederate naval mine in the St. Johns River near Jacksonville and exploded. Seventeen people were killed and the ship sank.

In 1850, the USS Preble, named after Commodore Edward Preble, was being used as a training vessel. It served with the Gulf Blockading Squadron on the Mississippi River during the Civil War. On April 27, 1863, however, the ship met its fate when a fire broke out onboard, causing an explosion while it was stationed in Pensacola Bay.

In 1733, the San Pedro, a Spanish galleon, was traveling from Havana, Cuba, and headed for Spain. It was hauling agricultural products and silver bullion. It encountered a hurricane off the coast of the Keys and sank. Located a scant 18 feet underwater, the wreck site has been designated as an Underwater Archaeological Preserve.

In 1715, the Urca de Lima, a Spanish Colonial cargo ship, was traveling from Havana to Spain and hauling gold, silver and gems when it encountered a hurricane off the coast of Florida. The ship sank and took with it its bounty, which was intended to bolster the Spanish economy.

In 1622, the Nuestra Señora de Atocha was a Spanish galleon — part of a fleet — that was transporting gold, silver and Colombian emeralds from the New World to Spain. It encountered a hurricane and sank, taking all of its onboard treasure with it. Decades later, treasure hunter Mel Fisher embarked on a 16-year search for the Atocha, hoping to find its treasures. He eventually did reach the wreck and recovered $400 million in gold bars, silver bullion and colonial artifacts. Many of these artifacts can be viewed at the Mel Fisher Maritime Museum in Key West.

In the summer of 2016, researchers at the University of West Florida discovered the Emanuel Point III shipwreck. It was located beneath seven feet of sand in Pensacola Bay. They believe the discovery to be part of Tristan de Luna's 1559 expedition to colonize what is now Florida. This discovery followed the earlier discovery of Emanuel Point 1 in 1992, which was added to the U.S. National Register of Historical Places in 1996, and Emanuel Point II in 2006. From the Emanuel Point III, researchers have recovered countless historical artifacts including Spanish ceramics, iron fixtures, and wooden planks.