On December 30th 2009, the Sea Taxi was towed to its new watery grave right off Key Biscayne, to be sunk as the Ophelia Brian. It is the largest ship ever purposely sunk as an artificial reef in Miami-Dade County by and for sport diving.
The 210 foot freighter, built in 1965 by J.J. Sietas in Hamburg, Germany christened Hoheburg and lastly called Sea Taxi, has had many names in the past. Here is an exhaustive listing:
1. Hoheburg (when it was build in 1965), it's what they call today a Type 28.
2. Marianne C.
3. Wilma.
4. Black Sea.
5. Ocean Breeze 1.
6. Sea Taxi and now the Ophelia Brian.

The same company has two other ships that are already sunk in Florida as artificial reefs: The "Herbert Horn" Type 458 was a cooling vessel, now called the "Ultra Freeze", and was sunk as an artificial reef south of Miami on July 5th 1984. The "Marie Horn" Type 451, build 1959, was also a cooling vessel and is now the "Deep Freeze", and was sunk as an artificial reef off the coast of Miami in October 1976.

The artificial reef created by the wreck site will provide recreational diving, eco tourism and fishing to the residents of Miami-Dade County and visitors from all over the world. The purchase of Ophelia Brian was made possible by a generous donation from the Brian and Lavinia Snyder Foundation. They have chosen to rename the wreck after their daughter, Ophelia, for her eighteenth birthday next year. The Ophelia Brian artificial reef site will assist in diverting diving and fishing pressure from natural coral reefs in the area. Sara Thanner from Miami-Dade's Department of Environmental Resource Management (DERM) has been vitally involved as well as Bruce Schurger and Company for the cleaning and sinking of the wreck.

Artificial wrecks such as Ophelia Brian have a life span of decades and provide habitats for marine fish and corals as well as providing recreational fishing and diving opportunities. South Beach Divers is very excited that the addition of this sizable artificial reef will reduce mounting pressure on the area's natural reefs.
We will follow the boat out to the sinking spot, watch the operation, wait for the safety divers to clear the wreck, and then the pool is open for a single dive. The wreck will be sitting at 110', with the top of the superstructure in only 40' of water. Included in the cost of the dive is a Miami-Dade Reef Guard Association (MIRA) diver medallion valid through 2010, valued at $10.00, tagging you as an environmental supporter of Miami's reefs and helping fund such artificial reef projects and reef moorings, and a FREE signature South Beach Divers T-Shirt!

The event is going to be covered in fanfare by local and national press, so don't miss an opportunity to maybe be on TV in that superhero wetsuit and make Miami diving history! Check out the pictures from the boat yard and browse the article in the Miami Herald in our newsletter's Helpful Links.