Underwater, get ready for big. The colossal 522-foot, 13,000-ton General Hoyt S. Vandenberg is one of the biggest artificial reefs in the world. This retired Air Force missile-tracking ship was sunk in 2009 on the sand bottom at 150 feet. Nearly stretching the length of two football fields, the Vandy is an advanced diver’s dream. If you’ve got the experience and skills, you'll love exploring this wreck. You’ll begin your completely guided dive on the coral-encrusted deck in about 100 feet of water.

She is one of the most interesting ships — and one of the most massive — you’ll ever explore. Be sure to bring a good dive light. With doors and windows removed, and access points cut into the metal hull, it offers plenty of swim-through diving from the deck. The cutouts and openings provide opportunities to see quite a bit of the ship’s interior, even without entering the spaces. You never know what interesting sea life may be hiding just inside the next hatch.

Before surfacing, your guide will direct you to other structural highlights including the elevator shafts and two radar dishes, and on the top deck, the kingpost and foremast, the bridge and a telescope mounted atop the wheelhouse that was once used to track satellites.

Take a dip on the Vandy and, with all its routes and points of intrigue, you’ll see why it’s like a night on Duval Street: You won’t be satisfied with just one.

Key Westis the end-of-the-line in the Florida Keys. Reach it and the rewards are many. The nightlife is plentiful and the local population is wonderfully welcoming. And whether you’re in search of a four-course culinary adventure or simply a fish taco to go, this town delivers. You’ll find Cuban, Pacific Rim, Korean and French influences.

Become a Florida Keys Wreck Trekker!

General Hoyt S. Vandenberg is one of 12 wrecks in the Wreck Trek program. Click here for more details on how to dive them all.

Browse our list of dive operators below to book your next trip.