Vandenberg ship sinking a go

Florida Keys News

Thursday, December 18, 2008

Vandenberg ship sinking a go

Local bank owner's last-minute $1.3M saves the artificial reef project

BY MANDY MILES Citizen Staff
mmiles@keysnews.com

The Vandenberg is coming to Key West.

In a last-minute decision, First State Bank of the Florida Keys, along with Jack Spottswood, whose family is part owner of the bank, agreed to buy the ship for $1.35 million at a public auction in Virginia Wednesday morning.

After 11 years, $8.3 million and countless obstacles, the 524-foot-long former military ship will be sunk as an artificial...

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This is great news for Key

Submitted on Thu, 12/18/2008 - 3:25pm

This is great news for Key West, and all of the Florida Keys.

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A big boost for the diving/snorkeling industry.

Submitted on Sun, 12/21/2008 - 8:11am

Finally, Key West will attract serious divers. The community owes a great deal of gratitude for the tireless vision of everyone who worked on this project.

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SERIOUS DIVERS

Submitted on Sun, 12/21/2008 - 9:53am

People who are experienced divers stopped visiting the Keys decades ago with the death of the coral and the onslaught of cattle boats. Anyone 'serious' about diving knows that there are many pristine coral reefs and beaches you can swim off of in the Bahamas and Turks and Cacaos Islands for the same price you pay to dive in the murky waters of the Lower Keys...Seriously. It would have been better money spent to make the beaches in Key West swimmable, improve the storm drains that empty Duval Street bar barf into the sea.

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Not so serious

Submitted on Tue, 12/23/2008 - 2:33am

I doubt "serious" divers will decide to head to Key West just for the Vandenber, but it's not going to hurt dive business at all. It will be great for locals, especially it you get to go out and watch the sinking. Watching the changes on the wreck over the years will be interesting as well. It still would be good to clean up the water. Sinking the Vandenberg doesn't mean Key West can't still work on clean water. Go Joe, and the whole team, for getting this done!

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THE LEAST THEY CAN DO

Submitted on Sun, 12/21/2008 - 6:10am

AFTER THE SPOTTSWOODS AND SWIFT BUILT ALL OVER THE ISLAND AND RUINED KEY WEST. IT'S THE LEAST THEY COULD DO AND SAVE THE REEF. MAYBE PEOPLE WON'T HATE THEM SO BAD NOW WHEN THEY BUILD THERE 500+ ROOM HOTEL AND SINK THE ISLAND.