Sheri-Lyn

On Thursday, June 18, 1987, at 11:57 am, the normal peace three and one-half miles east of Key Biscayne was shattered by the detonation of 400 pounds of carefully placed high-explosive and the M/V Sheri-Lyn formally ended her 35 year shipping career, settling in 90 feet to the bottom.

The Dutch built Sheri-Lyn was 235 feet long and had a 32 foot beam. She carried a crew of nine or ten and she was launched in 1952 as the MV Mirach N. The shipped sailed under several names for different owners and was last registered as the Sheri-Lyn in the Cayman Islands.

When the Sheri-Lyn docked for storage at Jones boat yard on Miami River, unpaid charges became to accumulate for over a year and it was determined that the ship had been abandoned. Jones legally acquired the vessel and subsequently passed ownership to DERM, the Department of Environmental Resource Management for the ultimate benefit of the marine environment and sport divers.

The Sheri-Lynn was one of the artificial reef sites demolished by Hurricane Andrew in 1992, tearing much of the vessel apart, when previously it was intact and upright on the sand bottom. Since the structure is now spread over a wider area, more marine life seems to have taken up residence in the various twisted metal remains.

The Sheri-Lyn is still worth a visit and her moderate depth allows for a substantial bottom time. You can arrange to dive her with RJ Diving Ventures located at South Beach Marina. Call 305-864-3040 for more information.