Peter B. McAllister Wreck • Sunday, May 3, 2026
The McAllister is a 76-foot-long tugboat wreck lying in 70 feet of water. It went down in 1998 as part of the Broward County Artificial Reef Program. The wreck teems with coral and fish and there are other wrecks nearby.
At a glance
| What you need to know | |
|---|---|
| Dive 1 | Wreck |
| Dive 2 | Reef |
| Max depth in feet | 70 |
| Minimum cert level | Open Water |
| Departs from | Fort Lauderdale |
| Minutes from shop | 20 |
| Be at the boat no later than | 12:45 PM |
| Boat departs | 1:30 PM |
| Expected return | 5:00 PM |
| Price without gear rental | $109.95 |
| Price with tanks and weights | $119.95 |
| Price with full gear | $149.95 |
| Add Nitrox | $10.00 per tank |
The wreck
The tug Peter B. McAllister was built in 1940 by the Equitable Equipment Company in Madisonville, Louisiana. Over the course of her career, she operated under several names, including B.T. De Bardeleben and Lilian, before ultimately becoming Peter B. McAllister.
On August 29, 1973, while assisting the grounded tanker Delaware Getty in San Juan Harbor, Puerto Rico, the Peter B. McAllister capsized and sank during the salvage attempt. The vessel was later raised, repaired, and returned to service.
After nearly six decades of operation, the tug was deliberately sunk on May 16, 1998, off the coast of Broward County, Florida, where she now serves as an artificial reef.
The diving
The wreck rests upright in 70 feet of water, with her bow pointing south. The tug measures 75.9 feet in length and 23 feet in beam. Because the vessel was carefully prepared before being sunk as an artificial reef, divers can safely explore several interior spaces, including the engine room, wheelhouse and galley. As you might expect, the wreck is now home to a variety of corals and fish.
Balance is due in full when you sign up. There are no refunds unless we find someone to take your place.
- DAN insurance
- Crew gratuity
- Certification cards
- Dive insurance
- Signed travel waiver and Statement of Understanding
- Personal dive gear
- Audible and visual surface signals
…and don’t forget:
- One towel each for showers and diving
- Dive light
- Safety sausage
- Emergency mirror
- Whistle
- Sunscreen
- Hat
- Sunglasses
Learn more or reserve space
Use this form to send us a question about this specific trip. You can also use this form to let us know you are interested in joining us and how many people will be in your group — just be aware that reservations are not considered firm until we receive paymentt.