M/V Castor Wreck • Sunday, May 31, 2026
The MV Castor was built in 1970 at the Bodewes shipyard, Martenshoek, Netherlands. Oriiginally called M/V Dorothee Bos, the ship was used for cargo and supplies until 1999.
At a glance
| What you need to know | |
|---|---|
| Dive 1 | Wreck |
| Dive 2 | Reef |
| Max depth in feet | 135 |
| Minimum cert level | Advanced/Deep |
| Departs from | Pompano |
| Minutes from shop | 20 |
| Be at the boat no later than | 7:45AM |
| Boat departs | 8:30 AM |
| Expected return | 12:00 PM |
| Price without gear rental | $109.95 |
| Price with tanks and weights | $119.95 |
| Price with gear rental | $149.95 |
| Add Nitrox | $10.00 per tank |
The site
In 1988, renamed M/V Mer Star, the vessel relocated from Spain to Mobile and worked the Caribbean waters for the the twelve years under several different names. In 1999 the M/V Castor was seized by U.S. Customs agents after being stopped by the Coast Guard carrying 10,127 pounds of cocaine hidden in brown sugar bags. On December 14, 2001, the ship was sunk by Palm Beach County to be part of the Artificial Reef Program.
The diving
The M/V Castor is 258 feet long by 37 feet wide. The bow points south. Over the years the ship has been broken up by hurricanes. The stern section containing most of the house structure has rolled on it’s starboard side. The deck is 95-100 feet and the bow rises to about 80 feet.
Adorned by orange cup corals and sponges, the Castor is one of the most colorful wrecks on the Palm Beach Coast. It is home to a community of Goliath Groupers. However, beginning the end of July during spawning season the numbers can reach 100!
What else?
Balance is due in full when you sign up. There are no refunds unless we find someone to take your place.
- $109.95 for a two-tank boat dive
- $139.95 with equipment10
- 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.