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Stolt Dagali
18 miles east of, Point Pleasant, NJ
Max Depth: 121-130ft/37-40m
Entry Type: Boat
Bottom Composition: Sand
Aquatic Life: Might See Something
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Rating: 4.67 by 9 divers
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Stolt Dagali is a boat accessible salt water dive site, located at 18 miles east of, Point Pleasant, NJ. This dive site has an average rating of 4.67 out of 5 from 9 scuba divers. The maximum depth is 121-130ft/37-40m.
By all accounts the brand-new liner Shalom was proceeding at a recklessly fast pace through a thick fog, while simultaneously misreading her radar set. The slow-moving M-class tanker Stolt Dagali was sliced clean through, losing almost half her crew when the heavy stern section plummeted to the bottom of the sea. Fortunately, the Stolt carried a cargo of non-flammable vegetable oil, otherwise both vessels might have been consumed in flames. The bow section of the Stolt was salvaged, while the stern section lies crookedly on its starboard side, 142 ft long in 130 ft of water. Survivors of the Stolt were picked up by the Cape Straight.
The wreck of the Stolt is very impressive, even though now greatly deteriorated. Compared to the sketch below, the smokestack, mast, and much of the upper works have fallen away. Not shown is the large debris field around the wreck. Visibility is usually good, sometimes good enough to see the top of the wreck from the surface, and the sight of this huge wreck when it first looms into view as you descend the anchor line is extraordinary. There is something awesome about this shipwreck that is somehow lacking in the nearby planned artificial reefs.