Oregon aka SS Oregon

Oregon aka SS Oregon is a boat accessible salt water dive site, located in NY. This dive site has an average rating of 4.62 out of 5 from 8 scuba divers. The maximum depth is 121-130ft/37-40m.

Ship Specifications

Date Sunk: March 14, 1886

Date Commissioned: 1881 Glasgow, Scotland

Length: 518 feet

Beam: 54 feet

Draft:

Displacement: 7,142 gross tons

Type of vessel: Luxury Liner

Hull Construction: Steel

Top Speed: 19 knots

Engine: (1) 3 Cylinder

Depth of Water: 130 feet

Condition: Broken-up

Bottom Orientation: Lying upright

Skill Level: Advanced

Location: 21 miles SE of Fire Island Inlet, NY

Loran C Position: 26543.3 - 43692.9

Latitude/Longitude: 40° 30’ 49.36" (N) / 072° 50’ 24.37"(W)

Notes:

The Oregon was built for Stephen Guion by John Elders Fairfield & Company of Glasgow, Scotland in 1881. This fine vessel was 518 feet long, had a beam of 54 feet and displaced over 7,000 tons, making her one of the largest ships of her day. The Oregon was powered by a three cylinder engine which put out upwards of 12,000 horsepower and made her capable of running nearly 19 knots. Steam was generated by 9 boilers each almost 18 feet long. Although she was a modern liner for her time, the Oregon was just emerging from the time of sailing ships. Her modified clipper designed hull carried two enormous smoke stacks and was also fitted with four masts fully rigged for sail.

On March 6, 1886, the Oregon departed Liverpool and steamed for New York. At 4:30 am, March 14th, on a clear Sunday morning, the Oregon was jolted on her port side while running at full steam only five miles off Fire Island, NY.
Although there were many conflicting reports of exactly what caused the accident, it has been accepted to have been a collision with the three masted schooner Charles H. Morse of Maine which was reported missing that night.

Today, the Oregon lies in 125 to 130 feet of water 21 miles south east of Fire Island Inlet, as area known as Wreck Valley. Her bow is resting in its starboard side on a clean sand bottom. Her steel hull plates have given way to the elements of time and collapsed, leaving only her engine standing upright. In the stern divers can see her huge propeller half buried in the sand. Divers have brought up all kinds of artifacts including portholes, bottles, ornate chandeliers, clay pipes, silverware and fine china stamped with the Cunard or Guion steamship crest.

It seems that the Oregon did not die when she sank over 100 years ago, she has continued her life as one of the East coast’s finest shipwrecks. The Oregon has everything a diver could want, good visibility, fish, lobsters, artifacts and a
fascinating history.

ecophotoexplorers.com/oregon.asp

northeastdiver.com/oregon.html