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Map of Ocean City - Klus Mermaid Reef - Curtis O. McDaniel Jr.
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IntermediateBoat entry

Ocean City - Klus Mermaid Reef - Curtis O. McDaniel Jr.

New Jersey, United States
AOW suggestedNew Jersey offshore reef/wreck diving17–19 m depthBoat entry3mm wetsuit typical

Boat dive — see Entry & access.

Ocean City - Klus Mermaid Reef - Curtis O. McDaniel Jr. at a glance

Ocean City - Klus Mermaid Reef - Curtis O. McDaniel Jr. is an intermediate boat dive site in New Jersey, United States with depths of 17.1–18.9 m (56–62 ft). Typically most favorable Jun · from 3 years of archive data. Divers commonly see Black sea bass, Summer flounder (fluke), and Cunner. Recent reports put the water around 25°C (77°F). Check the latest conditions and entry details before you go.

Marine model · graded 2h ago
0.7 mwaves — under a meter expected

Tap a factor for its source and model point · Forecast 25°C · seasonal avg 23°C

Site hazards: New Jersey offshore reef/wreck diving

Read the full hazards ↓

Dive windows this week

Best: Fri
Fri14:00–20:00
Sat7:00–20:00
Sun7:00–20:00
Mon7:00–20:00
Tue7:00–20:00
Wed7:00–20:00
Thu7:00–20:00

Favorable windowModerate window— no window

First light 6:09 · Sunrise 6:36 · Sunset 19:13

Source: Open-Meteo marine · model point 5.6 km from site · graded 2h ago

Forecast only — always assess conditions on site.

Forecast · NOAA tide model

Tide & slack timing

Loading tide predictions

Recent diver reports

Dated firsthand observations from divers — not current conditions.

No diver reports for this site yet. — one dated observation helps every diver after you.

Dived here today — did the forecast match?

What Divers Say

Known for: Black sea bass, Cunner, American lobster
Best time: May through October is the prime season; late summer brings the warmest water and best visibility. Winter diving requires drysuit and experience.

Based on community reviews and site data. Conditions vary — always verify before diving.

Best months, historically

What conditions have historically been typical at this site, month by month — not a forecast.

  1. Jan33%6°C1.4 m
  2. Feb39%5°C1.4 m
  3. Mar30%7°C1.6 m
  4. Apr48%11°C1.4 m
  5. May68%15°C1.2 m
  6. Jun77%20°C1.1 m
  7. Jul76%24°C1.0 m
  8. Aug70%23°C1.2 m
  9. Sep53%23°C1.5 m
  10. Oct48%19°C1.5 m
  11. Nov46%14°C1.2 m
  12. Dec41%8°C1.4 m

June hastypically had the largest share of favorable days here. Conditions vary year to year — this is historical context, not a forecast.

Based on 3 years of archive data. Bar height shows the share of days each month whose conditions have historically scored favorably.

Marine life seen at this site

Species noted at this site — not a promise of what you’ll encounter.

Species seen here

Fills & rentals nearby

No dive shops mapped within 25 km. Know one? Add it to the map.

Data updated June 2026

Site details

Artificial reef built from M-578 Light Recovery Vehicle NJDEP deployment record: Military vehicle, material: M-551 Sheridan Light Tank , deployed 1997.

reef

New Jersey offshore reef/wreck diving — cold water (near-freezing at depth in winter, mid-70s F at surface in summer) with thermoclines; limited visibility (often 5-20 ft); currents and surge; heavy fishing pressure means monofilament line and hanging gear on structure (cutting tool essential); boat traffic (SMB and dive flag required); structures may have sharp edges and unstable sections.

Reviews

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