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Redbird Reef - Chesapeake Cruiser

Delaware, United States
AOW suggestedDepth (80-110 ft)24–30 m (79–98 ft) depthBoat entry5mm wetsuit typical

Boat dive — see Entry & access.

Redbird Reef - Chesapeake Cruiser at a glance

Redbird Reef - Chesapeake Cruiser is an advanced boat dive site in Delaware, United States with depths of 24–30 m (79–98 ft). Typically most favorable Jul · from 3 years of archive data. Divers commonly see Blue mussel, American lobster, and Black sea bass. Recent reports put the water around 17°C (63°F). Check the latest conditions and entry details before you go.

Favorable window now· until 18:00 · sunset 17:07

Forecast for this hour · 11:00 · run 10 h ago
1.3 m (4.3 ft)waves — about a meter and a half expected (waves — about four feet expected)

Tap a factor for its source and model point · Forecast 17°C · seasonal avg 19°C ( · Forecast 63°F · seasonal avg 67°F)

Site hazards: Depth (80-110 ft) · Offshore currents · Fishing line and hooks

All 5 hazards ↓

Dive windows this week

Smallest waves: Fri
Sun7:00–18:00 favorable

1.3 m waves · 5 kn wind (4.3 ft waves · 5 kn wind)

Mon7:00–18:00 favorable

1.1 m waves · 6 kn wind (3.5 ft waves · 6 kn wind)

Tue7:00–18:00 favorable

1.1 m waves · 15 kn wind (3.6 ft waves · 15 kn wind)

Wed7:00–18:00 favorable

1.0 m waves · 11 kn wind (3.2 ft waves · 11 kn wind)

Thu7:00–18:00 favorable

0.7 m waves · 3 kn wind (2.2 ft waves · 3 kn wind)

Fri7:00–18:00 favorable

0.6 m waves · 8 kn wind (1.8 ft waves · 8 kn wind)

Sat7:00–17:00 favorable

0.9 m waves · 11 kn wind (3.0 ft waves · 11 kn wind)

Favorable windowModerate window— no window

Every forecast dive window each day, site-local time, from wave and wind forecasts. Numbers under each bar are daylight averages.

First light 5:51 · Sunrise 6:18 · Sunset 17:07 · some windows run past sunset

Source: Open-Meteo marine · model point 4.2 km from site · updated 25 Oct, 00:26 GMT-5

Forecast only — always assess conditions on site.

Compare this weekend’s windows near Redbird Reef - Chesapeake Cruiser

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: Blue mussel, Black sea bass, Tautog
Best time: Summer and early fall for the calmest seas and best visibility.

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. January, 25% of days have historically been favorable, water has typically been 8°C (47°F), waves have typically been 1.8 m (5.8 ft), wind has typically been 23 knots
  2. February, 20% of days have historically been favorable, water has typically been 7°C (44°F), waves have typically been 1.7 m (5.7 ft), wind has typically been 21 knots
  3. March, 24% of days have historically been favorable, water has typically been 7°C (45°F), waves have typically been 1.9 m (6.1 ft), wind has typically been 22 knots
  4. April, 39% of days have historically been favorable, water has typically been 10°C (50°F), waves have typically been 1.6 m (5.2 ft), wind has typically been 20 knots
  5. May, 54% of days have historically been favorable, water has typically been 14°C (57°F), waves have typically been 1.4 m (4.6 ft), wind has typically been 17 knots
  6. June, 67% of days have historically been favorable, water has typically been 19°C (67°F), waves have typically been 1.2 m (4.0 ft), wind has typically been 17 knots
  7. July, 68% of days have historically been favorable, water has typically been 24°C (76°F), waves have typically been 1.1 m (3.7 ft), wind has typically been 16 knots, historically most favorable
  8. August, 56% of days have historically been favorable, water has typically been 23°C (74°F), waves have typically been 1.4 m (4.7 ft), wind has typically been 17 knots
  9. September, 39% of days have historically been favorable, water has typically been 22°C (72°F), waves have typically been 1.8 m (5.9 ft), wind has typically been 18 knots
  10. October, 37% of days have historically been favorable, water has typically been 19°C (67°F), waves have typically been 1.8 m (5.8 ft), wind has typically been 19 knots
  11. November, 38% of days have historically been favorable, water has typically been 16°C (60°F), waves have typically been 1.5 m (5.1 ft), wind has typically been 21 knots
  12. December, 29% of days have historically been favorable, water has typically been 11°C (53°F), waves have typically been 1.7 m (5.7 ft), wind has typically been 22 knots

July has typically 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

Rough labels: “Commonly seen” usually means two or more recorded sightings near this site in public dive logs (GBIF), “Occasionally seen” one; “Seasonal” and “Rarely seen” come from dive-guide research. Not a measured rate.

Fills & rentals nearby

No dive shops mapped within 25 km (16 mi). Know one? Add it to the map.

Data updated June 2026

Site details

Redbird Reef is Delaware's best-known artificial reef, 16.5 nautical miles off the coast, built from more than 700 retired New York City 'Redbird' subway cars plus 86 military vehicles, eight tugboats and barges and thousands of tons of ballasted material. The structures sit in roughly 80-110 ft of water and are completely encrusted with cold-water corals, frilled anemones and mussels, with sea bass, tautog and flounder swimming through the car windows. The Chesapeake Cruiser record marks one of the reefed workboats on the site.

boatreefwreck

Depth (80-110 ft)

Offshore currents

Fishing line and hooks

deteriorating subway car structures (no penetration)

Variable visibility

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