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Map of Tessie Steel Boat
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IntermediateBoat entry

Tessie Steel Boat

Florida, United States
Open Water suggestedOpen Gulf boat dive; depth near 80 ft; small target that can be hard to locate; possible mild current; fishing line and hooks on structure; boat traffic24 m (77 ft) depthBoat entry3mm wetsuit typical

Boat dive — see Entry & access.

Tessie Steel Boat at a glance

Tessie Steel Boat is an intermediate boat dive site in Florida, United States with depths of up to 23.5 m (77 ft). Typically most favorable Jul · from 3 years of archive data. Divers commonly see Greater amberjack, Red lionfish, and Octopus. Recent reports put the water around 25°C (78°F). Check the latest conditions and entry details before you go.

Favorable window now· until 19:00 · sunset 18:06

Forecast for this hour · 14:00 · run 14 h ago
1.0 m (3.2 ft)waves — about a meter expected (waves — about three feet expected)

Tap a factor for its source and model point · Forecast 25°C · seasonal avg 27°C ( · Forecast 78°F · seasonal avg 81°F)

Site hazards: Open Gulf boat dive; depth near 80 ft; small target that can be hard to locate; possible mild current; fishing line and hooks on structure; boat traffic

Read the full hazards ↓

Dive windows this week

Lightest wind: Tue
Mon7:00–19:00 favorable

1.0 m waves · 15 kn wind (3.3 ft waves · 15 kn wind)

Tue7:00–19:00 favorable

0.8 m waves · 9 kn wind (2.5 ft waves · 9 kn wind)

Wed8:00–19:00 favorable

0.8 m waves · 15 kn wind (2.7 ft waves · 15 kn wind)

Thu8:00–19:00 favorable

0.6 m waves · 13 kn wind (1.9 ft waves · 13 kn wind)

Fri8:00–19:00 favorable

0.7 m waves · 13 kn wind (2.3 ft waves · 13 kn wind)

Sat8:00–19:00 favorable

1.0 m waves · 16 kn wind (3.3 ft waves · 16 kn wind)

Sun8:00–16:00 favorable, 16:00–17:00 moderate, 17:00–19:00 favorable

0.8 m waves · 17 kn wind (2.7 ft waves · 17 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 6:34 · Sunrise 6:58 · Sunset 18:06 · some windows run past sunset

Source: Open-Meteo marine · model point 3.5 km from site · updated 26 Oct, 00:23 GMT-5

Forecast only — always assess conditions on site.

Compare this weekend’s windows near Tessie Steel Boat

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: Red lionfish, Sheepshead, Atlantic spadefish
Best time: May through October for calm seas and best visibility (often 30-60 ft offshore in summer).

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, 45% of days have historically been favorable, water has typically been 20°C (68°F), waves have typically been 1.5 m (4.9 ft), wind has typically been 20 knots
  2. February, 54% of days have historically been favorable, water has typically been 19°C (65°F), waves have typically been 1.2 m (3.8 ft), wind has typically been 17 knots
  3. March, 65% of days have historically been favorable, water has typically been 20°C (68°F), waves have typically been 1.2 m (4.1 ft), wind has typically been 18 knots
  4. April, 64% of days have historically been favorable, water has typically been 22°C (71°F), waves have typically been 1.2 m (3.9 ft), wind has typically been 17 knots
  5. May, 90% of days have historically been favorable, water has typically been 25°C (78°F), waves have typically been 0.9 m (2.8 ft), wind has typically been 14 knots
  6. June, 78% of days have historically been favorable, water has typically been 28°C (83°F), waves have typically been 0.9 m (3.1 ft), wind has typically been 14 knots
  7. July, 97% of days have historically been favorable, water has typically been 30°C (87°F), waves have typically been 0.7 m (2.2 ft), wind has typically been 13 knots, historically most favorable
  8. August, 92% of days have historically been favorable, water has typically been 31°C (88°F), waves have typically been 0.7 m (2.3 ft), wind has typically been 13 knots
  9. September, 84% of days have historically been favorable, water has typically been 30°C (85°F), waves have typically been 0.8 m (2.8 ft), wind has typically been 14 knots
  10. October, 59% of days have historically been favorable, water has typically been 27°C (81°F), waves have typically been 1.1 m (3.7 ft), wind has typically been 17 knots
  11. November, 59% of days have historically been favorable, water has typically been 24°C (75°F), waves have typically been 1.2 m (3.8 ft), wind has typically been 17 knots
  12. December, 57% of days have historically been favorable, water has typically been 22°C (72°F), waves have typically been 1.2 m (4.1 ft), wind has typically been 18 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

Facts from OpenStreetMap, corrected by the community — listed by distance only. Details change; confirm with the shop.

Shop facts come from OpenStreetMap and community corrections, shown nearest first. PickADive lists facts and contacts only — no listing is sponsored or ranked.

Data updated June 2026

Site details

Tessie is a small steel boat deployed as part of Escambia County's public artificial reef program in state waters off Pensacola Beach. It sits on a sand bottom in about 77 feet of water and shows as a very small mark on sounders. Like the other nearshore Pensacola reefs it concentrates snapper, grouper and baitfish on an otherwise featureless seabed.

boatreefwreck

Open Gulf boat dive; depth near 80 ft; small target that can be hard to locate; possible mild current; fishing line and hooks on structure; boat traffic — fly a dive flag.

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