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Boat entry

Three Coal Barges

Florida, United States
Open Water suggestedAging, collapsing barge structure (reef is 50+ years old17 m depthBoat entryRash guard or 2mm shorty typical

Boat dive — see Entry & access.

Three Coal Barges at a glance

Three Coal Barges is a boat dive site in Florida, United States with depths of up to 16.5 m (54 ft). Typically most favorable Jul–Oct · from 3 years of archive data. Divers commonly see Atlantic spadefish, Sheepshead, and Red snapper. Recent reports put the water around 29°C (85°F). Check the latest conditions and entry details before you go.

Marine model · graded 4h ago
0.4 mwaves — under half a meter expected

Tap a factor for its source and model point · Forecast 29°C · seasonal avg 30°C

Site hazards: Aging, collapsing barge structure (reef is 50+ years old

Read the full hazards ↓

Dive windows this week

Best: Tue
Sun7:00–20:00
Mon7:00–20:00
Tue7:00–20:00
Wed7:00–20:00
Thu7:00–20:00
Fri7:00–20:00
Sat7:00–20:00

Favorable windowModerate window— no window

First light 5:37 · Sunrise 6:03 · Sunset 19:46

Source: Open-Meteo marine · model point 0.3 km from site · graded 4h 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.

What Divers Say

Known for: Atlantic spadefish, Sheepshead, Red snapper
Best time: May through October; a favorite shallow second dive and training site in calm summer conditions.

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. Jan95%16°C0.7 m
  2. Feb100%17°C0.6 m
  3. Mar92%19°C0.6 m
  4. Apr98%22°C0.6 m
  5. May100%25°C0.5 m
  6. Jun99%28°C0.5 m
  7. Jul100%30°C0.3 m
  8. Aug100%30°C0.3 m
  9. Sep100%29°C0.4 m
  10. Oct100%26°C0.5 m
  11. Nov99%22°C0.5 m
  12. Dec99%19°C0.5 m

February, May, July, August, September, and October havetypically 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

  • Atlantic spadefishCommonly seen
  • SheepsheadCommonly seen
  • Red snapperCommonly seen
  • Gag grouperOccasionally seen
  • FlounderCommonly seen
  • BlenniesCommonly seen
  • Southern stingrayOccasionally seen
  • Sea turtleOccasionally seen

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.

Site details

Three runaway coal barges were scuttled during an emergency in 1974 about a mile off Pensacola Beach and now form site #1 of the Florida Panhandle Shipwreck Trail. The barges sit in roughly 50-54 feet of water and, after five decades of storms, are slowly collapsing into low-relief steel reef. Their shallow depth, easy layout and abundant fish make them a favorite for newly certified divers and skills training.

boatwreck

Aging, collapsing barge structure (reef is 50+ years old — storms have broken it up); sharp steel; mild current; boat traffic close to the beach.

Reviews

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