Sun Mariner

The Sun Mariner is an artificial reef wreck site off the coast of Palm Beach County, Florida — a 100-foot freighter that was deliberately sunk in the waters just east of the Gulf Stream to create hard substrate habitat in a region of predominantly sandy bottom. The wreck rests at approximately 65 feet on a sand and rubble bottom in the warm, blue water off Palm Beach County's coast, in the transitional zone where the near-shore environment meets the influence of the Gulf Stream drifting north just a few miles offshore. In the years since its sinking the Sun Mariner has become a productive and visually engaging dive site, the hull encrusted with colorful corals, sponges, and gorgonians that attract a rich community of reef fish and larger marine visitors. The proximity to the Gulf Stream means the water here is typically warm, clear, and occasionally graced by pelagic species that drift in from open water: amberjack, cobia, and occasional shark species visit the wreck more frequently than sites on a flat, featureless bottom would attract. Goliath grouper have claimed the wreck as prime habitat — these massive fish are among the most charismatic and reliably encountered species in Palm Beach diving, and the Sun Mariner typically hosts several individuals. Goliath grouper at artificial reefs along this coast are extraordinarily confident around divers, often approaching within arm's reach and hovering alongside divers with a casual familiarity that never entirely loses its thrill. Large nurse sharks rest beneath the hull in the shade, moray eels occupy crevices throughout the structure, and dense schools of grunt and snapper pack the water column immediately above the deck. Advanced divers exploring the Palm Beach wreck circuit will find the Sun Mariner a productive stop, particularly when combined with other nearby artificial reefs on a multi-tank day trip from Riviera Beach or Boynton Beach operators.