This dive site is the wreck of the Iristo, a steam freighter built in 1918 in Lorain, Ohio. Originally named Lake Jessup, it was sold several times under different names including War Briar and Ekstrand. In 1935, a Norwegian company renamed it the Iristo (locally also known as Aristo, possibly due to a New York Times article misspelling). The vessel was carrying a cargo of 200 barrels of gasoline, a fire engine, and a steam roller when it sank in March 1937 en route from Newfoundland to Bermuda. Captain Christian Stephensen made a navigational error, mistaking the wrecked Cristobal Colon for a moving ship and altering course to follow it. This led the Iristo to collide with a submerged reef structure near North Rock. The wreck lies on a reef.
Iristo/aristo
Shallow historic freighter wreck with unique cargo on a reef.
Boat Access
3m Avg Depth
4m Max Depth
About this dive site
DivingFreedivingSnorkeling
Plan Your Visit
wreckcoral reefbeginner friendlywide angleshallow
Things to Note
Difficulty:
All levels
Extremely shallow depth of only 4 meters makes it accessible and safe for all divers and snorkelers.
Hazards:
boat trafficsurgesharp metal
Current Strength:
Mild
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