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SaltwaterOceanArtificial ReefUnverified

NBM Dive Site Resource

Del-Jersey-Land Inshore (USS Radford Site)

Offshore Ocean City, Maryland, United States

A deep joint Maryland-Delaware-New Jersey artificial reef centered on USS Arthur W. Radford, lying slightly north of the Maryland line and accessible regionally from Ocean City.

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Historic Photograph

USS Arthur W. Radford arriving at Souda Bay in 2002.
USS Arthur W. Radford, the exact destroyer later reefed at Del-Jersey-Land Inshore.U.S. Navy photo by Paul Farley; via Wikimedia Commons · Public domain — U.S. federal government workSource ↗
WaterMarine
AccessBoat access. Use current DNR reef data, NOAA charts and a site-specific navigation plan; confirm current, weather, legal access and surface support. No operator connection is implied.
ExperienceAdvanced technical/decompression divers with deep-wreck, current and offshore boat-diving experience
Maximum depth131 ft / approximately 40 m maximum published area depth.
Best seasonMain offshore charter season is weather-dependent; a current Ocean City operator lists mid-May through late November.
VisibilityTypically 10–20 ft in the current Ocean City charter guidance, occasionally exceeding 50 ft; conditions can change quickly.

Aquatic life at this dive site

What divers may encounter

Three reviewed connections are featured here. Sightings vary by season, conditions, and chance, so they are never guaranteed.

Profile connection reserved

Aquatic life research in progress

NBM is reviewing a likely local species for this position.

Profile connection reserved

Aquatic life research in progress

NBM is reviewing a likely local species for this position.

Profile connection reserved

Aquatic life research in progress

NBM is reviewing a likely local species for this position.

Site media

Photographs

Three views rotate from the published gallery on each visit.
Illustrated scuba diver reserved for a future dive-site photograph
Dive Photograph PlaceholderDive-site photograph pending
Illustrated scuba diver reserved for a future dive-site photograph
Dive Photograph PlaceholderDive-site photograph pending
Illustrated scuba diver reserved for a future dive-site photograph
Dive Photograph PlaceholderDive-site photograph pending

Contributor media

Dive videos

Three featured video positions are reserved on every profile.
Dive-site video pending
Dive-site video pending
Dive-site video pending

Published reference location

Location map

The marker shows the public coordinates associated with this profile. Confirm current access, moorings, and departure details before the dive.
Published reference coordinates38.50000, -74.50000
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Map zoom level 1 of 11

Map data © OpenStreetMap contributors

Recent field observations

Diver-reported temperatures

Automatically checked observations from dives during the past 14 days. Three reports are visible at a time; scroll for more.
Automatically checked
No recent diver reports from the past 14 days

A report that passes the automatic checks will appear here with the dive date, diver’s display name, and temperatures at each depth.

Reports are automatically checked for plausible dates, depths, and temperatures. They are observations, not forecasts; confirm conditions before diving.

Diver field observation

Report temperatures

Reports publish automatically when the date, depths, and temperatures pass the checks. You must be signed in to submit.

Depth readings

Connected artificial-reef collection

Deployment history

This dive site is included in the deployed Artificial Reefs search, where deployment records and connected news updates are gathered together.

Open this reef in the Artificial Reefs search →

Why divers know this place

Highlights

This site is known as “Del-Jersey-Land Inshore” because the USS Radford sinking was a joint project between Delaware, New Jersey, and Maryland. The site is located about 28.5 miles off Fenwick Is., DE (slightly north of the DE/MD state line) is accessible from Ocean City Inlet, (about 30 miles from the Inlet). The reef area is 1.46 sq. mi in size. Water depth is 121-131 ft. A separate site known as "Del-Jersey-Land Offshore" is located approximately 66 miles off the coast in 180 feet of water.

Dive-area module

Area coverage

This profile represents a preserve, sanctuary, park, or regional dive area rather than one underwater site. The sourced inventory below links to the named sites documented within its boundaries.

Before you arrive

Access notes

The official layer places this joint reef slightly north of the Delaware/Maryland line. Treat the coordinate as a regional planning point, verify jurisdiction and use the current chart and a qualified offshore captain.

Plan within your training

Conditions and hazards

Current, low visibility, boat traffic, entanglement, fishing gear, sharp or unstable material, depth, cold water, possible overheads and seasonal low oxygen. No penetration without specific training and equipment.

At the site

Facilities and support

No guaranteed onsite facilities; support is vessel-based. Confirm suitable ladder, oxygen, communications, gas supply and evacuation planning before departure.

Independent resource notice

This record is a starting point for independent verification. Access, closures, moorings, weather, currents, depth, visibility, operator availability, and site conditions can change without notice. Confirm current information with the responsible operator, property owner, managing authority, or another qualified local source before planning or attempting a dive.