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ShipwreckSource Checked

NBM Dive Site Resource

U-2513

Dry Tortugas offshore, Florida, United States

A surrendered Elektroboot evaluated by the U.S. Navy before being sunk as a target west of the Florida Keys. Deep Type XXI wreck documented by divers and Nautilus research vehicles. This is a technical expedition, not a routine Florida Keys recreational trip.

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Historic Photograph

U-2513 off Naval Station Key West on 30 October 1946, during its U.S. Navy evaluation period.
U-2513 off Naval Station Key West on 30 October 1946, during its U.S. Navy evaluation period. Proportional resize and WebP encoding.Unknown photographer · Public domain — https://creativecommons.org/publicdomain/mark/1.0/Source ↗
WaterMarine
AccessOffshore boat / expedition access
ExperienceAppropriate deep / technical wreck qualifications and a supported expedition plan; confirm requirements with qualified local support.
Maximum depthPublished accounts place the wreck at approximately 69–75 m / 226–246 ft; confirm actual relief and bottom depth with expedition support.
Best seasonSeasonal details pending
VisibilityVisibility varies

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

Regional location and nearby land

Location map

Regional overview includes the nearby coast for orientation. It does not establish a navigation waypoint or an entry location.
Map areaDry Tortugas and Key West
Open regional map ↗
Map zoom level 6 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

Why divers know this place

Highlights

A Type XXI submarine associated with postwar U.S. Navy evaluation; Nautilus provides wreck photographs and research context.

Shipwreck-only module

The wreck

This section appears only on shipwreck records and brings the vessel, its loss, present condition, access, and responsible wreck-diving considerations into one place.

Vessel type
German Type XXI submarine
Year built
1944 (launched)
Year sunk
1951
Cause of loss
Transferred to the United States after surrender and sunk as a target in 1951 near the Dry Tortugas.
Present condition
A Type XXI submarine associated with postwar U.S. Navy evaluation; Nautilus provides wreck photographs and research context.
Penetration guidance
This profile describes external wreck context and does not establish that penetration is permissible or suitable.

Before you arrive

Access notes

Deep Type XXI wreck documented by divers and Nautilus research vehicles. This is a technical expedition, not a routine Florida Keys recreational trip. Current permissions, local restrictions, support, weather and tidal windows must be checked before planning access. No scheduled charter or maintained mooring is promised.

Plan within your training

Conditions and hazards

Deep and remote offshore setting, decompression obligations, currents, fishing gear, and deteriorating hull. No navigation point is inferred from conflicting published coordinates.

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.