SS Benwood Park to form a protection program in 1959 to prevent further damage to the historical wreckage. Today, the "Benwood" is a protected resource under the Florida Keys National Marine Sanctuary, which was formed in 1975. Since then, the "Benwood" site has played host to countless recreational dives, as it is an extremely popular night dive site. Since her sinking, the Benwood has become an artificial reef, providing the only high-profile reef in the immediate vicinity. She lies in 55 feet of sea water with hull plates found in the sand around the perimeter. SS Benwood The "Benwood" is a shipwreck
Shipwrecks of the inland Columbia River Shipwrecks of the inland Columbia River Steamboats on the Columbia River system were wrecked for many reasons, including striking rocks or logs ("snags"), fire, boiler explosion, or puncture or crushing by ice. Sometimes boats could be salvaged, and sometimes not. Collision could occur between steamboats, and probably did on many occasions near landings without serious loss. One instance of collision between boats causing the loss of one was in 1905, when "Boneta" was struck by "Idaho" near St. Joe, Idaho, and sank as a result. "Gwendoline" and "Ruth" were both sunk in narrow Jennings Canyon in 1897 when "Ruth" spun