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
SS Benwood a half miles abeam("Robert C. Tuttle"). It is reported that at 12:45 a.m. the "Robert C. Tuttle" sighted a black object ahead of the ship and turned starboard after signaling "I intend to turn starboard." with one blow of the ship's whistle. There was no response from the other ship. At 12:50 a.m., the "Benwood" reported to have sighted a black object off her starboard. She sounded the ship's whistle twice indicating, "I intend to turn port." There was no response. It is believed that the two ships were now unwittingly on a collision course with each other. Just before