The Sherman Dive Site

Built in 1861, the Princess Royal was 196′ long and made for running the blockades of the south. She was captured trying to run the blockade of Charleston on January 29, 1863, with a cargo of engines to be utilized in the Confederate Navy.

The vessel was sold to the US Navy and became a blockader, serving in the Gulf of Mexico. The USS Princess Royal participated in capturing 9 vessel during the war.

After the war, the ship was sold to the William F. Weld Company and renamed the Sherman.

She was carrying cargo down the Atlantic Coastline when she sprang a leak on January 6, 1874. For three days, the men worked round the clock to stem the flow and remove the water that accumulated.

Heading to port under tow, the Sherman “made a lunge head foremost and disappeared beneath the waves,” just after dark on January 10th.

The Sherman sits at a depth of 55 feet to the sand and is a fantastic location for divers of all skill levels.