Explosive charges detonate, triggering the Vandenberg's descent to the bottom. (FWC photo by Tim Donovan)

Florida wildlife officials and their many project partners successfully deployed the military ship Gen. Hoyt S. Vandenberg Wednesday, May 27 in the Florida Keys National Marine Sanctuary. On Thursday, May 28, diveboat captain Peter M. Wassylenko was charged with a misdemeanor for diving the wreck with three paying customers.

The opening date for public use was scheduled for Saturday, May 30. Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC) staff found diveboat captain Peter M. Wassylenko’s unattended ship on Thursday, May 28, in the marked, temporary 500-meter security zone that was closed to the public. Wassylenko allegedly tied his boat to a mooring buoy (marking the site of the new Vandenberg artificial reef) and was diving with customers when officials arrived on site. Even on sink day, an FWC patrol boat and helicopter had to escort the same overzealous diveboat captain and his ship, The Bonsai, out of the security zone.

Underwater specialists had to survey the floor-bound ship first, to ensure it was safe for public diving, before individuals could explore the World War II missile-tracking relic. FWC divers and specialists also had to retrieve more than 20 cameras that were mounted on the ship to capture images of the Vandenberg as it sank.

The FWC estimates the vessel’s minimum 100-year lifespan will contribute stable, long-term habitat for scores of marine fish species and provide exceptional diving and fishing opportunities—and revenue—for Florida residents and visitors. According to National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) projections, the Vandenberg artificial reef will result in an annual increase of about $7.5 million in expenditures in the Monroe County economy, and will create about 195 full- and part-time jobs.