Sunken Plane Becomes Thriving Reef off Miami

A retired Boeing 727 was sunk in the sea off Miami in 1993 as part of an ecological project to create a marine habitat. The aircraft, named Spirit of Miami, was gently lowered onto the sandy bottom, attracting curious divers who wanted to swim past a full-sized jet on the ocean floor.

The plane remained undisturbed for about a year before Tropical Storm Gordon split it apart in November 1994, pushing its tail section over 150 yards into deeper water. Despite the damage, both broken segments continued to serve as habitats for soft corals and oysters, which settled down, and different kinds of fish, such as parrotfish and snapper, which made use of the wreck as a refuge and food source.

Researchers are still studying these underwater wrecks, focusing on their environmental contributions and insights for upcoming reef constructions. Scientists are trying to figure out where these structures work best, how fast they attract fish, and how well they hold up once a storm hits.