Gulf Hustler Shipwreck
20 Miles offshore.
Virginia Beach, VA.
The Gulf Hustler was a trawling vessel that sunk in a storm in 1974. Much of the structure is still intact, going from 50ft below the surface to the sand around 80 ft. There are plenty of holes and hiding spots for critters like conger eels, toadfish, and crabs here.
Thermo-clines.
On a wreck like the Gulf Hustler with a structure that sits at 50 feet and drops to the sand at nearly 80, you’ll often find warmer, bluer water near the top of the wreck and greener, colder water near the bottom. That layer where there is a rapid temperature change is called a thermocline, and is caused in Virginia Beach by the confluence of the Gulf Stream that flows offshore and the Labrador current which hugs the coast from the north.
Conger EEls.
This wreck has many little tubes and nooks for conger eels to hide in. And they oblige!
Conger eels are a common sight on this wreck. They are also a good reason to watch where you put your hands and try to practice good buoyancy and stay off the wreck, since they are known to have a taste for diver’s fingers!