The "Whistle Buoy Wreck," or "Harris Freighter," is an unknown wreck that was intentionally sunk several years ago. Little is known of how the wreck found its way to its current home in 220 feet of water near Pacific Reef. Adjacent to the wreck the lines of a large square-based tower that was lying on its side can be found. The wreck itself appears to be a generic looking freighter, approximately 170 feet in length, with a stern wheelhouse that now lays collapsed backwards and what appears to be concrete moldings in the interior of her holds. The wreck is sheared off near the bow, most likely by the scuttling charge by the appearance of the folded out hull plates. A chain runs which leads to the bow section approximately 150 feet away. Lying on its portside, the 30 foot chunk of bow can be found enshrouded by a school of small baitfish and tropical species. The windlass is knocked off on the starboard side adjacent to one of the anchors, with its two flukes the only trace of it above the sand. Off to the starboard, several other large pieces of debris lay scattered in the sand including a chunk of deck with two bollards. Off the portside of the bow was another one of the large tower structures on its side. If these objects landed upright, they would tower over 45 feet from the bottom, 20 feet more than they currently do on their side. Stripped of any useful gear, the wreck appeared to have been down several years. Judging from the amount of bait boxes and other assorted fishing litter amongst the wreck, this site is popular with fishermen, though, surprisingly, there were few, if any, large game fish. A random grouper or errant amberjack were overwhelmed by the tropical species that thrive on the wreck. However, we did note one solitary jewfish that had staked out this wreck as his home turf. Visibility can be extraordinary at this site; on our first visit we found over 150 feet of visibility and we could easily see the dive boat overhead while still in 180 feet of water!
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