Along the Texas Gulf Coast near Port Aransas is the wreck of the John Worthington, a shallow dive opportunity for novice divers. Built in 1920, the Worthington was an Esso tanker. It made 20 voyages during WWII before it was torpedoed off Brazil in 1943. Despite a gaping hole, the Worthington’s crew sailed it to Galveston where the ship was ruled beyond repair. After being stripped and partly salvaged, the ship was abandoned behind San Jose Island where it eventually succumbed to the sea.
Depths to: 25 feet (7.5 m), and the depth of the wreck is 10 feet (3 m) in places.
Visibility: Good to poor because of the relatively shallow depth.
Water temperature: Ranges from 58 to 85 degrees Fahrenheit (15-29 degrees Celsius) depending on the time of year.
Aquatic life: Sheepshead, also known as convict fish and sargo, plus spotted seatrout, also known as speckled trout, speck and spotted weakfish.
Fees: None
On-site amenities: Nearby Port Aransas offers multiple dining and lodging options. Visit for details.
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Getting there: The vessel is about 1.5 nautical miles from Port Aransas, Texas, in the Lydia Ann Channel.
Along the Texas Gulf Coast near Port Aransas is the wreck of the John Worthington, a shallow dive opportunity for novice divers. Built in 1920, the Worthington was an Esso tanker. It made 20 voyages during WWII before it was torpedoed off Brazil in 1943. Despite a gaping hole, the Worthington’s crew sailed it to Galveston where the ship was ruled beyond repair. After being stripped and partly salvaged, the ship was abandoned behind San Jose Island where it eventually succumbed to the sea.