Lost 1997 - Steel freighter used for people-smuggling; scuttled as an artificial reef
The Xing Da left China in July 1996 carrying 83 Chinese nationals who were being smuggled towards the United States. In October 1996 the US Coast Guard captured her in a sting operation that broke up a smuggling ring, and she was brought into Bermuda; the migrants and her 26 crew were eventually flown home to China.
Rather than see the empty ship towed to Miami and sunk off Florida, Bermuda agreed to keep her as an artificial reef, with the US promising help with the clean-up costs. The plan was controversial: commercial fishermen and the Bermuda Industrial Union objected to the chosen site, and fishing boats tried to blockade the tow out of St. George's Harbour.
On Thursday 15 May 1997 she was scuttled at Eastern Blue Cut, several miles off Dockyard. She settled upright in about 100 ft, though about a third of the hull came to rest on coral rather than in the intended sand hole.
A deep, advanced wreck dive - the hull is at about 95-105 ft, the deck at around 65 ft and the mast top at about 35 ft, so it can be dived as a multi-level dive, with less experienced divers staying on the bridge and rigging. When sunk she was intact and penetrable. Check with operators on her current condition - at least one later guide reports storm damage.
Approximate position, for interest only - never use for navigation.