In 1986, Florida sank this 189-foot ship off the Florida Keys; decades later, its stripped superstructure is covered in sponges, corals and hydroids

What was once a military vessel, a lightning research ship and an industrial piece of equipment now lies beneath the waters of the Florida Keys, covered in sponges, corals and hydroids.

The Thunderbolt, a 189-foot vessel, was deliberately sunk in 1986 to create an artificial reef off Marathon. Nearly four decades later, the wreck has become part of the marine ecosystem, offering shelter and surfaces for a variety of underwater organisms.