At 256 feet long it allows for a diverse range of diving skills, with plenty for divers to explore. The bow is in approximately 25 feet of water, with the stern at 115 feet. The wreck has settled with its keel facing into the current, placing all the interesting parts of the ship in the lee. Divers shouldn't encounter any current if they stay close to the ship, making the surface swim to and from the boat the most strenuous part of the dive. The large gash in the bow that caused the sinking is easily visible on the port side.
Divers can swim in and out of the pilothouse and crew's quarters with relative ease.
Remember, wreck penetration is only for the properly equipped and trained. The Islander lies just offshore Alexandria Bay, although it is usually done as a boat dive since access can be limited at different times of the year. Built in the late 1800s, the Islander burned and sank on September 15, 1909. The wreck lies only 50 feet from shore. The relatively intact bow section is in 45 feet of water, making it a very popular site.