New Wreck Coming

[Rob9876]

A bit surprised by some of the comments here -- where to start?

• Pardon my candor, but you folks already in south (especially southeast) Florida are frankly spoiled with good diving choices, so I can understand why you might not want to drive to the FL panhandle to dive this. The panhandle does not have the nice viz + blue water diving that many (including myself) prefer, but it does actually still have some interesting dives with plenty of the cool critters to see.
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• However, for a good amount of the U.S., the panhandle is much easier to get to by car, and many people (especially families with non-divers also) actually prefer to be able to drive to the sugar-white sand beaches of the panhandle. Yes, diving in the panhandle can be expensive, but for those that can drive to the panhandle the transportation savings and somewhat more economical lodging options can balance that out.
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• The panhandle has been doing a really incredible job of sinking wrecks and reef modules over the past 20 or more years, and there are already a good number of near-shore, mid-shore, and off-shore wrecks/reef modules that are pretty popular with divers. Here's some good information on existing Destin scuba sites (with nice links to 3D modules, charters, etc.). Here's some info on the Florida Panhandle Shipwreck Trail. And this next map's a little slow to load, but really cool detailed site for Florida artificial reefs: Artificial Reef Deployment Locator (arcgis.com). And check out al of the reef module deployments shown on the Reefmaker Facebook page. You have to give them their due -- they are really killing it with sinking wrecks and reef modules.
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• Yes, I hope the SS United States is not as far out as the USS Oriskany, but even if it is it will probably still be a big draw as a bucket list dive site (with the United States now becoming the world's largest artificial reef) -- seems like there's a good bit of demand currently to dive the Oriskany, despite the expense and long boat ride. For many, the United States will become a bucket list dive.
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• As to the depth, yes, it would be nice if it were not quite as deep as the Oriskany. However, even after the Oriskany had shifted where the flight deck was around 140 feet, there was still plenty to see within recreational limits -- it's really hard to understand just how massive the Oriskany is until you dive it (it's freakin' huge!). So, I'm optimistic that there will still be plenty of the United States to explore once it is sunk.

So, I think the SS United States will be a good addition to the Florida Panhandle Shipwreck Trail, and think it's great that this record-holding ship will add a new record as the world's largest artificial reef.

 

[LI-er]

A bit surprised by some of the comments here -- where to start?

I'm a bit surprised by your surprise given that while defending the actions of those who decided to sink the ship in a less than optimal location you cover the main problems with the ship being placed where it will be.

The panhandle is a long drive which is the only practical way to get there, visibility is poor, water isn't a pretty blue color, and it's expensive to dive there. Diving is already adequate in much more desirable locations in SE Florida. You feel the need to point out all the great wrecks that have been sunk in the panhandle over the years, because most divers are unaware of them, as they just don't care for all the reasons previously stated. Most non divers don't want to drive several hours just to sit on a white sandy beach when there are plenty of great places to soak up the sun within easy reach.

You "hope" the new wreck won't be as deep and as far out as it's going to be. Excuse my candor but hopium is not an effective strategy. The location has been determined and that's not going to change just because a bunch of people are complaing that it's not convenient. The wreck is too big, it HAS to be placed 20 miles out because that's where the water gets deep enough that it won't present a naviagational hazard and even then the stacks need to be cut down which to me detracts from the beauty of the wreck.

This ship will be a new record because of its size. So what?

 

[Rob9876]

The panhandle is a long drive which is the only practical way to get there, visibility is poor, water isn't a pretty blue color, and it's expensive to dive there. Diving is already adequate in much more desirable locations in SE Florida. You feel the need to point out all the great wrecks that have been sunk in the panhandle over the years, because most divers are unaware of them, as they just don't care for all the reasons previously stated. Most non divers don't want to drive several hours just to sit on a white sandy beach when there are plenty of great places to soak up the sun within easy reach.

A long drive for who? For most of the U.S. the panhandle is closer than SE Florida. And as to the rest of your comment above too -- should we all be so fixated on SE Florida diving that no one should bother diving anywhere else? And yes, millions of people are already coming to the panhandle for the beaches, and lots of people are diving there too -- just because some people are unaware of diving there doesn't mean the rest of us are too. Reef Smart makes a good NW Florida Scuba Guidebook for those who want to learn more.

You "hope" the new wreck won't be as deep and as far out as it's going to be. Excuse my candor but hopium is not an effective strategy. The location has been determined and that's not going to change just because a bunch of people are complaing that it's not convenient. The wreck is too big, it HAS to be placed 20 miles out because that's where the water gets deep enough that it won't present a naviagational hazard and even then the stacks need to be cut down which to me detracts from the beauty of the wreck.

Have they announced the specific destination for it to be sunk, because I've only heard somewhere around Destin? Because of the height of the ship (175 feet), the stacks would need to be cut anywhere in order for the ship to be low enough in navigable water and at the same time for most of the ship to be within recreational dive limits.

 

[Nemrod]

It will be super fun if the stacks are removed so the ship can be reached by recreational divers. I think the minimum depth for navigation is 60 feet.

 

[Waterwulf]

Sure the Florida Panhandle is a long drive....if you live far away. Duh! But there are many many divers who live close enough to take advantage of the new wreck. No, the water isn't a pretty blue, at least not close to shore but it does get better the further out you go. I dove those waters for many years when I lived in Fort Walton Beach. That combined with the incredible beaches, the wildlife areas and the many areas to explore by boat make it a good trip. No, driving is not the only practical way to get there. There is a major airport in the area plus several smaller ones.

 

[chaad]

To all the Destin diving haters: your community is free to buy a giant ship and sink it wherever you want. Okaloosa County purchased the SS United States and is paying to prepare it and sink it. Any community in South Florida can choose to do the same. So instead of getting mad, get busy.

 

[LI-er]

To all the Destin diving haters: your community is free to buy a giant ship and sink it wherever you want. Okaloosa County purchased the SS United States and is paying to prepare it and sink it. Any community in South Florida can choose to do the same. So instead of getting mad, get busy.

No one's mad, me and many others simply think it's a waste of time, effort and money because it's a lousy place to put what could have been a really great wreck dive enjoyed by lots of divers.

Don't take it personally, think of it as a plus that you'll be one of a small handful of divers making the trip to what is likely to be a very uncrowded wreck.

 

[CT-Rich]

I think a lot of the divers that want to dive this type of wreck will be happy to drop money in the local and have the resources to do so. CCR divers and tech divers have dumped a lot of money into gear and are going to spend money.

They will also have been other places where 100’+ visibility is not the norm. I think this is probably going to be a good investment and become a destination dive. Besides, how many people are going to feel the need to drop all the way to the sand on an artificial reef?

Much like a mall the Panhandle wants an anchor attraction, then they will have other wrecks to act as alternatives.

 

[chaad]

No one's mad, me and many others simply think it's a waste of time, effort and money

Here's the rub: it isn't zero sum. Sinking this one in Destin doesn't stop other communities from doing the same with other ships. While there's only one SS United States, there are plenty of other giant ships scrapped every year. I'd love to see more wrecks in areas with better viz, closer to shore, so let's do that *too*. Also, keep in mind this is being funded with local dollars. These funds aren't available to sink ships elsewhere. While it can be debated over the best use of these funds within Okaloosa County government, using them to sink a ship in another location isn't a possibility.

 

[LI-er]

Here's the rub: it isn't zero sum. Sinking this one in Destin doesn't stop other communities from doing the same with other ships.

I'd think that most people following this thread are aware that there's no specific limit as to the number of ships that can be sunk off the coast of Florida and the sinking of this one doesn't prevent the sinking of another one.