New Wreck Coming

[Snoweman]

SS United States starts last voyage to its final destination – at the bottom of the Gulf

The SS United States, the fastest ocean liner to cross the Atlantic, will meet its final resting place in the Gulf off the coast of Florida.

www.usatoday.com

 

[Allen-1]

 

[Josh_caves]

Fun that you can track its progress: Garmin Explore™

 

[SloopCamotop]

Looks like it will be fantastic.

 

[Divin'Papaw]

Keep in mind these things are sunk for fisherman. Divers are a DISTANT 2nd. Look at the Oriskany and what a PITA it is to get out to and actually dive. I suspect this may end up being just as frustrating to get out to and actually dive on.

 

[SloopCamotop]

In my naïveté I thought Oriskany was a mistake and that they would have learned from it. Sad to hear that they may put this too deep, but with so much superstructure compared to a carrier I had high hopes this would be a bigger better Spiegel Grove. It seems like Vandenberg was a hit - is the Destin area just a different mindset when it comes to divers?

 

[Divin'Papaw]

In my naïveté I thought Oriskany was a mistake and that they would have learned from it. Sad to hear that they may put this too deep, but with so much superstructure compared to a carrier I had high hopes this would be a bigger better Spiegel Grove. It seems like Vandenberg was a hit - is the Destin area just a different mindset when it comes to divers?

I see 3 primary challenges with diving the SS United States once it’s sunk vs the Spiegel Grove/Vandenberg comparison:

1. I’ve read it’s going to be in 180’ of water, which is required for the top to be deep enough to not be a navigation hazard. Given how shallow the shelf is on the Gulf coast, that means, like the Oriskany, it’ll be pretty far offshore. Long boat rides, lots of fuel, frequent weather cancelations. Just like the Oriskany.
2. I don’t believe Destin currently has many, if any, of the type of charter boats required to comfortably & safely get divers out there and back.
3. Limited season due to frequent winter storms & colder temps that far north.

I honestly hope none of these are true and it is huge for the Destin diving community, but I have my strong doubts.

 

[Johnoly]

...Long boat rides, lots of fuel, frequent weather cancelations.

Agree.... one of the key advantages of the Vandy & Grove is how many 'repeat' same-customer visits they have. There are many divers who love to do 4 drops over a 2 day weekend on that same wreck spot over & over & over. That doesn't happen very often with the Oriskany, even for fishing boats. The SSUS is definitely going to be a 'bucket list' dive, but for many it will also be a 1 & done.

 

[SloopCamotop]

Nuts. My wife and I are in are our early 50’s, up in Northern Virginia, and looking to transition to our next phase of life/condo shopping. I am exactly the type of person you described - I have lapped the Vandenberg and Spiegel Grove over and over for days on end without getting bored, and was hoping this would be a similar alternative, albeit with more affordable and accessible real estate. The only reason we travel to the keys is for the diving on those two ships (it helps that the food and the sun are so great too ).

Had no idea about the gulf shelf being so shallow and how that will drive placement. In my head I thought this would be the impetus for a dive op windfall, and that the shops there were about to boom. Olympus seems to thrive in NC despite weather and distance but they have more variety in terms of quality sites I guess, and have made the investment in the boats you mention for that work.

If even the fishing boats have to burn fuel for the trip and will be priced accordingly, is this perceived by those in the know to be simply an ill-conceived plan right from the start by Okaloosa County? What’s their angle?

 

[scubadada]

I have many of the same concerns. I have heard it will be about 20 miles offshore, similar to the Oriskany. I have also heard about the 180 foot depth, not sure how that will work as the SS United States is 175 feet from keel to funnel. Maybe they plan on shortening it, remove the funnels?

The Spiegel Grove and Duane are both great dives, I have over 20 on each of therm. I only have 3 dives on the Vandenberg, also a fantastic dive. I have not dived the Oriskany. We'll see what the United States looks like when it is finally sunk.