Oriskany arrives

[algulfdiver]

UPDATED 5:31 p.m. MONDAY, DECEMBER 20, 2004

Oriskany arrives to prepare for its final rest
The decommissioned USS Oriskany cleared Pensacola Pass around 5 p.m. today, on its way to the Port of Pensacola.

There was brief discussion among Navy officials and the crew that delivered the vessel from Corpus Christi, Texas, as to whether the ship should be moored for the night at Pensacola Naval Air Station because of increasing darkness. It was decided to keep to the original plan and go to the port.

Four tugs were transporting the vessel, one on the bow, one on the stern and one on either side.

Private vessels must keep 500 feet from the Oriskany as it arrives.

The ship is coming to the Pensacola area to be sunk this summer and become an artificial reef.

To view the ship's arrival, there is limited parking on Commendencia Street.



.........."Taken from Pensacola news Journal.".............

 

[Tobagoman]

WooHoo! One step closer.

 

[Randy43068]

Is there a website for this like they had for the Spiegel Grove? I'd love to see pictures and read more about this sinking.

Merry Christmas!
Randy

 

[XJae]

www.ussoriskany.com has some good info and pics.

 

[AevnsGrandpa]

This is way cool.

I went to the web site, but it doesn't really cover the dive side of what will be going on.

Does any know how far out and how deep they are planning on sinking her?

Jeff

 

[Jay_SMART_Diver]

I heard the Keel will be in about 200' and the conning tower will be in around 60' making the deck around 80'-100'.

 

[AevnsGrandpa]

"25 miles southeast of Pensacola"

and

"The location for the Oriskany’s sinking is in waters 212 feet deep. If the ship does come down on its keel, its appeal to SCUBA divers will be enhanced. "It’s going to be a boon for diving," says Lori Schmitz, co-owner of Emerald Coast Scuba in Destin. Assuming it comes on its keel, dive instructor Tim Norkus notes: "The conning tower should be at about 50 feet with the flight deck at about 100ft, well within recreational dive limits."

This info came from

http://www.info-strategies.com/articles/climate39.htm

Jeff

 

[Lead_carrier]

Here is another good link to the Oriskany.
Visit Pensacola

I just hope that the other carriers that are being considered for reefing will be quicker. I served on a couple of them and want to be able to still dive them.

 

[Stealth Turbo]

Such a shame that they are sinking this awesome ship in the gulf....... Can anyone explain why its not being sunk in the atlantic?

 

[gfisher4792]

Looks like I'll have to make plans to dive the Gulf sometime in the future. Can't wait to see the first dive reports and pics!