Oriskany ("O" Boat) update

[archman]

Okay, the latest and greatest news on the Oriskany is that the FINAL DECISION will be on March 19 (Friday). After all this delay it can go to Ohio for all I care!

 

[H2Andy]

yup, March 19th it is... i really hope Pensacola gets it

 

[H2Andy]

ok.. march 19th came and went and still no word. i can't find any stories out.

anyone heard anything?

about two weeks ago, the Navy said it had already decided.

so what's the hold up?

 

[archman]

Yeah, I was waiting for someone else to bring it up... perhaps they meant March 19, 2005. :clock:

 

[DennisS]

It looks like S. Florida pulled a political coup and has taken away the Fish and Wildlife Commissions decision making power on where to place "wrecks". S. Florida already has planes, tanks and a mess of ships offshore. We have way too many tourists, but the "powers that be" don't think its crowded enough down here.

http://www.miami.com/mld/miamiherald/sports/8239532.htm

 

[archman]

Oh, I love it! The legislature there wants to create a

independent group to see where it makes the most sense fiscally and environmentally. `We're trying to create a nonpartisan, nonbiased group that can make the best decisions for the state of Florida.'

Funny how this commission then would consist exclusively of people representing scuba and toursim interests.

The bill would establish a five-member commission -- three representing scuba diving interests and two from the state's tourism arm, Visit Florida -- to recommend to the governor where to sink decommissioned Navy vessels along the Florida coast.

Oh, and look where the interest for this commission is coming from...

Stephen O'Neal, a founder of the Dive Miami Alliance and a booster of bringing the Oriskany to South Florida, helped lawmakers draft the bill.

And funded by...

O'Neal emphasized the new artificial reef placement commission would be funded by private donations with administrative support from Visit Florida

I hope this bill dies an early death. It's beyond blatant in it's BIAS towards south Florida and disregard for proper environmental oversight (from the Fish & Wildlife folks). The journalist who wrote this article is either not very effective at slanting towards an opinion, or is (GASP!) simply stating the facts without twisting them. In the latter case, that's refreshing.

 

[Rick Murchison]

This just in....
-----------------
Hi, Gang! Just got the call from Congressman Jeff Miller and our dreams have come true! The Oriskany will be coming to Pensacola! It probably won't go down until next Spring but what an awesome dive it will be.
>snip advertising<

Eilene

Scuba Shack/Wet Dream Charters, Inc.
711 S. Palafox St.
Pensacola, FL 32502-5935
-------------
Rick

 

[DivemasterSteve]

thank you sir for the info, thats great news for all of us here in the south.

steve

 

[divebomb]

Rick,

Could you tell me a bit more about the ship? How big is it? How deep will it be sunk. How far out? And being a newbie, how is the vis diving at Pensacola?

Thanks, Beck

This just in....
-----------------
Hi, Gang! Just got the call from Congressman Jeff Miller and our dreams have come true! The Oriskany will be coming to Pensacola! It probably won't go down until next Spring but what an awesome dive it will be.
>snip advertising<

Eilene

Scuba Shack/Wet Dream Charters, Inc.
711 S. Palafox St.
Pensacola, FL 32502-5935
-------------
Rick[/QUOTE]

 

[neophytediver]

Figured it would come this way, but I won't believe or start planning....wait I've already started planning that dive....Anyway, I won't believe it until the OFFICIAL announcement comes out.