Oriskany ("O" Boat) update

[atlas750]

When will it go down? I would love to dive it the first day!

 

[Toecutter]

Does anyone know the name of the 1000' carrier next scheduled to be sunk as an artificial reef? I and hundreds of others here in Texas worked hard to get the Oriskany dropped on our coast. We will have to just drive to P'cola to see her now.

Hi Cap10,

I am new to TX and diving as well but I was disappointed that we did not get this. When you start gearing up for the next one please let me know how to get involved.

 

[ScubaTexan]

We fought with Pensacola so hard, and there is a 1000 ft. air craft carrier up next on the defense department's reef donation list.

Let Pensacola have the Oriskany, we do it bigger and better here in Texas.

Call me cynical, but I'll believe we got one when I see it go down. We've been disappointed before... :icon_roll

 

[Aggie Diver]

ScubaTexan -

My take is even if you're pessimistic, there was three other bids on the Oriskany (counting ours) that missed out, seems if the Navy's gonna dish out three carriers (and especially if we finished second to Pensacola as much speculation does) I'd think we'd get one.

 

[scubadiverjunkie]

http://www.divenews.com/modules.php...=article&sid=2638&mode=thread&order=0&thold=0

Anyone know where they are sinking the Oriskiny?

This will be an awesome dive for many years to come I am sure. Anyhow, I would like to set up a huge group dive for when they finally do get this sunk and open to dive. CAN'T WAIT !!!!!!

 

[DBailey]

Nice info and history about the ship

http://www.chinfo.navy.mil/navpalib/ships/carriers/histories/cv34-oriskany/cv34-oriskany.html

 

[DBailey]

Found this as well:

http://www.cdnn.info/industry/i031026/i031026.html

Taken from the article:

"The Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission voted in July to pursue sinking the USS Oriskany in the Gulf of Mexico about 20 miles south of Escambia County, the westernmost county in the Panhandle."

 

[scubadiverjunkie]

Found this as well:

http://www.cdnn.info/industry/i031026/i031026.html

Taken from the article:

"The Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission voted in July to pursue sinking the USS Oriskany in the Gulf of Mexico about 20 miles south of Escambia County, the westernmost county in the Panhandle."

I have never dove up near the panhandle - Anyone have any experience of dive conditions up there or can say how it is to dive there ?

 

[Scubaguy62]

Here is what I know

FWC News Release


FLORIDA CAPTURES AIRCRAFT CARRIER
April 6, 2004
Contact: Henry Cabbage (850) 488-8843 Henry.Cabbage@f...
The 888-foot aircraft carrier "Oriskany" will head for Florida soon to its
final resting place in the Gulf of Mexico, about 20 miles off Pensacola.
The U.S. Navy and the Maritime Administration awarded the decommissioned
ship to Florida to use as an artificial reef. Once officials sink the ship
in about 210 feet of water, it will enhance fishing and offer a unique
attraction for scuba divers. The "Oriskany" will be the largest ship ever
sunk in America's waters to form an artificial reef.
Federal officials awarded the ship to Florida, based on an application filed
by the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC). Florida's
application edged out others from Texas and Mississippi and a joint
application from South Carolina and Georgia.
Gov. Jeb Bush said the vessel will help recharge the tourism industry in
northwest Florida.
"This ship is an economic windfall and a recreational treasure for the
northwest Florida area," he said. "It has the potential to attract divers
and anglers from all over the world."
Former FWC Commissioner and Chairman Edwin Roberts said landing the
"Oriskany" is the greatest thing that ever happened for scuba divers in
Florida and will provide a much-needed boost for fishermen.
"And the site offshore from Pensacola is the most appropriate, considering
the city's history," Roberts said. "It will be a fitting and honorable
memorial resting place to have the carrier near Pensacola - the Cradle of
Navy Aviation."
FWC Chairman Rodney Barreto said the "Oriskany" is a fabulous beginning to a
new era in Florida. He said the FWC plans to make further improvements to
artificial reefs in south Florida and elsewhere in the state's waters as
resources become available.
"The value of well-planned artificial reefs is enormous," Barreto said.
The "Oriskany" is a Ticonderoga-class attack aircraft carrier, commissioned
in 1950. During its days of service, it had a crew of 3,460 and carried 80
aircraft. The ship served in Korea and Viet Nam and earned seven battle
stars. It has been out of service since 1975.
A study by the Navy indicated that cleaning decommissioned ships and
awarding them to states for artificial reef enhancements is less expensive
than scrapping the vessels.
"We are very pleased that the Oriskany will be coming to Pensacola," said
George Touart, Escambia County administrator. "The community has played a
major role in this endeavor and we want to say thank you."
HPC/OIS

Rick

 

[chickdiver]

Ummm SCUBAGUY- you musta missed the memo- couple of weeks ago the decision was made to give the Oriskany to FL, and she is coming to Pensacola.