Wreck
down to 15 m
Three Coal Barges
Three barges lying end-to-end in a field of bridge rubble in 15 m, the closest Pensacola wreck and an easier dive for beginners.
- Open Water
Experienced≤40 m
USS Oriskany
Dive site in Pensacola & Destin, United States
A 911-foot aircraft carrier sunk upright in 2006, its island tower rising to about 26 m below the surface off Pensacola.
- Usual dive
- 40 m
- Deepest point
- 67 m
- Level
- Experienced
- Best months
- May–Sep
- Entry
- By boat
- Current
- Strong
The story
The USS Oriskany (CVA-34), the 'Mighty O', was sunk off Pensacola Pass on May 17, 2006, becoming the first naval warship and largest artificial reef intentionally sunk in US coastal waters. Removing items from the ship is against the law.
Source: myfwc.com
The dive
A wreck and artificial reef dive from a boat. Known for sharks, amberjacks and barracuda.
Who it's for
Experienced≤40 mSource: dan.org
Recommended minimum: Experienced (Deep Specialty, N3).
- DepthThe usual dive goes deeper than lower certifications allow.
- CurrentCurrent can be strong; you need good air management and buoyancy.
- Strong current: dive with a local guide and carry a surface marker buoy.
- The site goes deeper than 40 m: Experienced divers stay above 40 m.
Conditions
- Dive type
- Wreck, Artificial reef
- Environment
- Open water
- Water
- Sea water
What you might see
- Sharks
- Amberjacks
- Barracuda
- Groupers
- Snappers
Season in Pensacola & Destin
- J
- F
- M
- A
- M
- J
- J
- A
- S
- O
- N
- D
- Best
- Good
- Possible
- Closed
- Not documented yet
Best months: May–Sep.
Source: dan.orgPrices in Pensacola & Destin
- Try dive
- €134
- Open Water course
- €537
- Marine park fee
- €13
Prices found at the area's dive centres, not specific to this site. Details and sources
Where is Pensacola & Destin?
The point shows the Pensacola & Destin area, not the exact dive site.
More dives in Pensacola & Destin
Jetty / pier
down to 15 m
Fort Pickens Jetties
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Wreck
down to 26 m
San Pablo (Russian Freighter)
- Advanced
- Cobia
Artificial reef
down to 18 m
Underwater Museum of Art (Grayton Beach)
Sculptures on an 18 m sand bottom a mile off Grayton Beach, visited by reef and nurse sharks from nearby offshore reefs.
- Open Water
- Nurse sharks
Wreck
down to 9 m
USS Massachusetts
- Open Water
- Turtles
Wreck
down to 24 m
Black Bart
A 1977 oilfield supply vessel sunk off Panama City in 1993, with an intact wheelhouse at 12 m and open cargo holds at 24 m.
- Advanced
About this page
Values marked “Estimated” come from our original catalogue and are being checked against published sources one by one. Sourced values link to where they come from. Conditions change with the season, the weather and the tide: confirm with a local dive centre before you dive.