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Ever heard of the “Great Carrier Reef?” The truly amazing Carrier Carrier Reef was made by sinking an American aircraft carrier called the USS Oriskany. While, she is the biggest ship ever to be sunk to be made a reef, there's also a lot more artificial reefs around the country. Off the coast of Georgia are artificial reefs that are being built with battle tanks, New York City subway cars, and World War II cargo ships.
Another deliberate underwater military attraction may be the Underwater Military Museum Dive Site in Jordan's Gulf Of Aqaba. This new but growing museum has a quantity of military vehicles placed there including tanks, ambulances, anti-aircraft guns, military cranes, troop carriers, and even a helicopter.
The Essex Class USS Oriskany – The Might O
The USS Oriskany (CV-34) was nicknamed the Mighty O and was mostly of the Essex class aircraft carriers that were completed after World War Two (Essex carriers were expensive, there wasn't any one left to battle, and also the Americans had so many of them one could trip over them).
- Name: Named Following the Battle of Oriskany From The War of Independence
- Commissioned: In 1950
She was considerably different from those in her class (some thought of her like a different class) and was the last to be built. She was commissioned in 1950. During her service life, earned two battle stars from the wars within the Korean War and also the Vietnam War. The majority of her time was spent operating in the Pacific.
- Largest: The USS Oriskany May be the Largest Ship To become Sunk To create a Reef
- Engagements: She Fought In The Korean War and the Vietnam War
- Decommissioned: In 1976
- Scuttled: In 2006
While she was decommissioned in 1976 it took a long time to really get rid of her. She was sold for scrap in 1995 but repossessed in 1997 as nothing had been done. Eventually, in 2004 it was decided to sink her as an artificial reef off the coast of Florida in the Gulf.
Of course, her fuel and other toxic substances were removed and she or he was carefully sunk in 2006 and settled within an upright position. She was sunk with explosives.
Visiting And Diving The Oriskany
The wreck is immense. She measures 900 feet (280 m) long and 145 feet (40 m) wide. For the reason that, there is plenty of room for marine life to populate.
The Oriskany has been laying around the Gulf floor for 18 years now and is collecting marine life. Today there's a plethora of life including mola molas, tiger sharks, barracuda, whale sharks, as well as manta rays. Hiding in the wreck are moray eels, crabs, and octopuses.
- Location: From the Southern Coast of Pensacola, Florida
Recreational divers can connect to the deck's island structure – it is in a depth of around 70 feet or 21 meters. However the flight deck is a lot harder to achieve, it is now in a depth of 145 feet (44 m). Unfortunately, Hurricane Gustav came through two years later in 2008 and shift the wreck 10 feet deeper.
- The Carrier's Island: Around 70 feet or 21 Meters Deep
- The Flight Deck: Around 145 Feet or 44 Meters Deep
- Hurricane Gustav: Shifted Her 10 Feet Deeper
Fortunately, there are lots of diver operators around offering trips to the Great Carrier Reef.
Companies Overing Dives From the USS Oriskany
Diving trips out to the USS Oriskany could be booked with Ninhi Dive Charters, Dive Pros Pensacola, MBT Divers, and others. As the Great Carrier Reef is quite deep, there are a variety of requirements.
If you might like to dive without a Divemaster guide the requirements are:
- Advanced or Deep Diver Specialty Certification
- Minimum 20 Dives
- 2 logged dives in the past year below 80′
To dive having a Divemaster advice the requirements are:
- Openwater certification or above
- Minimum 20 Logged Dives
- 2 logged dives within the past year or refresher dive
It can also be possible for technical divers to understand more about the lower tower decks, the flight deck, and also the hull. Technical divers need to provide an itemized dive intend to the Captain.
Dive Deep Wreck:
- Top of Oriskany: 84ft (26m)
- Primary Flight Bridge: 105ft (32m)
- Navigation Bridge: 124ft (38m)
- Flag Bridge: 134ft (41m)
- Flight Deck: 146ft (45m)
- Hangar Bay: 175ft (53m)
Those who would like to book their dive should contact the dive companies directly. The costs aren't listed online, but Niuhi Dive Charters does have a diving schedule showing the different diving trips that they have on offer. Both Niuhi Dive Charters and MBT Divers require divers to call them to reserve a booking.
So if one has diving experience, consider adding this to one's itinerary for Florida.
