wreck rap Uppermost structure of the USS Oriskany located off the coast of Pensacola, Florida, USA Text by Melissa R. Price Photos by Melissa R. Price and the Florida Department of State Divers understand there is some- thing eerily attractive about a ship laying upright on the seafloor. Wreck divers often chase that feeling of curios- ity and wonder when exploring undersea environments. While Florida’s eastern coast certainly offers countless popular wreck dives, the Panhandle is an often- overlooked gem. The Florida The Florida Panhandle Panhandle Shipwreck Trail pro- vides an enjoyable mechanism for divers to experience the his- tory and heritage the Gulf of Mexico has to offer within the Shipwreck Trail realm of wreck diving. FLORIDA DEPARTMENT OF STATE The Trail was launched in 2012 by where diving and tourism were con- candidates, which were accessible to munities and succeeded in attracting promotional video footage. The videos the Florida Bureau of Archaeological cerned. Local waterfront communities a variety of certification levels, con- tourists to the region. were produced in the summer of 2018 Research (BAR) in response to the expressed a need for a diving trail similar tained abundant marine life and had Continued management and promo- and contained cinematic interviews with 2010 Deepwater Horizon oil spill, which to the Florida Keys Wreck Trek located on plenty of superstructure to explore. The tion of the Trail involved the creation of archaeologists, who highlighted vari- caused a dramatic drop in tourism to the the eastern coast. wrecks, which were situated offshore of a website and Facebook page, installa- ous exciting aspects of the wrecks. As Panhandle. BAR brainstormed creative A lengthy data collection process Pensacola, Destin, Panama City and Port tion of billboards, distribution of printed a result of these widely distributed and ways to boost the economy, especially resulted in the selection of 12 wreck St. Joe, were popular within local com- material and production of high-quality, extremely popular videos and other 6 X-RAY MAG : 99 : 2020 EDITORIAL FEATURES TRAVEL NEWS WRECKS EQUIPMENT BOOKS SCIENCE & ECOLOGY TECH EDUCATION PROFILES PHOTO & VIDEO PORTFOLIO Divers swim through upper decks of the wreck USS Oriskany (right); Barracuda and schools Florida rap of fish on YDT-14 (below). Both wrecks are located off Pensacola, Florida. promotional materials, the Trail barges, effectively sinking them in received an uptick in interest in their present location. The barges 2019. In response, local stakehold- rest in 50ft (15.3m) of water and ers expressed a desire to have offer plenty of opportunities to more wrecks included in the Trail. practice novice dive skills and So, by the summer of 2020, BAR enjoy local marine life. plans to add eight more vessels to the Trail. Here, the 20 vessels are San Pablo. Nearby is San Pablo, spotlighted. a freighter that originally trans- ported fruit from South America Pensacola to Boston. The vessel saw action Three Coal Barges. These barges during World War II when it was broke free from their transport attacked by a U-boat and sank in 1974 while on their way to a off Costa Rica. It was refloated designated offshore artificial reef and transported to the Gulf of location. To prevent them from Mexico, where it was eventu- washing ashore or causing dam- ally blown up in a secret military age to other vessels, the US Navy operation off Pensacola in 1944. sent in its demolition experts to Found at a depth of 80ft (24.4m), plant explosives on the runaway this freighter invites divers to con- FLORIDA DEPARTMENT OF STATE sider its intriguing story and history Atlantic during the 1940s. This rests at a depth of 212ft (64.6m). as they explore its boilers, rudder workhorse was sunk as an artifi- This immense vessel rises to 80ft and refrigeration coils. cial reef in 2000 in 100ft (30.5m) (24.4m), offering plenty of struc- of water. The upright structure ture for divers to explore. Pete Tide II. Continuing farther is similar to Pete Tide II, with an offshore is Pete Tide II, an offshore intact pilothouse and intriguing Fort Walton Beach & Destin oil rig supply ship that carried swim-throughs. Tugboats. The Fort Walton laborers and provisions to various Beach and Destin areas of the rigs in the Panhandle. The 166ft USS Oriskany. The final and far- Panhandle are a hot spot for (50.6m) long vessel was sunk thest offshore wreck in this area purposefully sunk tugboats. Miss upright in 100ft (30.5m) of water is USS Oriskany, which is quite Louise was an original 2012 Trail in 1993. The pilot house and other possibly the most impressive and inclusion, but five more tugs were two decks offer entertaining swim- popular dive site off Pensacola. added in 2020. throughs, with plenty of schooling The largest artificial reef in the At a depth of 60ft (18.3m), Miss fish and other marine life. world, it served as an aircraft car- Louise is perfect for novice divers. rier during World War II. The 911ft The 95ft (30m) tug maintains a YDT-14. YDT-14 is close enough (277.7m) vessel served in the resident sea turtle and schools of to Pete Tide II that these dives Pacific Theater, receiving battle bait fish, which swarm and dance are often paired. YDT-14 was a stars for its service in the process. around visitors. US Navy dive tender vessel in ser- It was ultimately repurposed Tugboat “Zuess,” Mohawk vice in the Caribbean and South as an artificial reef in 2006 and Chief, Chepanoc, Belize Queen/ FLORIDA DEPARTMENT OF STATE 7 X-RAY MAG : 99 : 2020 EDITORIAL FEATURES TRAVEL NEWS WRECKS EQUIPMENT BOOKS SCIENCE & ECOLOGY TECH EDUCATION PROFILES PHOTO & VIDEO PORTFOLIO wreck rap Resident sea turtle on the wreck of the Miss Louise, located off the Fort Walton Beach and Destin areas in Florida (right); Divers in pilot house of the Pete Tide II wreck, located off Pensacola (below) FLORIDA DEPARTMENT OF STATE Bob Reay Reef, and M/V Janet World War II Liberty Ship, which being used as navy training complete the tugboat highlight was active until 1949 and trans- vessels. Chippewa was sunk in in this area. Many of these tugs ported allied troops from the 1990 in 100ft (30.5m) of water. are associated with concrete United States to Europe. Accokeek was also sunk in 100ft and steel artificial reef structures, (30.5m) of water, in 2000. Both which add to the diver’s under- Panama City Beach vessels are intact enough for water experience. Panama City Beach contains a swim-throughs, and Accokeek number of wartime vessels that has a resident goliath grouper. Thomas Hayward. Another now serve as artificial reefs. 2020 addition in this area is the USS Strength. USS Strength was Destin Liberty Ship, also known as Service tugs. The USS Chippewa a World War II minesweeper that Thomas Hayward. History enthu- and USS Accokeek were initially fought in the Pacific Theater, siasts will appreciate a visit to this service tugs in the 1940s before where it found itself in the cross- FLORIDA DEPARTMENT OF STATE 8 X-RAY MAG : 99 : 2020 EDITORIAL FEATURES TRAVEL NEWS WRECKS EQUIPMENT BOOKS SCIENCE & ECOLOGY TECH EDUCATION PROFILES PHOTO & VIDEO PORTFOLIO wreck rap Diver on the bow of the wreck of USS Accokeek, located off the coast of Panama City Beach in NITROX MARINE PARK FEES Florida TRANSFERS WINE WITH DINNER FUEL SUPPLEMENTS TAXES 12 Fabulous Liveboards Red Sea, Maldives, Indonesia Guaranteed Sailings LEADING THE WAY SINCE 1992 Quality | Excellence | Service | Flexibility | Value Emperor2019__SCUBA.indd 2 11/10/2019 12:51 FLORIDA DEPARTMENT OF STATE hairs of a midget submarine and a kami- the power of Mother Nature. Originally, Port St. Joe kaze raid. Surviving both, the vessel was these two deliberately sunk tugs were History enthusiasts will appreciate the final eventually sunk off Panama City in 1987. situated bow to bow, but after a strong two wrecks, Vamar and Empire Mica, This vessel is not as intact as other wrecks storm, one boat was deposited slightly which were not deliberately sunk as artifi- included in the Trail, but it offers an excit- atop the other. cial reefs. ing dive for history buffs and marine life enthusiasts alike. El Dorado. The final vessel in this area, Vamar. Off Port St. Joe lies Vamar, an El Dorado, is a 2020 addition that pro- English-built patrol gunboat. The steamer Black Bart. Black Bart was another off- vides yet another reminder of Florida’s originally served as a support vessel dur- shore oilfield supply vessel that served the long history with the destructive forces ing Admiral Richard Byrd’s 1928 Antarctic Gulf of Mexico. Originally named Vulcano of hurricanes. The unique and quite expedition before it sank in 1942 under de Gulfo, the vessel was sunk as an arti- recently deployed ship was a modern mysterious conditions. Resting in only 25ft ficial reef in 1993 in memory of Navy luxury cruise liner that washed ashore (7.6m) of water, this shallow dive offers Supervisor of Salvage Captain Charles in October 2018 after the devastating visitors a chance to experience a real “Black Bart” Bartholomew. The vessel’s Hurricane Michael. Its owner donated it shipwreck scattered across the seafloor, wheelhouse was ripped off completely as an artificial reef, allowing the com- a fascinating juxtaposition to those intact after Hurricane Michael in October 2018, munity to reap the benefits for years to and upright vessels described previously. but the open cargo hold still offers swim- come, much to the enjoyment of divers through opportunities. and marine life alike, illustrating how an Empire Mica. Empire Mica, a 2020 addi- unfortunate situation can lead to oppor- tion, is accessible via Port St.