Historic SS United States Sinks Upright to Form World’s Largest Artificial Reef

The SS United States disappeared beneath the Gulf shortly after 9 p.m. on Nov. 11, after a delay from the originally scheduled 1 p.m. start. Sonar imaging and a remotely operated underwater vehicle confirmed that the 990-foot vessel settled upright on the seafloor, about 22 nautical miles southwest of Destin-Fort Walton Beach, at a depth of roughly 180 feet, with the upper deck reachable at about 60 feet.

Okaloosa County public information officer Nick Tomecek said crews had to fill additional tanks with seawater to stabilize the ship before opening the intake valves. > "She’s a big ship, and it just took a little bit longer than we thought," Tomecek said. He described the descent as even, noting a brief shift to the port side as air escaped from the portholes.

The sinking creates the world’s largest artificial reef, replacing the former record holder, the aircraft carrier Oriskany. Local charter captain and PADI divemaster Jimmy Grady said the new reef is expected to attract divers and anglers, boosting tourism for Northwest Florida.

Preservation advocates expressed disappointment. The SS United States Preservation Foundation issued a statement that the ship “deserved a different ending,” while the SS United States Conservancy’s board member Warren Jones recalled personal memories of sailing on the liner and praised Okaloosa County for its handling of the project.

Divers and scientific teams from the Destin-Fort Walton Beach area and Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution plan to survey the wreck to verify its exact position, which will be provided to the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers. Public access for recreational divers has been postponed pending further assessment.