Fun in the Water

Diving

Sunken BattleshipPensacola has had an active scuba diving population since the ’60s. But with the sinking of the USS Oriskany in 2006, we’ve now gone from being the “best-kept secret in the diving world” to the must-see destination. As home to the world’s largest artificial reef, scuba enthusiasts are also discovering dozens of other dive destinations off Pensacola’s shores perfect for observing and photographing marine life, spear fishing and beginning wreck penetration dives for properly trained divers.

USS Oriskany

Reefed in May 2006, the USS Oriskany is now the world’s largest artificial reef at 911 feet long. She rests just 24 miles southeast of Pensacola Pass. The vessel’s island is located at 67 feet and the flight deck forms an artificial bottom at 137 feet making it accessible yet challenging for divers of every level.

In addition to the Oriskany, there are dozens of great local dive sites that are superb for observing marine life, photography, spear fishing and beginning wreck dives.

Diving here is good year-round with water temperatures ranging from the 80s in summer to mid and upper 60s in winter. The variety and quantity of marine life found in Pensacola’s waters is comparable to the best dive destinations in the world. While most of the dive sites are artificial reefs, there are a few true wrecks, along with live bottom or natural limestone reefs in the area such as Paradise hole, Green’s hole and the Timber holes.

What type of marine life can you see in Pensacola waters?

A wide variety of popular game fish such as amberjack, grouper, red snapper, triggerfish, tuna, wahoo, cobia and mahi mahi. Tropical fish including butterfly fish, queen angelfish, French and blue angelfish, a variety of damsels, chromis and blennies. Goliath grouper, barracuda, octopus, slipper and spiny lobster, sea turtles, manta rays, eagle rays, starfish, arrow crabs and a variety other crustaceans, dolphins, moray eels, sharks and the occasional whale shark and ocean sunfish (mola-mola).