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USS Oriskany: Sunken Carrier Becomes Thriving Artificial Reef
22 Oct
Summary
- The USS Oriskany, an 888-foot aircraft carrier, now rests on the seafloor.
- It was intentionally sunk on May 17, 2006, to create an artificial reef.
- The reef is home to rare sea creatures and popular with divers.
The USS Oriskany, a formidable US Navy aircraft carrier known as the "Mighty O," now serves a new purpose on the seafloor off Florida's coast. Launched in 1945 and decommissioned in 1976 after service in the Korean and Vietnam Wars, including a role during the Cuban Missile Crisis, the 888-foot vessel was prepared and sunk on May 17, 2006.
The intentional sinking created what Guinness World Records identifies as the largest ship intentionally sunk as an artificial reef. The operation, which involved over 500 pounds of plastic explosives, took 37 minutes for the carrier to reach the seabed approximately 24 miles from Pensacola. This project, costing an estimated $20 million and spanning over three years of preparation, was the EPA's first risk-based approval for disposing of PCBs.
Since its submersion, the Oriskany reef has rapidly become a haven for marine life, attracting divers with its abundant sea creatures, some rarely seen in the northern Gulf. While initial observations indicate a vibrant ecosystem, broader ecological impacts are still under study. The NOAA RESTORE Science Program is conducting a comprehensive Gulf-wide survey to build a robust database of reef fish and their habitats, with the goal of better understanding these complex marine environments.
