Pensacola Dive Locations
Pensacola, Florida, has a number of fabulous dive locations, including the world-renowned ex-USS Oriskany, or “The Great Carrier Reef.”
Check out the descriptions below on The USS Oriskany (as well as other locations like Joe Patti Memorial Reef, Timber Holes, and Pete Tide II), and reach out to Captain Chris for more information
Reef Soldiers provides a variety of dives, including:
- Coral restoration
- Reef surveys
- Lionfish eco-trips/invasive species removal
- Shark research
- Debris removal
USS Oriskany, The Great Carrier Reef
Check out some underwater and historical pictures of the USS Oriskany, now an underwater reef. When you’re ready, review the various dive sites below.
Underwater view of the ex-Oriskany taken 2 years after sinking. (credit)
Top of the conning tower of the USS Oriskany at about 80fsw. (credit)
View from underwater. (credit)
Most surfaces have growth of shells and sea urchins. (credit)
The U.S. Navy aircraft carrier USS Oriskany (CVA-34) near Midway Atoll in 1967. (credit)
The ex-USS Oriskany, a decommissioned aircraft carrier, being sunk to form an artificial reef.
Reef Soldiers Dive Locations
Whether you’re a beginner or advanced diver, Reef Soldiers can help. Learn about some of the prominent Pensacola, Florida, dive sites.
USS Oriskany
Looking for a world-class recreational dive on another level?
The USS Oriskany, also known as “The Great Carrier Reef,” is the pinnacle of Pensacola wreck diving. An aircraft carrier that saw combat service in the Vietnam and Korean wars, the USS Oriskany was intentionally sank on May 17, 2006.
At 904 feet long, 157 feet wide, and 129 feet tall, she is proudly the world’s largest artificial reef!
Needless to say, she provides advanced technical divers plenty of room for exploration!
Marine life is aplenty, with small fish (damselfish, angelfish) all the way up to large game fish (grouper, amberjack, snapper). You may even chance upon a manta ray or whale shark at this site.
Reef Soldiers provides exhilarating morning and afternoon half-day trips, catering to your individual diving experience level.
Joe Patti Memorial Reef
If the USS Oriskany is the most popular dive site in Pensacola, Florida, then the Joe Patti Memorial Reef probably comes in as second.
The Joe Patti Memorial Reef is comprised of a 175-foot long barge, and it’s accessible to divers from a variety of backgrounds and skill levels. From junior divers to experienced ones who want a relaxing dive, this is a great site for everyone.
Donated by the Patti family, the barge was intentionally sunk in 2013 and lays in 50 feet of water.
Want to see a lot of fish? This is the Pensacola diving site for you! Spadefish, baitfish, and tropical fish are aplenty. Like shells? The site is a great place to find them.
Let Reef Soldiers guide you on a morning or afternoon half-day trip to this spectacular site.
Timber Holes
Want to go to a reef diving site with plenty of marine life?
It’s time to check out Timber Holes!
A 120-130 feet-deep diving site, Timber Holes is named after the holes that are in the site’s limestone. The growth of ancient trees may have caused these holes.
YDT-15
YDT-15 was intentionally sank in 2000 in waters south of Pensacola, Florida, close by its sister ship, YDT-15.
Currently sitting in 100 feet of water, the vessel and debris attract a wide range of marine life.
YDT-14
YDT-14 sits in 100 feet of water, about 500 feet from sister ship YDT-15. Both were sank as artificial reefs in 2000.
Decking has been removed to allow for a smoother dive for more recreational divers.
Pete Tide II
A former oil field supply boat, the Pete Tide II was intentionally sank in 1993.
This artificial reef is 180 feet and is one of the most popular Pensacola dive sites.
This fully intact wreck attracts a lot of marine life and is one of 12 sites on the Panhandle Shipwreck Trail.
3 Barges
At depths from 45 to 60 feet, the remains of three steel coal barges lie about three miles southeast of Pensacola Pass. The U.S. Navy sank them in 1974 to keep them from becoming a hazard.
Over time the pieces have broken apart, supplemented by bridge rubble.