Jeffrey P. Krau/U.S. Navy photo
Navy divers on Wednesday blew holes in the USS Oriskany, an 888-foot retired aircraft carrier, and sent it to the bottom of the sea to create the world's largest manmade reef.
Posted on 05/19/2006 3:21:11 PM PDT by SwinneySwitch
PENSACOLA, Fla. (AP) -- The site of the sunken aircraft carrier USS Oriskany is now open to recreational divers off Pensacola Beach.
"The Mighty O," as it's called, was sunk 24 miles off the Florida coastline by the Navy on Wednesday as the world's largest manmade reef. Local diving enthusiasts say it's now among the world's top dive destinations because it's nearly three football fields in length and has a long history as a Korean and Vietnam war battleship.
The state officially opened the Oriskany site to recreational divers at one this afternoon.
A spokesman for the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission says the flight deck sank to 135 feet below the surface near its stern and 140 feet near its bow. It's a depth attainable for advanced recreational divers.
Pensacola leaders hope the ship will provide an economic infusion by luring sport divers and fishermen.
So Florida won't build any oil drilling platforms, but they'll sink ships off the coasts! I better not see a flake of rust on the beach next time I am in Florida or I WILL SHUT THE STATE DOWN PERMANENTLY!
Isn't this the ship that McCain launched an air to ground missle from the deck? I have heard this story but don't know if it was documented.Nobody was injured, but I have heard to had to flip two switches to arm and fire a missle and to do that while your plane is sitting on the flight deck is not exactly a bright thing to do.LOL!
I saw this in the paper yesterday in a different article about it becoming an artificial reef . An extremely sad ending to a fine naval vessel in my opinion . Now comes the 64 thousand dollar question : how soon and how many Darwin Award winning amateur divers will get lost in her and run out of air ? Tune in to the news soon and let's find out !!!
And a depth that OW divers should never attempt, but will in droves beacuse its there.
I believe McCain's Skyhawk was hit by a Zuni rocket from An F-4 that had some major malfunctions while parked . His drop tank ignited and he climbed out on the nose and refueling probe to get away . I am not sure , but it might have been the Forrestal where it happened , but he transfered to the Oriskany after ... or vice-versa for the ships , as they both had major fires on deck during Vietnam .
Yup , this gentleman's got it right . Time to refresh the memory with some Stoli now ...
All that said, I'm ready to go.
Thanks for the correction. I have enough problems with McCain. But I am glad he was not a culprit.Hey may be a culprit in other areas though.LOL!
Yes, he was the victim after his plane got hit by a Zuni rocket. Glad we got it clarified. Must have been one of those Urban legend thingies!
you gotta go along to get along
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