The Mighty Oriskany

The retired aircraft carrier Oriskany (1945-1976) was successfully reefed on May 17, 2006, approximately 24 miles southeast of Pensacola Pass to become the world's largest artificial reef! At 911 feet in length, the "Mighty O" is an exceptional destination for divers and will soon become a hot spot giving anglers the opportunity to reel in popular game fish such as grouper, snapper and amberjack.

• Oriskany Posters for Sale!
• Charter and Dive Information in the Pensacola Bay Area
• Diving in Pensacola
• ABC News: Weekend Window : USS Oriskany
• NYTimes.com: Out of Commission Above Water, but Not Below It
  
• Oriskany Videos (If you have trouble viewing these, please visit our multimedia library to choose your viewing preference)
• Oriskany Reefing
• An Underwater View of the Mighty O

The reefing was accomplished with controlled charges in 212 feet of water in Pensacola. Prior to the reefing, a memorial service was conducted at the National Museum of Naval Aviation to pay tribute to the crew and the ship that has provided exemplary service to our Navy and country.

EOD divers confirmed that the ship is sitting upright in the north-south orientation. Her island can be approached at 67 feet in emerald-clear water where visibility averages 80 to 150 feet. From the island divers can scan the seemingly endless flight deck sitting at 137 feet, a depth considered a technical dive. CNN dubbed The Mighty Oriskany the "Great Carrier Reef."

For more information regarding and photos of the Oriskany, visit one of the following links below:

• Public Domain Photos of the Oriskany
• History of the USS Oriskany

Media Contact Information:
Laura Lee, Communications and Media Manger for the Pensacola Bay Area Convention & Visitors Bureau (850) 434-1234 or (800) 874-1234.
Tom Roush, Film Liaison (850) 434-0700 or (800) 874-1234.

*One of the driving forces behind bringing the ex-USS Oriskany to Pensacola was Vice Admiral Jack Fetterman, USN (Ret) who passed away on Friday, March 24, 2006.  Federal District Judge Lacey Collier and the late Pensacola Mayor Emeritus Vince Whibbs assumed the roles of Co-Chairman to see the Admiral's vision to completion.

Crystal and Cooper Labenske literally took the plunge in Pensacola, Florida. They were the first couple to tie the knot scuba-style on the world's largest artificial reef, retired aircraft carrier USS Oriskany (pronounced o-ris-ka-nee). The 911-foot ship was reefed off the shores of Pensacola in May, 2006 and sits on a soft, sandy bottom at 212 feet. The wedding however, took place on the island of the enormous ship at about 67 feet down.

Pensacola Dive Company owner Captain Ron Beermünder married the love birds. He is a Navy special warfare trained diver, dive instructor and a notary public as well as an ordained minister. Dive slates were used for the wedding vows written before the ceremony and the "I Dos" were written underwater.

The wedding rings were tied to their BCs (dive vests) with fishing line, which was then cut with their dive knives once the rings were secure on their spouse's finger. Since you should never hold your breath underwater, the bubbly kiss sealed the deal and the couple surfaced to begin their honeymoon.