Is diving in Pensacola a new thing?
- Pensacola has had an intensely active SCUBA population since the early 1960s.
- Pensacola has long been the best-kept secret in diving.
- Diving in Pensacola has always been good but was not a well-known dive destination until the Oriskany was reefed in May 2006.
- 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 in Pensacola is good year-round with water temperatures ranging from the 80s in summer to 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. Dr. Edwin Roberts, Jr., former chairman of the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission.
- 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 ar ea such as Paradise hole, Green's hole and the Timber holes.
Is diving the USS Oriskany safe?
- Absolutely! The aircraft carrier sits 24 miles east southeast of Pensacola Pass in an area with relatively light currents and great visibility.
- As with any dive, divers must follow the basic rules of SCUBA:
- always stay within your limits
- recreational divers should stay above 130 feet
- stay close to your buddy
- return to the surface with 500 psi in your tank
- It is a great dive for both recreational divers (above 130 feet) and technical divers (diving below 130 feet) with the ship sitting in 212 feet of water on soft sandy bottom.
- The island, or superstructure, starts at a depth of 78 feet and there is plenty to see above 110 feet.
- The flight deck is located at 145 feet. However, with visibility commonly between 60-100+ feet, you can see the massive deck from the top of the conning tower.
- Always follow (hold on to) the anchor line for descents and ascents. Several operators are requesting that divers have safety buoys (i.e. Come-To-Me devices or safety sausages) for added safety.
- The ship was prepared for use an artificial reef and is safe for divers. The superstructure is wide open and easy to penetrate for those that are properly trained. It has been described as the Super Bowl of diving.
- It is strongly recommended that divers visiting the area go with a local experienced and insured dive master.
- Some operators are requesting that divers be advanced certified whereas others will take open water certified divers since dive masters and instructors typically dive with the group.
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).
- Again, the variety and quantity of marine life found in Pensacola waters is comparable to or better than the best dive destinations in the world.
How many charter boats run in the local area?
- There are four main dive shops in Bay Breeze Aquatics, Pensacola-Scuba Shack, MBT Divers and Dive Pros. (Book a water adventure)
- There are more than a dozen charter boats that run dive charters from Pensacola, Orange Beach and Gulf Shores.
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