Florida

Escambia County

Divers will travel far and wide to find the best diving. But those who live in the United States have plenty of great diving on their doorstep as well, with plentiful access to the Atlantic Ocean, the Pacific Ocean and the Gulf of Mexico. From warm-water reefs to temperate seas, here are some of the top places to scuba dive in the United States.

United States

The Norwegian Bark "Catherine" ran aground and sank off Santa Rosa Island in the early 1900's. Her remains lie in 15-18' of water, approxiamtely 300 yards off the beach near Fort Pickens. A fantastic dive site, but not recommended as a shore dive due to tidal surge , rapidly changing conditions and heavy boat traffic. She is from time to time covered with sand which makes it all the better when you do get to dive her.



Pensacola Beach

Catherine

Fort Pickens Jettys is a 0-star rated scuba dive and snorkel destination in USA, Florida, Pensacola which is accessible from shore based on 0 ratings.

Fort Pickens Jettys

Remains of 3 coal barges sunk as an artificial reef approximately 5 miles south east of Pensacola Pass. Depths range 45-60' . This large site is an area favorite for shell collecting and training new divers, and is home to an impressive array of marine life including resident sea turtles

1.8 miles off the beach, in 50 feet of water

Three Coal Barges is also known as Coal Barges.

Three Coal Barges

One of the best small boat dives in the Pensacola area. The wreck is mainly intact, but some sections are covered by sand.

USS Massachusetts (BB-2), an Indiana-class battleship, was the fourth ship of the United States Navy to be named in honor of the sixth state. She was launched on 10 June 1893.

Scuttled off Pensacola Bay, Florida, on 6 January 1921, the hulk was bombarded by batteries from Fort Pickens for four years!

On 15 November 1956, the ship was declared the property of the state of Florida. In 1993, the site was dedicated as an underwater archaeological preserve by the state of Florida, designed to become an artificial reef.

Characteristics:
Displacement: 10,288 t
Length: 350.9 ft
Beam: 69.3 ft
Draft: 24 ft
Speed: 16.21 knots
Complement: 586 officers and men
Armament: 4 x 13-inch guns, 8 x 8-inch guns, 4 x 6-inch guns, 2 x 3-inch guns, 20 x 6-pounders, 6 x 1-pounders, 6 x 18-inch torpedo tubes

See http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/USS_Massachusetts_%28BB-2%29 for more information about the history of this wreck.

Approximately 1,5 mile south south-west of Pensacola Pass. The wreck is marked with mooring buoys.

USS Massachusetts is also known as BB-2.

USS Massachusetts

This is a barge sunk to make a reef. It is an easy dive that is always fun. Many types of fish, a sea turtle at times and a shark or two from time to time.

6.5 miles east of Pensacola Pass
N 30° 16.138' W 087° 10.157'
30.16.138N  	 87.10.157W

Tex Edwards

This wreck got it's name when she went down about two miles from her planned location all on her own (oops) Anyway what's left of this barge still has lots of life on it.  The barge holds a large amount of fish for it's small size. 

She is about 8 miles out of Pensacola pass.

Oops Barge

The 400' hull of the Liberty Ship was sunk as an artificial reef in 90' of water , approximately 8 mile ESE of Pensacola pass.

7 miles ESE of the pass to Pensacola Bay

Liberty Ship is also known as Joseph Meek.

Liberty Ship

Sunk in 1993 as an artificial reef

approx 9 miles SSE of Pensacola Pass


Navy Barge is also known as Air Force Barge.

Navy Barge

This barge was sunk in 1990 and had radio towers added the next year. It make for a good dive with easy underwater navigation. Lots of life on this wreck near the radio towers.



PC Barge

65' long Tug sunk in 1990 as an artificial reef. Depths range 65-80'. Sitting upright, this wreck attracts a large array of marine life, including Amberjack, Snapper, Grouper, and Trigger Fish.

Approximately 9 miles SSE of Pensacola Pass

Tug Sylvia is also known as Tugboat Sylvia.

Tug Sylvia

This is a WW2 wreck hit by German sub and when repairs were too great she was to be sunk as reef only to go down early where she rest today.
She was broken down due to her location in shipping lane with most of the site standing 12' off the floor, however almost in the middle of the wreck are three boiler that stand some 25' off the bottom. This is a outstanding weck dive only 9 miles south southeast of the Pensacola pass. 



San Pablo is also known as Russian Freighter.

Catherine

Snorkeling and Scuba Diving at Catherine