Scuba Dive in Pensacola in the Gulf of Mexico

For Pensacola scuba dive info and the oil spill, here is a place to check; Pensacola dive shop provides no-BS update on local conditions

There are literally hundreds of sites to scuba dive in Pensacola. On this page I'll list as many as I can to get you started. Each site has a story to tell that will be included with a picture, if available, to add interest.

The latest and most popular arrival is the USS Oriskany. This dive site is large enough that you could spend your entire trip here. Your scuba dive coordinates are: N30:02.542/W87:00.374

Next up is the Liberty Ship/Joseph L. Meek Location: 7 miles east-southeast of the pass leading to Pensacola Bay. The 480-foot Liberty Ship Joseph Meek, with intact hull, was sunk by the Department of Commerce in November 1976 to form areas for sport divers and fishermen. She rests in 95 feet of water with her sides rising 20 feet off the flat bottom. Above I have included a photo of a Liberty Ship but may or may not resemble the Meek. N30:16.348/W87:09.550

Just outside the pass along the buoy line you'll find the USS Massachusetts in 20 - 30 feet of water. Most times the top of the ship is visible and the swells will be breaking over it. This 350 feet steam powered ship was commissiones in 1896 and was a top of the line vessel in those days. N30:17.450/W87:18.690

The Navy Dive Tender YDT-14, a 132'steel ship, was scuttled on April 1, 2000, approximately 18 miles SE of Pensacola Pass. The ship now lies mostly intact in 90 feet of water. This scuba dive site has a nice vertical relief of about 28 feet. N30:11.139/W87:14.715

Location: In artificial reef site #20 which is approximately 19.5 miles on a 166-degree course from sea buoy. This huge 2,640 ton, 247-foot clam shell dredge built in 1943 is one of the largest and best wreck dives on the Gulf Coast. The top of the third deck wheelhouse rises 68 feet from a depth of 115 feet. The vessel was sunk as an artificial reef in May of 1991. You'll enjoy a scuba dive here.

Location: 22 miles south-southeast of Pensacola Pass.Two massive 500-ton structures were submerged in 175 feet of water after a 275-mile barge journey from its original Gulf location. This gift from the Tenneco Oil Company is the first use of a complete platform as an artificial reef. The first Loran coordinates listed below are for the tower section with the deck intact. The second are for the section that consists only of the leg structures called jackets. Diving should be limited to the rig's upper section which begins 80 feet below the surface. Visibility in the area is 100 feet or more during the summer months. Large fish are abundant.

If you are heading to Pensacola for some scuba dive and you have your own boat, check below for some GPS dive coordinates.

18' CATHERINE N30:18.680 / W87:15.920

25' USS MASSACHUSETTS N30:17.450 / W87:18.690

65' TEX EDWARDS BARGE N30:16.137 / W87:10.150

70' F-6F HELLCAT 30:15.952 / W87:11.129

75' OOPS BARGE N30:13.133 / W87:13.813

80' NAVY BARGE N30:11.139 / W87:14.715

80' TUG SYLVIA N30:10.985 / W87:14.120

80' PC BARGE N30:10.920 / W87:14.030

83' TUG DELIVERANCE 30:10.907 / W87:14.618

85' KINGRY BARGE N30:09.434 / W87:13.976

85' SOULE BARGE N30:10.885 / 87:14.568

85' RUSSIAN FREIGHTER/ "SAN PABLO" N30:11.329 / W87:13.088

90' THREE DECK TUG N30:06.116 / W87:23.589

90' NAVY BOATS N30:05.309 / W87:09.634

90' LIBERTY SHIP, JOSEPH L MEEKS N30:16.348 / W87:09.550

90' CSX RAILROAD BRIDGE RUBBLE N30:09.036 / W87:13.690

90' LOST TUG 30:12.072 / W86:57.974

90' THE DUTCH BANKS N30:11.706 / W87:26.179

95' HERON / LCM N30:08.185 / W87:13.665

95' BRASS WRECK N30:12.853 / W87:03.216

95' TUG PHILIP 30:07.810 / W87:13.400

95' TUG BORN AGAIN / PIPES N30:08.063 / W87:14.293

102' PETE TIDE II N30:08.762 / W87:14.017

110' TBF/M AVENGER 30:05.373 / W87:16.817

110' A-7 CORSAIR II 29:58.995 / W87:11.784

115' GREEN’S HOLE N30:08.420 / W87:11.030

115' PARADISE HOLE N30:12.950 / W87:10.440

125' TIMBER HOLES N30:11.083 / W86:51.578

130' AVOCET N29:58.401 / W87:12.623

135' ANTARES N30:00.630 / W87:07.749

135' CHEVRON RIG N30:04.242 / W87:02.120

175' TENNECO RIG N29:59.761 / W87:05.085

220' CVA-34 AIRCRAFT CARRIER USS ORISKANY

ARMY TANKS

N30:09.877 / W87:13.930 N30:09.725 / W87:14.100

N30:09.704 / W87:14.169 N30:09.747 / W87:14.334

N30:09.589 / W87:14.108 N30:09.386 / W87:14.000

N30:09.390 / W87:14.249 N30:09.395 / W87:14.360

N30:09.138 / W87:14.079 N30:06.829 / W87:11.804

N30:06.729 / W87:11.782 N30:06.707 / W87:11.586

N30:06.637 / W87:11.576

For other Activity Breaks & Short Family Adventure- One Life Live It - Weekend Activity Breaks
If sunbathing is not your scene! Go for activity breaks that stimulate your body and mind. Short breaks & weekends, family adventure. Get up and do something … Click here. Scuba dive is also a great break.

The South Coast of NSW has many excellent scuba dive and snorkel sites, some accessible from the shore and others by boat. The marine life of the area is varied and interesting and dive sites are not usually busy. The following information covers dive sites from the Illawarra south to the border, with a focus on the Eurobodalla area. More detailed information may be found in Tom Byron’s book, Scuba Diving, Snorkeling and Spearfishing Guide to Southern New South Wales South Coast of NSW

Enjoy your scuba dive holiday in Pensacola, and remember, if taking your own boat out, file a float plan to leave with someone back on shore. Let me put a little variety here. For water activities this Coast is ideal, the waves are small to medium making for great wind and kite surfing conditions and there are some really good scuba dive sites.

Garden Route Info provides information for travelers on South Africa and specifically the Garden Route. Information includes accommodation, things to do, bird watching, hiking, surfing, diving etc.

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