In an ambitious move to expand Florida’s artificial reef program, the historic SS United States is set to find a new home beneath the waves off the coast of Destin, located in the Florida Panhandle.
Originally launched in the 1950s as both a luxury ocean liner and a potential troop carrier, the SS United States still holds the record for the fastest transatlantic crossing. Now, her legacy will continue underwater as the centerpiece of what will become the world’s largest artificial reef.
Alex Fogg, natural resources chief in Okaloosa County and a keynote speaker at DEMA Show 2025, says the region’s sandy seafloor makes these projects vital for marine life and tourism alike:
“We don’t have natural reefs like South Florida or the Caribbean. We don’t have corals. We really rely on these artificial reefs to create the habitat for the fish that people like to go fishing for, but also for places for people to go diving.
“Everybody wants to be a wreck diver, and if you can bring a vessel such as the SS United States, that will be the largest artificial reef in the world, they are going to come for that and learn about all of the other things we’ve done.”
The 990-foot/302-meter-long vessel will be placed about 21 miles/34km offshore, with its top decks resting at a diver-friendly 55-60 feet/17-18 meters deep. The iconic smokestacks have been removed to ensure accessibility for recreational divers, while preserving the ship’s monumental scale for technical divers who can explore down to the sand at 180 feet/55 meters.
Scheduled for scuttling in 2026, the project coincides with the United States’ 250th anniversary celebrations and includes plans for a museum dedicated to the ship’s artifacts and history.
As Jennifer Adams, director of tourism for Destin-Fort Walton Beach put it:
“There’s a lot of passion about the vessel because she’s historic. We want the fishery to be healthy, and we want the legacy of the SS United States to live on, right here in Destin.”
For more info on Destin Fort Walton Beach, go to Destinfwb.com, and for more info on the SS United States, go to TheSSUS.com.
