The S.S. United States, a 1,000-foot ship, is set to become the world’s largest artificial reef in the Gulf of Mexico, though its final location is still undecided.
Patrick Green, owner of Panama City Diving, expressed excitement about the project, emphasizing its potential to boost local tourism.
“We are really excited that this is going to be the world’s largest artificial reef,” he said. “So if we can get that as close to Panama City as possible … it is going to be great for both of our dive industries and bring a lot of people to this area.”
At a Bay County meeting, divers stressed the importance of the ship to the local economy. In response, the Tourism Development Council agreed to offer Okaloosa County $3 million to help with the project.
“We have been working with Okaloosa County for a very long time and this is a big deal,” said Dan Rowe, the council’s executive director.
If the plan is approved, the ship will be placed 20 miles closer to Panama City, making it more accessible to divers. Green warned that if the ship isn’t placed in the preferred location, it may be harder to reach from the area.
