Tuesday, December 9, 2008

USS Oriskany Sinks Lower

And you thought once a ship sank, that was that. Not so.

Rebekkah Allen had an article in the Nov. 28th Orlando Sentinel saying that part of the thrill of diving down to the wreck of the USS Oriskany near Pensacola is touching the flight deck, but that is no longer as safe as it was thanks to Hurricane Gustav which disturbed the Big O's final resting place and caused it to settle ten feet farther down which greatly increases the dangers of doing so.

The USS Oriskany, CV-34, an aircraft carrier launched in 1945 and that saw service in the Korean and Vietnam wars was purposefully sunk in 2006 to provide and artificial reef and dive spot. The flight deck was originally 135 feet down, five feet beyond the recreational diving limit. This could be overlooked. But, not 15 feet.

The USS Oriskany was named after a Revolutionary War battle.

Mean Old Hurricane. --Cooter

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