SS United States is getting ready for its second life as people get excited for the world’s largest artificial reef
Destin, Florida – Work is steadily advancing on an ambitious environmental and tourism project in Okaloosa County that aims to create the world’s largest artificial reef. The historic ocean liner SS United States, 990 feet long and formerly represented American maritime power, is the main focus of this initiative. The ship is now getting ready for its second life, which will be under the waves of the Gulf of Mexico.
Recently, crews in Mobile, Alabama, reached an important goal by taking down the ship’s 65-foot-high forward smokestack. The funnel that was taken down has been securely moved to a safe place where it will be kept for display in a land-based museum run by the SS United States Conservancy. Plans are also in the works to take down the back smokestack in the next several weeks as further work is done to get prepared.
Okaloosa County acquired the SS United States in 2024 with a bold vision: to expand marine habitat in the northern Gulf while simultaneously boosting the local fishing and diving economy. Once it is put into service, the ship will join more than a dozen other ships that the Natural Resources Team at Destin-Fort Walton Beach has already turned into reefs.
“This is a massive next step toward an environmental effort that will benefit our local marine habitat and build upon our robust tourism industry in Destin-Fort Walton Beach,” said Okaloosa County Board Chairman Paul Mixon.
“I applaud the efforts of our contractor, Coleen Marine and the Natural Resources Team at Destin-Fort Walton Beach for their work in preserving this ship’s history as the World’s Largest Artificial reef.”
The SS United States is set to be deployed in late 2025, about 20 nautical miles south of Destin-Fort Walton Beach. It will sit on the seafloor at a depth of 180 feet, with the upper deck of the ship sitting around 55 feet below the surface. Officials said the reef will be great for all kinds of divers, from beginners to skilled technical divers.
Officials haven’t decided on a specific deployment site yet, but they promise it will be in a good spot to improve both ecological effect and recreational access. The project is projected to be a major attraction for travelers, which will help the area’s tourism economy, which already brings in more than $2 billion a year.
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Okaloosa County has set up a special webpage and an interactive map of the area’s existing artificial reefs for everyone who want to keep up with the project’s progress. The SS United States Conservancy is also continuing to share the vessel’s rich historical legacy with the public.
