Bay County TDC invests in SS United States artificial reef project
BAY COUNTY, Fla. (WMBB) – Scuba diving has always been big business for the dive centers here in Bay County. But some are worried are that having the world's largest artificial reef a few counties away could make their businesses much smaller.
'If they don't put it in that corner that we're asking for, then it won't be reachable from Panama City. So it'll be reachable by Destin only,' Panama City Dive Center owner Patrick Green said.
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The SS United States arrived from Philadelphia last week. Okaloosa County commissioners are gambling the last of the great ocean liners will be a major tourist attraction, once it's sunk off their coastline next year.
They're considering 3 proposed sites as the ship's final resting place. The furthest site is 55 nautical miles away from Panama City, which is too far for dive boat operators to reach efficiently.
The closest is about 35 nautical miles from the St. Andrews Pass. That's the one the local diver operators are supporting. They say that location would benefit everyone.
'If we look at the economic impacts of similar type ships that have been deployed before, it's something between doubling the existing business or roughly doing like another 7000 passengers a year, which is huge. It's a big deal for us,' Green said.
Local tourism officials also recognize the significance of the project.
'It's going to sit in 180 feet of water. But the superstructure and the decks itself are going to be accessible just to, you know, folks who can dive 60, 70 feet of water. So, I mean, it really is going to be a great dive for all sorts of different divers,' Bay County Tourist Development Council Executive Director Dan Rowe said.
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In fact, some TDC members believe the SS United States will be enough of a game changer, that they want to invest in the project, to help get that closer location. The Bay County TDC approved a request to expend up to $3 million over two fiscal years for the promotion and marketing of the SS United States.
$2 million will go towards the ship's deployment and $1 million will be spent in promotion. Okaloosa County commissioners will make the final decision on the artificial reef's location.
'They've told me that this is a decision that they will make sooner than later,' Rowe said.
$1 million dollars of the county's investment will build a land-based museum to display the ship's artifacts. Okaloosa county officials believe the SS United States will even draw tourists that don't dive.
Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
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