Cool, glad to see there is some interest in this dive. I talked to Gary about the dive today (12-20-07) and he is up to it if we are. Here is some info on the site for those of you who don't know about it:
Site Plan
The USS Massachusetts
The oldest existing American battleship, the USS
Massachusetts was one of three "Indiana" class battleships authorized in 1890 for the new "Steel Navy." Among the most powerful ships of their time,
Indiana,
Massachusetts, and
Oregon were the first heavy-caliber, heavy-armor battleships to be built by the United States, and the first to be given hull numbers. Officially commissioned by the Navy on June 10, 1896, she was over 350 feet long, with a beam of 69 feet and a draft of 24 feet.
In Service
The
Massachusetts saw her first battle during the Spanish-American War. She sailed to Cuba to help blockade the ports of Cienfuegos and Santiago. In the following years
Massachusetts performed a variety of duties, conducting battle practice in several different ports. In 1906, she was decommissioned, but in 1910 was refitted with a caged mainmast and other modern
hardware, including one of the first shipboard wireless telegraphs. The
Massachusetts was placed in reduced commission to serve as a summer practice ship for midshipmen. She also served as a gunnery practice ship for naval reserve crews after war was declared with Germany.
Decommissioned
In 1919, the
Massachusetts returned to Philadelphia and was decommissioned for the final time. Stripped of her guns and furnishings, the obsolete ship was towed to Pensacola in January 1921 to be used as a target for experimental artillery, and scuttled just outside the entrance to the bay. Scarred and torn, the ship sat peacefully for years in the Gulf, attracting fish and fishermen alike. In the late 1950s, several salvage companies tried to salvage the wreck but with the support of the people of Pensacola, the state filed an injunction to prevent salvage, and when the case was brought before the Supreme Court, title to the
Massachusetts was awarded to the State of Florida.
The Massachusetts Today
In 1990, the public once again rallied around the old battleship, and the site was dedicated as an underwater archaeological preserve on June 10, 1993, on the 100th anniversary of the ship's launching. Today, the 350-foot hulk is awash in emerald-green water, partially buried in a white sandy bottom. After spending 70 of her 100 years in the sea, the battleship has become a giant artificial reef.
How to Find the USS Massachusetts
The remains of the USS
Massachusetts are in 26 feet of water, a mile and a half south-southwest of Pensacola Pass at Latitude 30 deg 17 min 45 sec N and Longitude 87 deg 18 min 45 sec W, in the Fort Pickens State Aquatic Preserve, which is administered by the Florida Department of Natural Resources. LORAN coordinates for the wreck are 13215.0 and 47108.9. The site is easily located because the ship's two main gun turrets are awash most of the time. The wreck also is marked by a red bell buoy, and its location is shown on nautical charts.
Site plan.
Location map.
Special Diving Instructions
Due to currents from the nearby pass, optimal diving conditions at the
Massachusetts are at slack high and low tides. Visibility is best at high tide. Caution should be taken when sea conditions are above 2 or 3 feet, due to increased surge in the shallow water surrounding the wreck. Anchoring at the site should take into account surface currents, wind direction, and anticipated tidal change. Anchoring in the sand at the edge of the site will help to avoid fouling and losing anchors in the wreck. Minimum diving equipment should include: 1) open-water scuba equipment; 2) sharp knife; 3) gloves; and 4) a dive flag. Divers should not penetrate the hull due to structural instability and the presence of entanglements. A laminated underwater field guide is available from local dive shops to orient divers on a self-guided tour of the preserve.
Get a brochure or poster.
Return to the Preserves home page.
). If we hit the site a little before high slack tide (about 12:40 pm) we should get some great diving in. It also looks like there isn't going to be alot of tidal movement making currents hopefully a non-issue?
AVE DEPTH
