Other Destin-Fort Walton Beach Wants to be Dive Capital of Florida

[Jim Tucker]

Okaloosa County’s Natural Resources Team deployed the MV SKIPPIN SUE, a 118-foot tugboat, as an artificial reef on Monday off the coast of Destin-Fort Walton Beach.

The vessel was deployed on its port side in 77ft of water approximately 8 nautical miles offshore (30° 14.652’N, 86° 30.235’W).

This deployment occurred in state waters within a quarter-mile of the RMS ATLANTIS vessel which was deployed as part of the county’s artificial reef program in June 2023. Having these two large vessels in close proximity to each other will provide multiple fishing and diving opportunities and reduce crowding on these sites.

The deployment represents the completion of the first phase of a two-vessel artificial reef project approved by the Okaloosa Board of County Commissioners in July 2024.

The total $740,000 contract with Coleen Marine Inc. funded the acquisition, preparation, towing from Norfolk, VA and deployment of both the MV SKIPPIN SUE and the MV SPIRIT OF NORFOLK, a 188-foot former dinner cruise ship that caught fire before being condemned.

In a change of events, but still a large benefit to the artificial reef program, the MV SPIRIT OF NORFOLK was purchased by and transferred to the military for future use in exercises, but is expected to be deployed in the coming months.

This allows Okaloosa County to use those savings for another vessel or two, according to Fogg. In the coming months, staff in collaboration with Reef Smart Guides, will create a 3D interactive model that will add to the collection of more than 25 models available on the website and as static cards at local dive shops.

“The MV SKIPPIN SUE is now in position to begin its new life as a thriving marine habitat,” said Alex Fogg, Natural Resources Chief for Okaloosa County. “This tugboat will provide excellent structure for marine species in our nearshore waters and create new opportunities for local anglers and divers.”

The tugboat’s lower profile made it suitable for deployment in shallower depths compared to larger vessels in the county’s artificial reef system. This, coupled with the deployment on its port side, reduced the overall relief by approximately 8 feet with the shallowest point being at 51ft. The vessel was identified as a potential reef during a May 2024 inspection of the MV SPIRIT OF NORFOLK, which was moored nearby.

County officials determined that adding the tugboat to the existing project would be cost-effective due to mobilization and towing costs already being covered for the larger vessel.

“We’re building on Destin-Fort Walton Beach’s reputation as a fishing and diving destination one reef at a time,” Fogg said. “The MV SKIPPIN SUE adds another accessible option for recreational users while creating valuable marine habitat for our native critters.”

The project’s funding came from savings realized on previous artificial reef initiatives, including partnerships that fully funded other vessel deployments and reduced costs through tri-county cooperation.

Like these savings, the current transfer of the MV SPIRIT OF NORFOLK is expected to pay it forward and additional vessels will be identified for artificial reef opportunities, according to Fogg.

The MV SKIPPIN SUE deployment is part of Okaloosa County’s 5-Year Artificial Reef Plan aimed at making Destin-Fort Walton Beach the dive capital of Florida while enhancing its status as a premier fishing destination.

Click here for more info and coordinates (and future model): Destin Artificial Reefs | Spots for Fishing, Diving + Snorkeling

 

[Jim Tucker]

The MV FANTASEA, a 144-foot retired casino boat, has been sunk as an artificial reef off the coast of Destin-Fort Walton Beach in 88 feet of water, completing a project approved by the Okaloosa Board of County Commissioners in February 2024.

The vessel was deployed at coordinates 30° 14.388′ N, 86° 30.294′ W in the southeast corner of the Fish Haven 21 permitted area, approximately 1,500 to 2,000 feet from the RMS ATLANTIS and MV SKIPPIN SUE artificial reefs.

The county contracted Tri-Native Contractors Inc. for $450,000 to acquire and prepare the vessel and transported it from Louisiana to Orange Beach, AL. Walter Marine then took over and made final deployment preparations and towed to the deployment location in Okaloosa County waters. The FANTASEA is the fourth vessel the county has worked with Tri-Native on, following the MANTA, DOLPHIN and DEEP STIM III deployments.

“As with all of our artificial reef deployments, this vessel will provide essential new habitat for numerous fish species and an exciting new dive site for scuba divers and fishermen,” said Alex Fogg, Okaloosa Natural Resource Manager. “This is the third vessel to be deployed in the nearshore Fish Haven 21 permitted area which allows for multiple boats to visit the general area and have a place to fish and dive. “

The deployment was part of the county’s 5-Year Artificial Reef Plan. Tri-Native Contractors fully cleaned and prepared the FANTASEA to meet all state and federal environmental standards for artificial reefs, including removing hazardous fluids and materials, cleaning tanks and bilges, and scraping flaking paint for land disposal.

Okaloosa County Staff conducted final inspections to ensure the vessel was properly cleaned and prepared. The hull, propeller, shaft and superstructure remained intact.

Tri-Native coordinated with specialty marine contractor Walter Marine to cut holes for controlled flooding and sinking. Walter Marine completed the deployment, adding to their experience with dozens of large vessels and tens of thousands of prefabricated reef modules deployed throughout the Gulf.

 

[Jim Tucker]

The 75-foot former scuba diving liveaboard NEKTON RORQUAL was deployed as an artificial reef around 5 p.m. Friday in approximately 132 feet of water, officially becoming the “Ted Forsgren Nekton Rorqual Reef” off the Destin-Fort Walton Beach coast.

The vessel was deployed at coordinates 30° 04.309′ N, 86° 19.839′ W.

Coastal Conservation Association Florida funded half of the project and named the reef. The reef will honor Ted Forsgren, who served as CCA Florida’s first employee and Executive Director in 1985 and held that position for 27 years. A lifelong conservation advocate, Forsgren was instrumental in advancing landmark fisheries policy in Florida.

The deployment marks the completion of one-half of a two vessel project that began in April 2024, when Okaloosa County received the donated vessel from designer and builder John Dixon.

Built in Port St. Joe, Florida, in 2001, the NEKTON RORQUAL originally served as a scuba diving liveaboard capable of accommodating 32 passengers and 12 crew members for week-long diving expeditions. The vessel featured specialized SWATH (small-waterplane-area-twin-hull) technology designed to provide enhanced stability during ocean voyages.

The vessel’s diving operations ceased following the 2010 Deepwater Horizon oil spill disaster, after which it remained out of service until being donated to the county’s artificial reef program.

According to Okaloosa County Natural Resources Chief Alex Fogg, the artificial reef deployment enhances the county’s reputation as a premier fishing and diving destination in Florida. The unique catamaran design of the vessel is expected to provide habitat for marine life while offering accessible diving opportunities.

The reef joins Okaloosa County’s expanding artificial reef program, which aims to support the local marine ecosystem and boost the area’s recreational fishing and diving industries.

A second vessel from the donation, the 80-foot NEKTON PILOT, remains scheduled for future deployment as part of the same artificial reef initiative.

 

[Jim Tucker]

Okaloosa County’s artificial reef program is one of the most active programs in the nation and aims to create locations for fishing, diving and snorkeling activities that are easily accessible to locals and visitors. In addition to fishing and diving sites, artificial reefs provide critical habitat for recreationally and commercially important species of fish.

An artificial reef is a man-made structure that functions as habitat on the seafloor. Some are designed to mimic natural reef structures while others may be designed to create high (tall) relief above the seafloor. Artificial reefs are put in areas where there is a lack of structure to create and enhance the existing habitat for marine life (i.e. sandy areas).

Artificial reefs off Destin-Fort Walton Beach range from pre-fabricated concrete structures like our snorkel reefs, secondary-use concrete such as old bridge material, surplus military equipment, or even decommissioned vessels that are intentionally sunk to sit on the ocean floor.

Deploying an artificial reef is not a quick process! A lot of work goes into acquiring grant funds, contracting, permitting and preparing artificial reefs for deployment. Vessel deployments, for example, require additional cleaning and preparation to ensure all fuels, oils, plastics, and other hazardous materials are removed to eliminate potential negative impacts to the environment we hope to enhance. Following preparation, each reef is inspected and tested prior to approving for deployment.

Since the first public artificial reef site was created in 1976, 564 reef sites have been deployed in the waters off Destin-Fort Walton Beach with more than 300 being deployed since 2019. Some of the fun marine life you can see on our reefs are sea turtles, snapper, amberjack, starfish, and grouper! To learn more about the wildlife that can be seen in Destin-Fort Walton Beach, check out this page!

If you aren’t a diver or want to take a look at what some of our artificial reefs look like prior to diving in, check out the interactive 3D models of more than a dozen reef sites offshore Destin-Fort Walton Beach. These 3D models as well as an interactive map and coordinate files are available for download below.

 

[Jim Tucker]

Note that a lot of the artificial reef project is south of Sandestin and Miramar Beach, even as far east as Topsail Hill Preserve State Park in Santa Rosa Beach.

 

[30A Skunkape]

This is a great idea. With the dying off of coral reefs in south Florida and the Caribbean this might really prove to have been a truly visionary plan.

 

[bob bob]

This is a great idea. With the dying off of coral reefs in south Florida and the Caribbean this might really prove to have been a truly visionary plan.

Even without the coral crises, quite an ambitious plan ... it will bring a ton of divers (with money) and bring in lots of fish and fishermen. When they sink the big girl, SS United States, that should get a lot of attention...

Other - Destin-Fort Walton Beach Wants to be Dive Capital of Florida

Okaloosa County to acquire SS United States for world’s largest artificial reef off Destin-Fort Walton Beach Okaloosa County has signed an agreement to purchase the SS United States, the historic ocean liner that holds the record for the fastest Atlantic crossing, with plans to...

sowal.com

 

[Will B]

View attachment 109551


The 75-foot former scuba diving liveaboard NEKTON RORQUAL was deployed as an artificial reef around 5 p.m. Friday in approximately 132 feet of water, officially becoming the “Ted Forsgren Nekton Rorqual Reef” off the Destin-Fort Walton Beach coast.

The vessel was deployed at coordinates 30° 04.309′ N, 86° 19.839′ W.

This is the boat that got stuck under the Destin bridge last week!

 

[Jim Tucker]

The Okaloosa Board of County Commissioners unanimously approved contracts totaling $820,000 on Tuesday to purchase and deploy two vessels as artificial reefs in the Gulf of Mexico off the Destin-Fort Walton Beach coast.

The board approved single-source contracts with Tri-Native Contractors for $250,000 for the MV BELLE REYNOLDS and $450,000 for the MV HENRY ALEX. An additional $60,000 per vessel will cover deployment costs.

“Both of these vessels are actually priced below what we normally pay for similar sized vessels,” said Alex Fogg, Okaloosa Natural Resources Chief, during the meeting.

The MV BELLE REYNOLDS is a 156-foot custom vessel with multiple decks that was originally being converted to a hunting or fishing camp in the Louisiana bayou before that project was abandoned about 10 years ago.

The MV HENRY ALEX is a 224-foot offshore supply vessel similar to the Deep STIM III that the county deployed two years ago as part of a tri-county project.

Both vessels are currently located in Louisiana, but Fogg joked that “neither of them will be going underneath the Destin Bridge,” a reference to last week’s brief hiccup at the Marler Bridge where the NEKTON RORQUAL was pulled sideways causing it to get stuck under the bridge.

The purchases are part of the county’s five-year artificial reef plan that was passed five years ago, designed to expand fish habitat and create destinations for diving and fishing. Fogg said the county has become “the leader in artificial reef construction in the state, if not the country.”

 

[Jim Tucker]

This is a great idea. With the dying off of coral reefs in south Florida and the Caribbean this might really prove to have been a truly visionary plan.

I agree. And smart of Pensacola to get in on the action. Walton County Tourism Department missed out it should be at the Okaloosa - Walton border.

The Okaloosa Board of County Commissioners unanimously approved partnership agreements Tuesday with Visit Pensacola and Coastal Conservation Association for the SS United States artificial reef project, bringing $2 million in combined contributions to the deployment and marketing of the world’s largest artificial reef.

Visit Pensacola will contribute $1.5 million to the project, while CCA Florida will provide $500,000. Visit Pensacola is scheduled to review and approve the agreement at its December 2025 meeting.

“I applaud the energy that went into creating these partnerships,” said Okaloosa County Board Chairman Paul Mixon. “This collaboration will foster amazing adventures for generations of visitors and create a tourism economy that will benefit the state and the entire Northwest Florida region.”

Of Visit Pensacola’s contribution, $1 million will support deployment costs and $500,000 will fund a five-year joint marketing campaign with Destin-Fort Walton Beach to promote the artificial reef as a worldwide premier diving destination.

“Visit Pensacola is thrilled to partner with Okaloosa County on this historic initiative,” said Visit Pensacola President and CEO Darien Schaefer. “With the addition of the SS United States and Pensacola already home to the USS Oriskany, Northwest Florida is becoming one of the world’s most extraordinary destinations for divers and marine exploration.”


CCA Florida’s $500,000 contribution represents the largest single donation in the organization’s 40-year history.

“This partnership demonstrates how coordinated efforts between public agencies and nonprofit organizations can effectively serve our communities while advancing the health and resilience of our marine ecosystems,” said CCA Florida Executive Director Brian Gorski.

The SS United States, a 990-foot iconic American ocean liner, holds the Blue Riband for the fastest transatlantic crossing by an ocean liner, a record it still maintains. The vessel is currently docked in Mobile, Alabama, undergoing inspection following months of remediation for environmentally safe deployment.
SSUS deployment location (MAP)

The ship is scheduled to be deployed in early 2026 in the Gulf approximately 22 nautical miles southwest of the Destin East Pass and 32 nautical miles southeast of the Pensacola Pass.

The proposed deployment location is 30° 07.244’N, 86° 46.932’W, though the actual location may vary by less than 1 mile due to bottom survey results and deployment day conditions.

Okaloosa County approved full project funding totaling $10.1 million on Oct. 1, 2024, covering all expenses related to the vessel’s purchase, transport, environmental remediation and offshore deployment. The amount also includes a contribution to support development of a future land-based museum exhibit.

In October 2024, the county finalized a purchase and sale agreement with the SS United States Conservancy and a remediation and deployment contract with Coleen Marine Inc.

The county has monitored the vessel’s status since 2022 to evaluate its potential for reef deployment.

Visit Pensacola’s partnership funding will be paid in installments, with $1 million due within 60 days of deployment and $100,000 annually for five years toward joint marketing efforts beginning in fiscal year 2026.

CCA Florida’s donation will be transferred over two years in two increments, starting Jan. 1, 2026, and ending Jan. 1, 2027.

The agencies say the partnership will help create essential habitat and benefit marine life while generating tourism and economic benefits for Northwest Florida. With the USS Oriskany off Pensacola’s shores and the SS United States in Destin-Fort Walton Beach waters, the region will be home to two of the world’s largest artificial reefs.