SS United States Sinks to Become Gulf’s Largest Artificial Reef

The SS United States sank off Florida’s Panhandle on November 11, ending the ocean liner’s journey as a vessel and beginning its planned second life as an artificial reef. The ship reached the Gulf seabed around 10 p.m., after taking on water for several hours.

The nearly 1,000-foot liner will rest in about 180 feet of water, roughly 25 miles southwest of Destin. Its upper decks are expected to sit about 60 feet below the surface, within reach of divers. Officials say the reef will attract visitors and provide habitat for marine life, including tuna, grouper and red snapper.

The controlled sinking was part of a $13.5 million project led by Okaloosa County. Workers removed the ship’s smokestacks and cut openings in its decks and hull to let water enter. The smokestacks are intended to anchor a museum celebrating the liner. Explosives were barred under federal environmental and explosives rules.

Built in Virginia, the ship made its first voyage in 1952 and set a transatlantic speed record. It carried thousands of passengers, including celebrities and political leaders, before being decommissioned in 1969. Preservation efforts faltered as upkeep costs mounted; the county bought the vessel for $1 million in 2024 and chose to turn it into a reef.

Susan Gibbs, whose grandfather designed the ship, said the reef and a land-based museum would preserve its history while creating a marine habitat. The ship’s new site lies among more than 500 artificial reefs in the surrounding waters.