Popular Dive Sites

DuPont Bridge Span # 1 was sunk October 30, 2008 next to a pile of pipe and the fish are already migrating to the bridge span and it should make a nice fishing reef. coordinates are: 29'58.902°N 85'51.128°W

USS

USS Strength A U.S. Navy minesweeper, the Strength is 184 feet long and has a 33-foot beam. She was decommissioned and used as a Navy dive salvage training site. She is located 5.75 miles from the St. Andrews Pass in approximately 75 feet of water. The bow is broken and laid over on the port side. The back three-fourths is intact and sits on its keel. The highest point of the superstructure is at 55 feet.

Hoverchraft

Jeff-A Hovercraft A prototype Amphibious Assault Landing Craft (AALC) the Jeff-A was designed for the Navy in 1979. The Jeff-A Hovercraft was sunk as part of the Florida Artificial Reef Program in 1995. The Jeff-A now rests at about 75 feet on a sand and rubble bottom with the top of the wreck reaching approximately 65 feet.

Accokeek

Accokeek Originally built as an auxiliary ocean tugboat and commissioned in the U.S. Navy as the USS ATA-181 in 1944, this vessel played a role in the assault and occupation of Okinawa in the spring and summer of 1945. Following WWII, she served with the Atlantic Fleet. She was decommissioned in 1972 and was eventually transferred to the Naval Diving and Salvage Training Unit in Panama City. The Accokeek was last sunk in July 2000 as an artificial reef.

BJ Putnam

BJ Putnam Originally an oilfield supply boat that was converted into a fish processor, this 180-foot vessel was renamed BJ Putnam in honor of a local charter captain, businessman and community leader of the same name. She was deployed as an artificial reef in November 1993 and sits at a depth of 106 feet.

Black Bart A

Black Bart A 185-foot oilfield supply ship which sits upright in approximately 75 feet of water. Her main deck sits at a depth of 70 feet, while her bow reaches up to 61 feet. Her wheelhouse is no longer enclosed, thanks to Hurricane Michael in 2018. The Black Bart is a popular site for wreck training and underwater imaging. Be sure to bring a dive light!

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There is an abundance of fish in and around the ship. Turtles have been spotted at times, along with catfish, flounder and grouper. The bottom is a bit silty; visibility is generally 20-25 feet at the main deck. Be sure to bring a dive light. One Halloween, a prankster chained a skeleton, complete with mask and snorkel, to the wheelhouse. No word on whether the skeleton is still there. Loran C coordinates: 14030.1, 46972.

 

Near Shore 4 Hour Dive Sites

Top (feet)

Bottom (feet)

Black Bart

50

75

Strength

63

75

Chickasaw

63

70

Twin Barges

70

80

Loss Pontoon

45

65

Stage II

45

55

Blow UP Barge

60

65

Bridge Span #14

45

72

Bridge Span #1

45

70

Bridge Span #5

45

75

Warsaw Hole

78

82

B&B Barge

40

45

Murphy's Barge

45

50

Atlantis

35

45

Navy Trash Pile

45

50

J&B Reef

35

40

Wet & Wild Spot

40

50

Navy Barge

50

55

Bridge Span #12

45

72

PCMI Barge

60

65

Long Beach Barge

45

53

Jeff A Hover Craft

70

75

Dan Barge

50

60

 

Off Shore 6 Hour Dive Sites

Top (feet)

Bottom (feet)

Chippwea

55

92

Tarpon

90

100

Stage I

60

105

BJ. Putman

70

105

Commander

75

90

Accokeek

60

90

Century Barge

92

100

Twin Tugs

70

100

Mac's Reef

72

97

 

Extended Off Shore 8 Hour Dive Sites

Top (feet)

Bottom (feet)

Grey Ghost

85

105

 

Various limestone reefs depths ranging from 80' to 100' off Philips Inlet.

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