PANAMA CITY BEACH

                  

Black Bart-The Black Bart was sunk as an artificial reef site in the early 1990's and rests in 77 feet of water. She sits upright with her bow pointing due south. Her cargo holds are open for exploring along with the head and the galley, which still contain sinks, toilets, and several appliances. The bridge is only 40 feet from the surface. The main deck sits at 66 feet. Already fish have been attracted here in great abundance and an occasional turtle may be seen. This is one of our favorite dives and we recommend you bring a light and a camera. We often do our Advance Wreck dive on this site.

 

Chickasaw-Built in 1908 for the U.S Corps of Engineers in Pensacola, this twin engine steam tug helped in the building of the St. Andrews Jetties. She was 107 feet long with a beam of 20 feet. The Chickasaw was sold after WW II and her engines replaced with diesel. In the 1960's most of her wooden superstructure was removed. Renamed "Sherman VII" the tug worked until the 1970's when she sank at dock, then refloated. After changing hands several times she sank, for the last time, after bilge pumps failed. Located near the SAB buoy she lies in 77 feet. At times she is covered with so many baitfish that the visibility is reduced to zero. The remaining superstructure is completely gone but the inner engine compartment is accessible and interesting.

 

Chippewa-The USS Chippewa was a 205 foot long tender ship sunk in 1990 as an artificial reef site. Launched in 1942 as a tug she worked in the Caribbean, calling Trinidad home, until 1947. Then she was placed in the reserve until 1989. As a wreck, complete and intact, she sits upright in 97 feet. Her mast is broken off and laying on the port side. The navy and other commercial divers sometime use the wreck for explosive training dives. Good wreck for penetration so bring a light.

 

Grey Ghost-This ex-Navy steel tug was 105 feet and 20 feet wide. The Panama City Marine Institute Reef Program scuttled her on July 12, 1978. The tug rests on her port side and is intact in 108 feet. The tug's huge engine has fallen through the rear cabin area and is lying next to her. This wreck is out of the way for most dive operations and is used more for fishing. Make sure you have a knife because monofiliment line is everywhere. This is a great wreck dive!

 

Strength-The USS Strength is a large wreck with a profile of about 25 feet. This navy tender ship, a minesweeper, was sunk as an artificial reef. Originally a 184 foot long, 33-foot beam, and 650 tons, she was in service from 1944 to the middle 1960's. The Strength carried four 40 mm anti-aircraft guns and a three-inch gun. After her decommission, the Strength was moved to Washington D.C. to train divers for the Navy Diving School. The training involved repairs, surveying and refloating. There is not much superstructure left as the Navy used the wreck to test explosives. A plaque on the side tells her story. After the original sinking, the Strength laid on her side until Hurricane Opal, which left the wreck sitting upright.

 

Tarpon - 83 year old Captain W.G. Barrow left Mobile, Alabama on his 1,735 voyage on the SS Tarpon heading to Panama City. The Tarpon was a 449 ton, 175 feet long steel hull steamer, which traveled from Mobile to as far as Carabelle, Florida on her regular routes. On August 31, 1937 heavy seas were building along with a gale that was increasing in strength. Around 8:30 am, September 1, the seas crashed over the Tarpon's decks and overwhelmed her, then sent her to the sea floor in 97 feet of water. The Captain and 13 other souls were lost. Addley Baker, an engine oiler, swam 25 miles in 25 hours and reported the incident. The Tarpon's main cargo on this route was beer bottles that still are turning up today. Before 1991, the Tarpon was a very majestic shipwreck. The wreck had collapsed on itself and had many artifacts laying about and was teaming with life. In the summer of 1991 a salvage team opened her up, vacuumed out the entire site and left. Our first visit after the destruction we didn't even recognize her. Now the Tarpon is getting growth back on her and the fish are back. The boiler rises 20 feet. Now the site is a historical shipwreck. Too bad Florida didn't do this before 1991.

 

PORT ST. JOE

There is only one reason we come here-it sure isn't the below average restaurants, moldy accommodations, the dead night life, or the stinking paper mill- it's the Empire Mica. The Mica, a 500' British oil tanker, is located about 23 miles out of Indian Pass. She was on her maiden voyage carrying petroleum distillate. During the midst of a storm, unable to go to port because of her size, the Mica threw anchor to wait it out. On that night, June 3, 1942, a German submarine had her in her sights and soon two torpedoes smashed through her holds. Fires could be seen as far away as Panama City. In the 1950's the Corps of Engineers blew her down to deck level for navigational purposes.

The Empire Mica now lies in 110 feet with a profile of 35 feet on the main section. This section, which is rapidly disintegrating, no longer supports the 18-foot spare propeller. The massive boilers lie astern and the bow and aft end are completely collapsed. A huge jewfish has taken residency and the larger grouper, snapper, and other game fish disappear at the site of a diver because they believe us all to be speargun toters. Manta rays, eagle rays, big barracuda, jacks and tuna frequent the wreck. If you spend the time and look closely, you will see octopi hiding everywhere and blennies guarding their domains. We visit this site frequently and find it to be one of favorite advanced dive. Our charter spends all day at the site and usually includes three dives, conditions permitting.