The Oriskany was named for a New York town that was the site of a bloody Revolutionary War battle. She was the last of the World War II-era Essex class of carriers. Completed in time to serve in the Korean Conflict, the Oriskany later underwent a series of upgrades to make room for larger, faster jet fighters.

During the Vietnam War, the Oriskany outperformed larger and newer carriers by launching more sorties and dropping more bombs. The crew of the Big "O" holds an impressive record of more than 12,000 sorties flown by Carrier Air Wing 16, which was the largest number ever achieved by a carrier in naval history during a single combat deployment. The Oriskany received two battle stars for Korean Service and five for Vietnamese service.

Following twenty-five years of service, the Oriskany was decommissioned 30 September 1976. She was stricken from the Naval Vessel Register in July 1989, and sold for scrapping on 9 September 1995. The contractor defaulted and the ship was repossessed by the Navy, with the contract terminated 30 July 1997. In 2003, it was decided to make the Oriskany the first military vessel sunk under a Navy program to dispose of old warships by turning them into artificial reefs attracting fish and other marine life.

Hours before the sinking, more than 300 boats with hundreds of Oriskany veterans cruised nearby and saluted in respect as she made her way to the bottom. She settled to the bottom as planned...sitting upright with her bow facing South.

Click Here for a small collection of USS Oriskany squadron & cruise patches.

Photo Courtesy - Keith Mille, Fisheries Biologist IV Click Here For More Photos

Location: 22.5NM 133* from Pensacola Pass - 32.7NM 236* from Destin GPS Coordinates: N30:02.6, W87:00.4 or 30*02'38"N Lat, 87*00'25"W Lon

General Dive Requirements

• Divers wishing to dive the Oriskany must have a minimum of 20 logged dives.
  
• Divers must have the following equipment (1) whistle, (2) safety sausage, (3) dive computer or dive tables, (4) gloves,
  (5) timing device/watch, and (6) pressure gauge.
  
• Openwater Divers without an advanced certification or a deep diver specialty certification (1) will be required to dive with a Divemaster/guide and (2) must have completed 2 logged dives within the last year or complete a refresher dive.
  
• Advanced Divers or those with deep diver specialty certifications (1) must have completed 2 logged dives at or below 80’ in the last year to dive without a Divemaster/guide and (2) must have completed 2 logged dives within the last year to dive with a Divemaster/guide.
• Bring your Certification Card and Log Book.