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Map of USS Oriskany
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ExpertBoat entry

USS Oriskany

Florida, United States
AOW suggestedExtreme depth26–65 m depthBoat entryRash guard or 2mm shorty typical

Boat dive — see Entry & access.

USS Oriskany at a glance

USS Oriskany is a expert boat dive site in Florida, United States with depths of 25.6–64.6 m (84–212 ft). Typically most favorable Jul · from 3 years of archive data. Divers commonly see Greater amberjack, Red snapper, and Scamp grouper. Recent reports put the water around 29°C (85°F). Check the latest conditions and entry details before you go.

Marine model · graded 4h ago
0.6 mwaves — under a meter expected

Tap a factor for its source and model point · Forecast 29°C · seasonal avg 30°C

Site hazards: Extreme depth

Read the full hazards ↓

Dive windows this week

Best: Tue
Sun6:00–19:00
Mon6:00–19:00
Tue6:00–19:00
Wed6:00–19:00
Thu6:00–19:00
Fri6:00–19:00
Sat—

Favorable windowModerate window— no window

First light 4:37 · Sunrise 5:03 · Sunset 18:45

Source: Open-Meteo marine · model point 3.4 km from site · graded 4h ago

Forecast only — always assess conditions on site.

Forecast · NOAA tide model

Tide & slack timing

Loading tide predictions

Recent diver reports

Dated firsthand observations from divers — not current conditions.

No diver reports for this site yet. — one dated observation helps every diver after you.

What Divers Say

Known for: Greater amberjack, Red snapper, Scamp grouper
Best time: May through October for the calmest offshore seas; summer visibility often 60-100 ft.

Based on community reviews and site data. Conditions vary — always verify before diving.

Best months, historically

What conditions have historically been typical at this site, month by month — not a forecast.

  1. Jan45%20°C1.5 m
  2. Feb54%19°C1.2 m
  3. Mar65%20°C1.2 m
  4. Apr64%22°C1.2 m
  5. May90%25°C0.9 m
  6. Jun78%28°C0.9 m
  7. Jul97%30°C0.7 m
  8. Aug92%31°C0.7 m
  9. Sep84%30°C0.8 m
  10. Oct59%27°C1.1 m
  11. Nov59%24°C1.2 m
  12. Dec57%22°C1.2 m

July hastypically had the largest share of favorable days here. Conditions vary year to year — this is historical context, not a forecast.

Based on 3 years of archive data. Bar height shows the share of days each month whose conditions have historically scored favorably.

Marine life seen at this site

Species noted at this site — not a promise of what you’ll encounter.

Species seen here

  • Greater amberjackCommonly seen
  • Red snapperCommonly seen
  • Scamp grouperCommonly seen
  • Great barracudaCommonly seen
  • Red lionfishCommonly seen
  • Atlantic spadefishCommonly seen
  • Bull sharkOccasionally seen
  • Sea turtleOccasionally seen
  • Whale sharkRarely seen
  • Mahi-mahiSeasonal

Fills & rentals nearby

No dive shops mapped within 25 km. Know one? Add it to the map.

Site details

The USS Oriskany (CV-34), an 888-foot Essex-class aircraft carrier that served in Korea and Vietnam, was scuttled in 2006 about 22.5 nautical miles southeast of Pensacola Pass to become the world's largest artificial reef — the 'Great Carrier Reef' and flagship of the Florida Panhandle Shipwreck Trail. She sits upright in 212-220 feet of water; the island tower tops out near 84 feet, the flight deck lies at about 145 feet and the hangar bay at 175 feet, putting most of the ship in technical-diving territory. Squadrons of amberjack circle the superstructure, which is now heavily colonized by corals, sponges and baitfish.

boatwreck

Extreme depth — the flight deck lies at ~145 ft and the sand at 212+ ft, beyond recreational limits; only the top of the island superstructure (~84 ft) is within sport-diving range; strong currents common; interior penetration prohibited/extremely hazardous; long 22+ NM offshore run with changeable sea conditions; mandatory decompression for deck dives.

Reviews

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