If your beach plans usually involve sunscreen, a floaty and possibly a piña colada, you may want to add scuba gear to that checklist. The emerald waters off Destin-Fort Walton Beach are getting a serious upgrade, and no, we’re not talking about another tiki bar. We’re talking reefs. Artificial ones. Big ones. And one of them used to be America’s most famous ocean liner.
In a rare plot twist worthy of its own docuseries, the long-dormant SS United States is about to go from “historic relic” to “oceanic party host.” After nearly three decades of collecting rust and fan theories in Philadelphia, the 990-foot ship is finally moving—but not to a drydock museum. She’s headed 180 feet beneath the surface of the Gulf of America, just 20 nautical miles offshore from Destin-Fort Walton Beach, to become the world’s largest artificial reef.
And she’s not going alone.
Coming soon to a sea floor near you: the Poseidon Memorial Reef. Because apparently, when it comes to artificial reefs, one Titanic-scale transformation just isn’t enough for Florida’s favorite stretch of sugar-white sand.
Let’s dive into both of these underwater wonders, shall we?
SS United States: From Rust Bucket to Reef Royalty
If you’re wondering how a retired 1950s ocean liner ends up as a scuba hotspot, the answer is … a lot of red tape, about $10.1 million and one very determined marine biologist named Alex Fogg.
Fogg, Okaloosa County’s Natural Resources Chief and unofficial Reef Whisperer, shared that the SS United States will undergo a year-long makeover in Mobile, Alabama. The goal? Remove every last bit of hazardous material before she sinks to her final resting place in 2026.
Photos courtesy SS United States Conservancy. 
Here’s how the $10.1 million breaks down:
- $1 million to buy the ship. (Bargain, really.)
- $1 million for a land-based museum honoring her glory days.
- $7.1 million for hazmat removal, structural prep, and turning a 990-foot hull into something less “abandoned vessel” and more “underwater playground.”
Once she’s cleaned up, she’ll be sunk with her upper deck resting at just 50 feet below the surface—making her dive-accessible for everyone from beginner divers to advanced wreck junkies. And if you’re more into fishing than flippers, don’t worry: the reef will also become a marine life magnet, revitalizing local fish populations and giving anglers something new to brag about.
Oh, and did we mention the expected $3 million in annual economic impact? Not to mention the thousands of jobs tied to the project, from marine prep crews to local dive shops who are already fielding calls faster than a pizza joint during a hurricane warning.
Poseidon Memorial Reef: Where You Can Sleep with the Fishes (In a Good Way)
While the SS United States is making headlines for sheer scale and historical grandeur, the Poseidon Memorial Reef is quietly changing how we think about, well, dying.
Imagine a place where you — or your beloved Uncle Larry — can become part of a living reef system. Not metaphorically. Literally.
At the Poseidon Memorial Reef, located off the coast of Destin-Fort Walton Beach, cremated remains are mixed with eco-friendly cement to form reef structures that serve as eternal homes for marine life. It’s like donating your body to science, except the science involves coral polyps and curious angelfish.
Families can visit by boat. Divers can pay their respects beneath the waves. And the entire thing doubles as both a memorial and a thriving marine ecosystem. Think of it as a mausoleum, but with dolphins.
Is it poetic? Absolutely. Is it slightly morbid? Maybe. Is it cooler than a granite headstone? Unquestionably.
South Walton’s Secret Garden Beneath the Waves
Of course, Okaloosa doesn’t have the artificial reef game cornered. Just to the east, South Walton is quietly cultivating its own underwater Eden. Thanks to the South Walton Artificial Reef Association (SWARA), the region is now home to hundreds of individual reef modules, spread across snorkeling reefs, fishing reefs and even one of the world’s first underwater sculpture parks. Yes, you read that right — art lovers and angelfish now coexist, thanks to the SWARA Sculpture Reef off Grayton Beach.
These reefs aren’t just decorative; they’re carefully engineered to mimic natural habitat, drawing in a kaleidoscope of marine life while giving beachgoers and divers another reason to venture beyond the towel. Whether you’re paddling out with a snorkel or descending with full dive gear, South Walton’s artificial reefs offer an accessible way to explore marine conservation in action. It’s the rare kind of tourism that’s just as rewarding for the fish as it is for the visitors.
Why Reefs? Why Now?
You may be wondering: why are we suddenly dropping ships and ashes into the gulf like it’s an episode of Extreme Makeover: Ocean Edition?
Simple: Artificial reefs are the Swiss Army knives of marine innovation. They attract fish, support biodiversity, boost tourism, and relieve pressure on overused natural reefs. Plus, they give divers something new to explore that isn’t just “yet another sunken tugboat.”
Artificial reefs also help coastal economies punch above their weight class. When you add a 990-foot dive site to your backyard, you’re not just creating habitat — you’re creating a tourism magnet. Hotels book up. Dive boats fill. Restaurants see more foot traffic. And suddenly, everyone from snorkelers to sushi chefs is cashing in.
So, What’s Next?
For now, the SS United States is getting her hazmat facial in Mobile, while Poseidon quietly welcomes new “residents” to its coral-clad community. But both projects point to a future where our oceans — and the people who love them — get a second life beneath the surface.
In a world where headlines are often a buzzkill, it’s refreshing to report on something that blends environmental responsibility, economic impact and human sentiment into one saltwater symphony.
So, whether you’re a diver, a fisher, a dreamer, or just someone who likes their tourism with a splash of sustainability, it’s time to start paying attention to the local reef scene. Because beneath the waves, history is being rewritten, legacies are being forged — and the fish are getting very excited.
Reef Notes:
- You can follow the SS United States transformation journey on SSUSC.org.
- Learn more or memorialize a loved one at PoseidonReef.com.
- Gear up to check out the reef structures in Walton County at swarareefs.org.
- And next time you’re at the beach, maybe take a moment to look out at the horizon. Somewhere out there, the future of the gulf is being built — one reef at a time.
