WRECK DIVING
Pensacola is home to some of the most popular wreck diving sites in the U.S.
Pensacola’s beautiful Gulf waters are home to dozens of amazing underwater wrecks that are absolute “bucket list” dive sites for scuba divers. Wreck diving is not limited to tragic or untimely sinking of ships, boats, or aircraft. It’s increasingly common for structures to be purposefully placed on the ocean floor to attract fish and create underwater ecosystems that strengthen local economies and give divers a playground to dive some awesome sites. Pensacola’s marine resources have done an amzaing job with dropping literally hundreds of artificial reefs in our waters to create places to dive and fish where sand only existing before. (Although Barry Shively loves it when Captain Andy gives him a sand dive, just ask him!)
A fascinating set of retired ships have been scuttled to create artificial reefs in the Pensacola area, creating a haven for history buffs, adventure seekers, and animal lovers ready for an up-close experience with marine life. Five of the twelve wreck diving sites that make up the Florida Panhandle Shipwreck Trail are just a short boat ride on the Niuhi Dive Charter.
These local dive sites offer unique underwater experiences for divers of different skill levels. For more information on some of the wrecks we explore, visit our Pensacola Scuba Diving Sites page.
Be sure to read our Trip Info page for details about diving with Niuhi Dive Charters. Need to rent tanks or gear for your dive? Please visit our friends at Dive Pros Dive Center in Pensacola for a great experience.
Brass Wreck
The Brass Wreck is a 250ft long vessel believed to be a 19th Century wooden schooner. It got its name from the thousands of brass pins sticking out of its iron ribs. The wreck has never been positively identified, and it's unknown how it found its way to the bottom in...
Avocet
The Avocet is a 247ft long, 40ft wide, 2,640-ton clamshell dredge built in 1943. The Avocet was intentionally sunk to become an artificial reef site #20 in May of 1991. The Avocet has a breach spanning it's beam, and separating the hull into two sections about seven...
Antares
Located approximately 21 miles ESE of Pensacola Pass, This is a great dive with structure at 90 to 130 feet deep. The M/S Antares is a 387ft freighter intentionally sank on September 27, 1995. At the time of sinking, the Antares was the largest artificial reef in...