The USS Oriskany was deliberately sunk, approximately 22 miles southeast of Pensacola, Florida, to establish the world's largest artificial reef. This sinking was a collaborative effort between the U.S. Navy, the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission, and Escambia County. Following its decommissioning in 1976 and subsequent decades in reserve, the Navy decided to sink the retired Essex-class aircraft carrier to create a new marine habitat, a project commonly referred to as the "Great