This Sunken Aircraft Carrier That Lives Below Florida's Waters Is Eerily Enchanting

The USS Oriskany was sunk 22 miles south of Pensacola in the Gulf of Mexico, specifically for this purpose, in 2006. It is the largest vessel ever sunk to make a reef, and has been named one of the top wreck dives in the world (though it's not literally a wreck). This photo shows the Oriskany near Midway Atoll in June of 1967.

The aircraft carrier operated for many years in the Pacific, earning two battle stars in the Korean War and ten in the Vietnam War. In 1966, 44 men lost their lives in one of the worst fires of its kind since World War II, when a magnesium flare ignited onboard. This photo shows the USS Oriskany sinking on May 17, 2006.

During service it was nicknamed The Mighty O, and now it's fondly referred to as The Great Carrier Reef. It has become one of the most popular diving destination in the United States. The 911-foot ship sits stern first in over 200 feet of water, so the reef is accessible from 80 to 212 feet down. This means some of the ship can be explored by beginners, but additional training is necessary to see the entire reef. This photo shows the ship's primary flight control two years after sinking.