The Ocean Liner That Carried Marilyn Monroe, JFK and Grace Kelly Is About to Become the World's Largest Artificial Reef
Marilyn Monroe, John F. Kennedy and Grace Kelly all crossed the Atlantic on the SS United States. Now the 990-foot liner is set to become the world's largest artificial reef off Destin-Fort Walton Beach, Florida. Where she sinks, how deep, and seven wreck spots you can already reach by boat.
Marilyn Monroe, John F. Kennedy, Grace Kelly, Marlon Brando and Walt Disney all sailed on her, according to the SS United States Conservancy. Now the SS United States is set to become the world's largest artificial reef, per Okaloosa County. She is scheduled to be sunk about 22 nautical miles southwest of Destin-Fort Walton Beach, Florida, on Wednesday 11 November 2026, weather permitting, according to VISIT FLORIDA. The 990-foot liner is planned to rest in about 180 feet of water with her upper deck about 55 feet down, per Okaloosa County. This guide covers what is confirmed so far and seven wreck and reef spots you can already reach by boat.
At a glance
Figures are as published on 10 November 2026. Final depth and as-built coordinates are due after deployment and survey, so treat every number here as proposed.
Where will the SS United States be sunk?
She is planned for Okaloosa County's Large Area Artificial Reef Site C, about 22 nautical miles (25 statute miles) southwest of Destin-Fort Walton Beach, according to VISIT FLORIDA. The site is not visible from the beaches. Earlier county material described the distance as about 20 nautical miles south, so the exact range is best confirmed with official charts once the position is final.
The proposed position, reported by Fox 13 and VISIT FLORIDA, is 30°07.148'N 086°46.755'W. An earlier proposal listed 30°07.244'N 086°46.932'W, and Get The Coast noted the as-built position could vary by less than a mile. Do not navigate by these figures.
When is the sinking and can I watch?
VISIT FLORIDA and Destin-Fort Walton Beach tourism list Wednesday 11 November 2026, weather permitting, moved up one day from 12 November because of a forecast of heavy winds. A live stream is planned at TheSSUS.com, with programming at noon and deployment starting at 1 p.m. Central, per Destin-Fort Walton Beach tourism. The public send-off ceremony was cancelled.
Fox 13 reports that spectator boats must follow safety and security boat instructions. VISIT FLORIDA adds that a wide security perimeter will limit close viewing. If the schedule slips, the plan and the reef itself remain the same.
How deep will she sit and how is she being prepared?
The proposed depth is about 180 feet to the seabed and about 55 feet to the upper deck, per the Okaloosa County FAQ and Baird Maritime. Part of the aluminum superstructure is being removed to reduce depth, and hull openings are cut so she settles upright without explosives, according to the same sources.
The SS United States Conservancy says compartments and lower decks unsafe even for experienced divers have been sealed. Baird Maritime reported on 20 October 2026 that required remediation is complete under EPA and MARAD best management practices.
Can divers visit the SS United States?
No opening date for public diving has been confirmed, per VISIT FLORIDA. Divers should wait for official announcements on access, conditions, and charters. The Conservancy FAQ says the superstructure will be at recreational depth once the funnels are removed, but that is not a dive permission.
What is the history of the ship?
From 1952 to 1969 she was the fastest liner on the Atlantic. The Conservancy lists Marilyn Monroe, John F. Kennedy, Grace Kelly, Marlon Brando, Coco Chanel, Walt Disney, Duke Ellington and Judy Garland among her passengers, along with Presidents Truman, Eisenhower, Kennedy and Clinton. In 1963 she carried the Mona Lisa across the Atlantic, per the Conservancy.
The SS United States entered service in 1952 and won the transatlantic Blue Riband on her maiden voyage, according to the Conservancy. Speed trials reached 38.32 knots, and the Conservancy says the record crossing used about two-thirds of her power. She was retired in 1969 and berthed in Philadelphia from 1996 to 2025, then towed about 1,800 nautical miles to Mobile, Alabama, for remediation, per Baird Maritime and VISIT FLORIDA.
Okaloosa County bought her, with the board approving the contract on 1 October 2024, per Baird Maritime and the Conservancy. The county FAQ says the board allocated $13 million for the whole project, paid from tourism bed tax revenue. A land-based SS United States Museum is planned in Destin-Fort Walton Beach, with both funnels, the propeller, radar mast, and stem anchor saved for it, per the Conservancy and Baird Maritime. No opening date is set.
Which wreck and reef spots can I reach by boat today?
Seven documented sites from YachtWay Places to Go, from the Florida Panhandle to the Keys, Panhandle first. Positions are approximate and shown in degrees and decimal minutes, so use them to plan a trip and not to navigate. Each card opens the full YachtWay page with photos, best season and route planning.
USS Oriskany
Florida's Gulf coast & the Panhandle · near Pensacola
- Type
- Carrier reef, sunk 2006
- Depth
- Flight deck about 145 to 150 ft, island top about 84 ft, seabed about 212 ft
- Position
- 30°01.74'N 087°00.24'W
Underwater Museum of Art
Florida's Gulf coast & the Panhandle · near Santa Rosa Beach
- Type
- Sculpture reef
- Depth
- About 58 ft
- Position
- 30°18.36'N 086°09.36'W
USS Spiegel Grove
The Florida Keys · near Key Largo
- Type
- Landing ship, sunk 2002
- Depth
- In about 130 ft, top deck from about 60 ft
- Position
- 25°04.00'N 080°18.00'W
USCGC Duane
The Florida Keys · near Key Largo
- Type
- Cutter, scuttled 1987
- Depth
- About 120 to 125 ft
- Position
- 24°58.80'N 080°22.92'W
USNS Vandenberg
The Florida Keys · near Key West
- Type
- Transport, scuttled 2009
- Depth
- About 140 ft, top about 50 ft
- Position
- 24°27.60'N 081°44.40'W
Lady Luck
Miami & South Florida · near Pompano Beach
- Type
- Tanker reef, sunk 2016
- Depth
- About 110 ft
- Position
- 26°14.87'N 080°04.45'W
Half Moon Wreck Preserve
Miami & South Florida · near Key Biscayne
- Type
- Schooner wreck, 1908 build
- Depth
- 8 to 10 ft
- Position
- 25°42.06'N 080°05.58'W
Photos: YachtWay Places to Go. Depth sources: the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission for the Oriskany, Fox Weather for the Spiegel Grove, the National Park Service for the Duane and the Half Moon, Visit Florida Keys for the Vandenberg, the Underwater Museum of Art at umafl.org, and Shipwreck Park Pompano Beach at shipwreckparkpompano.org.
How do I plan a wreck trip by boat?
Pick a day with settled weather, confirm current access with the sanctuary, county, or park, and leave the dive to a certified crew for anything below recreational depth. Many of these sites sit in or near protected areas, so check mooring rules before you go. If you are weighing a boat for offshore trips like these, browse boats for sale on YachtWay and compare range, fuel, and deck space.
SS United States reef FAQ
Where will the SS United States be sunk?
Okaloosa County plans to place her about 22 nautical miles (25 statute miles) southwest of Destin-Fort Walton Beach, Florida, at Large Area Artificial Reef Site C, according to VISIT FLORIDA. The proposed position is 30°07.148'N 086°46.755'W, and the final as-built position may differ.
When is the SS United States scheduled to sink?
VISIT FLORIDA and Destin-Fort Walton Beach tourism list Wednesday 11 November 2026, weather permitting. The date was moved up one day from 12 November because of a forecast of heavy winds.
How deep will the SS United States be?
The proposed depth is about 180 feet to the seabed and about 55 feet to the upper deck, per Okaloosa County and Baird Maritime. The final depth will be confirmed after deployment and survey.
Can divers visit the SS United States?
No opening date for public diving has been confirmed. VISIT FLORIDA advises divers to wait for official announcements on access, conditions, and charters. A wide security perimeter is expected to limit close viewing.
Can I watch the sinking from my boat?
Spectator boats must follow safety and security boat instructions, according to Fox 13 and the Conservancy. Check official channels for the current perimeter before heading out.
Why is the SS United States being sunk?
Okaloosa County bought the ship to create an artificial reef, with a land-based museum planned for the Conservancy and county, per the county FAQ and Baird Maritime.
Which other wrecks can I reach by boat in Florida?
The Oriskany off Pensacola, the Spiegel Grove off Key Largo, the Duane near Molasses Reef, the Vandenberg off Key West, and the Lady Luck off Pompano Beach are all documented in the cards above.
