Check this out! The US Navy has intentionally sunk the USS Oriskany, creating the world's largest deliberately created artificial reef!

The Oriskany became the first vessel sunk under a new Navy program to dispose of old warships by turning them into reefs that can attract fish and other marine life.

Commissioned in 1950 and named after an American Revolutionary War battle, the Oriskany saw duty during the Korean War and was home to John McCain when the Navy pilot and future senator served in Vietnam. It was also among the ships used by President Kennedy in a show of force during the 1962 Cuban missile crisis. It was decommissioned in 1976.

The most interesting part of all this, to me, is the fact that a 2004 Florida State University study estimated Escambia County would see $92 million a year in economic benefits from an artificial reef.

That's a lot of money! I'll definitely be checking this one out when I learn how to dive. 212 feet isn't that deep... is it?

Read more in this great Yahoo article: Aircraft Carrier Sunk in Gulf of Mexico (USS Oriskany) (there's also a great video to go along with the article... look in the left column for the link)