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Cape May Diver Among First to Explore Sunken SS United States in Gulf
Rustin Cassway, a Cape May-based diver, was among the first to descend on the newly sunk SS United States, now the world's largest artificial reef off Florida's Gulf Coast. He described the 990-foot liner as 'epic' and upright on the seafloor, already attracting marine life.
A Cape May, New Jersey, diver was among the first to explore the SS United States after the historic ocean liner was intentionally sunk in the Gulf of Mexico this week to become the world's largest artificial reef.
Rustin Cassway, who operates the Research Vessel Explorer out of Cape May, completed a 45-minute dive to the wreck on Thursday, a day after the ship made its final voyage to the seafloor. He described the experience as "epic" and said the vessel appeared remarkably clean.
"It was very cleaned up. I mean, you could see people really took their time to clean it really nicely," Cassway said.
The 990-foot shipâlonger than the Titanicâwas sunk just before 10 p.m. Wednesday in about 55 meters (180 feet) of water, with its top deck resting roughly 18 meters (60 feet) below the surface, shallow enough for recreational divers to visit. It now sits upright about 25 miles southwest of Destin, Florida, between Panama City and Pensacola.
Cassway said he expects the artificial reef to draw divers from around the world. "I would say that it's a really good deal for everybody, and very well executed, the fact that it's standing up straight," he said.
The project, estimated at $13.5 million, was undertaken by officials in Okaloosa County, Florida, who purchased the ship in 2024 after it had been retired for more than 50 years and several restoration plans had failed. The vessel had spent nearly three decades docked along Philadelphia's Delaware River waterfront before departing last year for Alabama, where crews prepared it for its new role.
Cassway, an avid shipwreck diver, said he had looked at the ship many times while crossing the Delaware River. He also became friends with the owner of Coleen Marine, the company responsible for sinking the vessel. "Anyone to undertake such an operation is just amazing. And I knew he would get it done; it was a little hairy at the end," Cassway said.
Officials moved up the sinking date by one day due to weather conditions. Cassway said he and his crew seized the opportunity Thursday morning. "We opened up the weather app this morning, we saw there was a window ... we ran down to the marina," he said.
During his dive, Cassway captured video of his friend Will swimming in front of the stern and photographed fish already investigating the new structure. The reef is designed to attract divers and fishing enthusiasts while creating habitat for marine life, including tuna, marlin and swordfish.
"It is a new life, and there's a lot of amazing, amazing life in the Gulf," Cassway said.