# World's fastest liner becomes largest artificial reef

> The SS United States, once a symbol of American ocean travel, was deliberately sunk off Florida to create an underwater attraction and boost tourism.
- Title: World's fastest liner becomes largest artificial reef · NPR
- Summary: The SS United States, once a symbol of American ocean travel, was deliberately sunk off Florida to create an underwater attraction and boost tourism.
- Keywords: ss united states, artificial reef, okaloosa county, diving tourism, ocean liner, destin, uss oriskany, maritime heritage, NPR
- Source: NPR — https://npr.org/2026/11/11/nx-s1-6030853/ss-united-states-artificial-reef-sinking
- Published: 2026-11-11T00:00:00+00:00
- Read time: 2 min
- Topics: ss united states, artificial reef, okaloosa county, diving tourism, ocean liner, destin, uss oriskany, maritime heritage, news
## Record-breaking ship meets its end
The SS United States, the world's fastest passenger liner, crossed the Atlantic in less than four days. On Wednesday it sank in five hours.
## A ship with legendary history
Launched in 1951 and longer than the RMS Titanic, the SS United States transported four presidents, the Mona Lisa and twentieth century movie stars before decades of rust.
## Sinking as a new purpose
Facing the scrap heap, the ship's minders settled on a deal to turn the vessel into what is expected to be the world's largest artificial reef off Okaloosa County, Florida.
## How the sinking happened
Crews removed plugs in the ship's hull, allowing it to fill with water without explosives. After hours of delays, the ship tilted onto its side and sank.
## Divers see opportunity
Wreck diver Karen Flynn and her Maryland-based Atlantic Wreck Divers club booked tickets and a charter boat days after the sinking date was set.

> For those of us who love shipwrecks and love ships in general, it was way more tragic to see it sitting and rusting away at the dock.
## Economic hopes for the county
Okaloosa County has sunk hundreds of artificial reefs. Reefs bring in roughly ten million to twelve million dollars in annual economic benefits, with the county expecting to recoup its ten million dollar investment in a…
## A regional diving destination emerges
The SS United States, nearly one thousand feet long, joins the USS Oriskany, an eight hundred eighty-eight foot aircraft carrier sunk off Pensacola in two thousand six, making the area home to the first and…
## Designer's granddaughter finds peace
Susan Gibbs, head of the SS United States Conservancy and granddaughter of designer William Francis Gibbs, sold the ship to Okaloosa County for one million dollars in two thousand twenty-four, calling reefing the more dignified…

> We felt that reefing was by far the more dignified solution.
## Future plans for more reefs
Okaloosa County tourism director Jennifer Adams told NPR plans are already in the works to sink five or six additional artificial reefs after the SS United States.
## Key takeaway

The SS United States, the world's fastest ocean liner, was sunk off Florida on Wednesday to become what is expected to be the world's largest artificial reef, with Okaloosa County hoping to recoup its ten million dollar investment through diving tourism within a couple of years.