With a blast that echoed across the waters of the Gulf of Mexico, the USS Oriskany began her 36-minute-long descent into the depths of the blue waters some 25 miles off the coast of Pensacola, Fla., May 17. An estimated 250 vessels filled with spectators encircled the near 900 foot-long decommissioned Navy aircraft carrier to witness its historic plunge into 212 feet of water to begin her new life as an artificial reef as part of the Navy’s new initiative to dispose of several such vessels. More than 30 office staff members and project staff from Resolve Marine Group, Inc. were on hand to watch as the vessel was carefully rigged with explosives and then ceremoniously sunk.