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Florida FWC artificial reef deployment list.
Dive Spot Guide•
USS Chickasaw
Open-frame tugboat wreck off Panama City Beach with charter access.
Local operator required
Use a Panama City Beach charter that knows the inshore wreck field and can screen for conditions.
USS Chickasaw is usually reached by charter from Panama City Beach, where the wreck sits as an open artificial reef. The outside is straightforward, but interior entry stays for trained wreck divers.
About USS Chickasaw
USS Chickasaw is a steel tugboat wreck off Panama City Beach in an open artificial-reef field, with a skeletal hull that is easy to read from the outside. The engine space can be entered only by trained wreck divers, while the surrounding structure and baitfish make the site a classic charter day for the outside of the wreck.
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Research Estimate At USS Chickasaw
Conservative baseline from public research. No community dives logged yet.
VisibilityVisibility: 12m
AccessSimple entry
CoralSome damage
Aquatic LifeGreat variety
FacilitiesGood facilities
Crowd / PopularityModerate
CurrentLight current
SurgeLight surge
Where Is USS Chickasaw?
This spotNearby spotsExplore nearby spots on the map
Community sourced coordinates.
USS Chickasaw Planning Details
Depth range, seasonality, and planning context.
Reported Depth
21m
Depth Note
Open-structured tugboat wreck in shallow offshore water, with interior entry reserved for trained divers.
Best Season
April through September usually offers the best diving windows, with the warm season extending the easy boat days.
Typical Conditions
Open steel wreck, fish-holding structure, and a charter run from Panama City Beach. Visibility and sea state change with wind and wave interval, so the day plan matters.
Safety & Access At USS Chickasaw
Hazards, restrictions, and access requirements.
Key Hazards
Overhead environmentBoat traffic
Safety Notes
Stay on the planned wreck route, keep neutral buoyancy around the frame, and treat any interior entry as overhead diving.
Access Restrictions
Boat access only; interior penetration is limited to trained wreck divers.
Legal Notes
Stay within your wreck training, follow the captain's plan, and do not enter enclosed spaces without proper overhead certification.
Local Intel For USS Chickasaw
Community notes to help plan your visit.
Scuba Diving
A good wreck dive for certified divers who want a readable exterior and optional trained penetration.
Freediving
Not a standard freedive target; the wreck interior and boat traffic make scuba the normal format.
Snorkeling
Not a snorkel site. The wreck is offshore and built for scuba and wreck training, not surface exploration.
Wildlife at USS Chickasaw
Species commonly reported at this site, with direct links into their wildlife guides.
Recent Logged Visits At USS Chickasaw
Community dive logs and visit reports for this site.
Dive Spot Log Averages At USS Chickasaw
Average conditions based on logged dives & visits.
Conditions
Avg. Visibility12m
Activity
No dive activity logged yet.
