USS MASSACHUSETTS SHIPWRECK

By  Mike Miller May 8, 2025

The USS Massachusetts shipwreck lies off Pensacola, Florida. It’s a Florida Underwater Archaeological Preserve. Sunk in 1921, the battleship rests in 26–30 feet of water.

Divers explore its remains, now an artificial reef. The site blends history and marine life and is a draw for divers and history fans.

The wreck of USS Massachusetts off Pensacola on 8 April 2002

Launched in 1893, the USS Massachusetts (BB-2) was an Indiana-class battleship. It served in the Spanish-American War, aiding the blockade of Cuba.

Design flaws earned it the label “worst battleship ever built.” Retired in 1910, it was recommissioned for World War I gunnery training.

In 1921, it was scuttled off Pensacola for artillery practice. The state of Florida claimed it in 1956. It became a preserve in 1993 and joined the National Register of Historic Places in 2001.

Accidents, like a 1903 turret explosion killing nine, marked its career.

USS Massachusetts being scuttled off Pensacola coast in 1921

The wreck is 1.5 nautical miles south-southwest of Pensacola Pass. Coordinates are 30°17.795’N, 87°18.720’W.

It’s accessible year-round, free, via dive charters like MBT Divers or H2O Below. The site is in Fort Pickens State Aquatic Preserve.

Divers face strong currents, so use experienced captains. Visibility varies; dive at slack high tide.

No facilities exist on-site. Bring a dive knife for tangled nets. Check the website for updates. 

• The wreck’s turrets sometimes break the surface at low tide. 

• It hosts marine life like Goliath groupers, sharks, and dolphins. 

• In 1962, five divers explored it; only one survived, Edward Brian McCleary, sparking a “sea monster” tale he published in the May 1965 edition of Fate Magazine.  

• The Supreme Court of Florida awarded the wreck to the state, blocking salvage. 
  
  
• Its shallow depth lets sunlight fuel a vibrant ecosystem. 
   
• A bronze plaque marks it as a preserve.
  
  
• The ship traveled to King George’s 1911 coronation before its final role.

USS MASSACHUSETTS SHIPWRECK WEBSITE