While the Miss Louise may not be as large or historically significant as some other Florida wrecks, its accessibility, shallow depth, and abundant marine life make it a popular and valuable dive site, especially for less experienced divers or those seeking an easy, enjoyable dive.

Article at a Glance

1. Location and Depth: The Miss Louise wreck is situated approximately half a mile off the coast of Destin, Florida, resting at a depth of 60 feet, making it accessible for divers of varying skill levels.
2. Purpose and History: Originally a 95-foot push tugboat, the Miss Louise was intentionally sunk in 1997 as part of an artificial reef program to promote marine life and enhance diving opportunities.
3. Dive Site Features: The wreck remains upright on a sandy bottom and has a 15-foot profile above the seafloor, providing an interesting structure for divers to explore.
4. Marine Life: The site is known for its abundant marine life, including schools of Spanish mackerel, king mackerel, barracuda, and occasional sightings of larger species like goliath grouper and whale sharks.
5. Diving Experience: The Miss Louise is a popular training site for novice and intermediate divers, often used by local dive shops for scuba classes due to its manageable depth and proximity to shore.
6. Key Dive Operator: ScubaTech, a dive shop based in Destin, offers guided trips to the Miss Louise, providing equipment rentals and experienced guides to ensure a safe diving experience.
7. Part of a Larger Trail: The Miss Louise is one of the 12 wrecks featured in the Panhandle Shipwreck Trail, making it a notable destination for divers looking to explore multiple underwater sites along Florida’s Gulf Coast.

Shipwreck Location Coordinates and Depth

Depth

Depth: 60 feet

Location Coordinates

Coordinates: 30° 22.282′ N, 086° 25.315′ W

What Do Scuba Divers Say About This Ship

Marine Life Encounters

Divers report seeing a diverse array of marine life around the Miss Louise, including:

• Schools of fish, creating a “fish bowl” effect
• Spanish mackerel and king mackerel
• Barracuda
• Large baitfish populations
• Occasional sightings of goliath grouper, including reports of a 200-pound specimen
• Rare encounters with whale sharks

One diver described the experience as “like swimming in a fish bowl with all the fish around you.”

Dive Characteristics

• The wreck is considered suitable for novice and intermediate divers
• It’s often used as a training site for beginner scuba classes
• The dive is relatively shallow at around 60 feet deep
• Visibility is generally good, allowing divers to see the wreck clearly

Wreck Features

• The tugboat sits upright on a sandy bottom
• Some of the upper structure has been flattened by storms, but there’s still plenty to explore
• The wreck has a 15-foot profile above the seafloor

What Kind of Marine Life Can Be Found on The Ship

Common Sightings

• Schools of fish, creating a “fish bowl” effect around the wreck
• Spanish mackerel and king mackerel
• Barracuda
• Large populations of baitfish
• Spadefish
• Triggerfish
• Snapper species (mangrove and red snapper)
• Amberjacks

Larger Species

• Goliath grouper, with reports of a 200-pound specimen
• Occasional sightings of whale sharks
• Sharks (species not specified)
• Dolphins

Other Notable Marine Life

• Sea cucumbers and sea urchins
• Starfish and jellyfish
• Various tropical fish species
• Flounder
• Octopus
• Sea turtles

Unique Sightings

One diver reported seeing a 3-inch seahorse during a dive. The wreck is also known to attract various species of grouper, including gag grouper.

Key Information

What Makes The Miss Louise Shipwreck a Unique Diving Experience

1. Accessibility and Depth:

• Located only about half a mile off the coast of Destin, Florida, making it easily accessible.
• Sits at a relatively shallow depth of around 60 feet, ideal for novice and intermediate divers.

2. Purpose and History:

• Purposely sunk in 1997 as part of an artificial reef program to promote marine life and enhance diving opportunities.
• Used as a training site for beginner SCUBA classes due to its manageable depth and proximity to shore.

3. Marine Life:

• Known for abundant fish life, often described as “swimming in a fish bowl”.
• Attracts a variety of species including Spanish mackerel, king mackerel, barracuda, and large schools of baitfish.
• Divers have reported seeing goliath grouper, whale sharks, and even a 3-inch seahorse.

4. Structure:

• 95-foot long push tugboat that sits upright on the sandy bottom.
• Some upper works have been flattened by storms, but plenty of structure remains for exploration.

5. Part of a Larger Trail:

• One of the 12 wrecks featured in the Panhandle Shipwreck Trail, making it a notable destination for divers exploring multiple sites.

6. Photography Opportunities:

• Excellent site for underwater photography, especially macro photography due to the abundance of marine life.

How Does The Miss Louise Compare to Other Shipwrecks in Florida

Accessibility and Depth

• Located only about half a mile off the coast of Destin, making it easily accessible
• Sits at a relatively shallow depth of around 60 feet, ideal for novice and intermediate divers
• Often used as a training site for beginner scuba classes due to its depth and proximity to shore

Size and Structure

• 95-foot long push tugboat, smaller than many other wreck dive sites
• Sits upright on the sandy bottom, providing a clear structure for divers to explore
• Some upper works have been flattened by storms, but plenty of structure remains

Marine Life

• Known for abundant fish life, often described as “swimming in a fish bowl”
• Attracts a variety of species including Spanish mackerel, king mackerel, barracuda, and large schools of baitfish
• Occasional sightings of larger species like goliath grouper and whale sharks

Historical Significance

• Purposely sunk in 1997 as part of an artificial reef program
• Lacks the historical significance of some accidental shipwrecks, but serves an important ecological role

Diving Experience

• Considered an excellent site for underwater photography, especially macro photography
• Part of the Panhandle Shipwreck Trail, adding to its appeal for divers exploring multiple sites

What is The Full History of This Ship

Origin and Purpose

• The Miss Louise was originally a 95-foot push tug boat.
• It was purposely sunk in 1997 as part of an artificial reef program.

Sinking Process

• The sinking took place off the coast of Destin, Florida.
• Captain Nancy Birchett, co-owner of Scuba Tech in Destin, was present during the sinking.
• She reported that the boat initially resisted sinking when they started pulling the plugs.
• Birchett helped complete the sinking by circling the tugboat in her own boat, creating enough wake to finally submerge it.

Post-Sinking

• Birchett was one of the first to dive the Miss Louise after it sank.
• In the early days after sinking, divers reported seeing unusual marine life around the wreck, including a mola mola (ocean sunfish) and a whale shark.

Current State

• The wreck now rests upright on a sandy bottom at a depth of about 60 feet.
• Some of the upper structure has been flattened by storms over the years, but there’s still plenty for divers to explore.
• It has a 15-foot profile above the seafloor.

Significance

• The Miss Louise is part of the Panhandle Shipwreck Trail, which features 12 shipwrecks for divers to explore from Port St. Joe to Pensacola.
• It has become a popular site for dive training due to its relatively shallow depth and proximity to shore.

What Historical Features Can Still Be Identified on The Miss Louise Wreck

1. Overall structure: The Miss Louise sits upright on the sandy bottom, allowing divers to explore its general tugboat shape.
2. Size: The wreck is 95 feet long and 23 feet wide, which corresponds to its original dimensions as a push tugboat.
3. Upper works: While some of the upper structure has been flattened by storms over the years, there is still plenty of structure left for divers to explore.
4. Profile: The wreck has a 15-foot profile above the seafloor, giving divers a sense of its vertical structure.
5. Location: It remains in its original sinking position, about half a mile off the coast of Destin, Florida.

What Safety Measures Are in Place for Divers Visiting the Miss Louise

Depth and Accessibility

• The Miss Louise sits at a relatively shallow depth of around 60 feet, making it suitable for novice and intermediate divers.
• Its shallow depth allows for longer bottom times and reduces risks associated with deeper dives.

Certification Requirements

• Divers need an open water certification to dive the Miss Louise.
• Advanced training is not necessary due to the relatively shallow depth.

Dive Shop Support

• Local dive shops like ScubaTech offer guided trips to the Miss Louise.
• These shops provide equipment rentals, tank fills, and experienced guides familiar with the site.

Training Site

• The Miss Louise is often used as a training site for beginner scuba classes, indicating it’s considered safe for less experienced divers.

Visibility and Conditions

• The wreck is close to shore (about half a mile off the coast of Destin), allowing for easier access and quicker returns in case of emergencies.
• The upright position of the wreck on a sandy bottom provides clear navigation for divers.

Marine Life Awareness

• Divers are made aware of the potential presence of larger marine life like goliath grouper and occasionally whale sharks, allowing them to prepare accordingly.

Dive Shops That Provide Diving Trips to This Shipwreck

1. ScubaTech
   • Located in Destin, Florida
   • Offers gear rentals, tank fills, and guided trips to various reef and wreck dives in the Destin area, including the Miss Louise
   • Provides 4-hour (2 dive) trips on their boat, the “Sea Cobra”
2. Other local Destin dive shops
   • While not specifically named in the search results, the information suggests that multiple local dive shops use the Miss Louise as a training site and for beginner dives

North Florida Wrecks

• USS Oriskany
• USS Massachusetts
• SS Tarpon
• SS Gulf America
• Empire Mica
• USS Chippewa
• Avocet
• Black Bart
• The Vamar
• San Pablo
• USS Narcissus
• The Loftus Wreck
• The Dorothy Louise
• The Mizpah
• MV Janet
• The Eidsvag
• YDT-14 and YDT-15
• USS Strength
• Miss Louise
• The Lulu
• PC-1174
• Three Coal Barges
• USS Accokeek (ATA-181)
• El Dorado
• The Grey Ghost
• The Pete Tide II
• Red Sea Tug