Legendary SS United States sinks beneath waves as divers prepare for first look

Divers in Florida are preparing to explore the newest, largest artificial reef in the world: the remains of the SS United States.

The SS United States — a vessel that sailed across the Atlantic from 1952 to 1969 — was deliberately scuttled at around 10 p.m. ET on Wednesday, roughly 25 miles southwest of Destin, Florida.

The ship had a storied history, carrying such celebrities as Grace Kelly, Elizabeth Taylor, Jackie Gleason and even a young Bill Clinton on his way to Oxford University as a Rhodes scholar.

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It was also built during the Cold War and designed to serve as both a luxury ocean liner and a troop carrier in the event of a military conflict.

Video shows the decades-old vessel tilting sharply to one side as it sank into the Gulf of America, with water rushing over the ship.

The historic SS United States is shown sinking roughly 25 miles southwest of Destin, Florida, becoming the world’s largest artificial reef after decades of service and disrepair. (Destin-Fort Walton Beach, Florida via Reuters)

The SS United States is already open to divers, Stacey Koe of Okaloosa County’s Tourism Development Department confirmed to Fox News Digital on Thursday.

Jennifer Adams, director of tourism for Okaloosa County, previously told local outlet WUWF that the site could open to divers within a day or two of the sinking.

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“As soon as she goes down, she’ll be ready to dive in the next day or so,” Adams said.

Kerry Freeland, a local diving professional with Dive Pros and Niuhi Dive Charter, told WEAR-TV that divers typically have to wait for conditions around the wreck to stabilize.

“They’re gonna make people wait, so things have got to settle,” Freeland said. 

“The ship potentially could hit the bottom in a violent fashion and dislodge equipment and things of that nature.”

Once a luxury ocean liner carrying celebrities across the Atlantic, the SS United States is expected to become a major attraction for divers visiting Florida. (AP Photo/Matt Rourke, File)

“And there could be bubbles that would escape in a potentially violent manner,” the diver added.

The ship is expected to be a major draw for tourists — but it could also offer new opportunities for researchers.

Alicia Johnson, a maritime archaeologist and head of digital engagement at Accupixel, told Fox News Digital earlier that researchers could study how the vessel changes underwater over the coming decades.

“We get to study this ship from the moment before it goes in the water to 10, 20, 30 years after it’s been in the water,” she said.

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She recommended using laser scanning, photographs and detailed drawings to create a digital record of the vessel, giving researchers a point of comparison as they study how it changes underwater over time.

Once celebrated for its speed and famous passengers, the SS United States fell into disrepair in the decades following its decommissioning in 1969. (Bettmann via Getty Images)

“I think it’s going to be very exciting as a case study because it doesn’t necessarily categorize itself as a traditional archeological site,” added Johnson.

She added, “These aren’t sites just for scuba divers. They’re the history of our ancestors, the history of our societies.”

Andrea Margolis is a lifestyle reporter for Fox News Digital and Fox Business. Readers can follow her on X at @andreamargs or send story tips to andrea.margolis@fox.com.