Panama City Beach · United States · Artificial reef
Mac's Reef
A three-storey structure with swim-throughs from 21 to 30 m
Photo: Thespis377 · CC BY-SA 2.0
Mac's Reef is a man-made structure off Panama City Beach, described both as a former navy salvage training vessel, a work barge, and as an oil platform. It has three stories of structure with swim-throughs and depths from 21 to 30 m (70-100 ft), and the mild current and depth make it an advanced dive.
Also known as Mac's Reef Oil Platform.
Where it is and how deep
30.0514° N, 85.8209° WApproximate position — the dashed circle shows where the site lies; your operator's briefing has the mooring.
The dive
Mac's Reef is a multilevel site with three stories of structure. Depths range from 21 m (70 ft) at the shallowest to 30 m (100 ft) at the deepest, so the dive is planned around depth from the start, and bottom time on air is short at the deeper levels. The structure has swim-throughs, and its levels give the dive a natural route.
Accounts differ on what the structure was: one describes a former navy salvage training vessel, a work barge, and another an oil riggers' platform. Mild currents run over the site, and together with the depth they make it a dive rated for advanced divers. Good marine life is reported on the structure, which gives the levels something to look at on the way down and back up.
Marine life and season
The sources we used don't single out particular species here.
| Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Fair | Fair | Fair | Prime | Prime | Prime | Prime | Prime | Prime | Prime | Fair | Fair |
Season follows Panama City Beach: April to October is the main diving season; January and February bring water down to about 15 °C (59 °F).
Know before you go
- Mild current and depths to 30 m (100 ft) make this an advanced dive; bottom time on air is short at the deepest level.
Dive videos
Mac's Reef -- Scuba Diving in Panama City Beach · Visit Panama City Beach on YouTube
Sources
- Mac's Reef Oil Platform — Scubago
- Dive Sites of the Panama City Beach, Florida Area — Panama City Diving
Photo credits
- Close view of a spotted brown sea cucumber on an encrusted orange and yellow surface by Thespis377, CC BY-SA 2.0, via Openverse
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