Argosy VI Dive Site
in Gulf Shores & Orange Beach
Already ranked as the largest artificial reef system in the world, Alabama recently made the 1,100-square-mile reef zone even better with the deployment of the Argosy VI, a 408-foot former casino barge that had a former life in Indiana.
Argosy VI
Argosy VI Location
The barge was sunk about 23 miles south of Orange Beach at a depth of 120 feet of water. The vessel, which had been prepared for deployment in Bayou La Batre, had all components removed that could harm the marine environment. Also, large holes were cut in each of the four decks to allow access for divers and a variety of fish species.
The Argosy VI reef is located at N29° 52.206', W087° 34.984' (or in decimal degrees 29.8701, -87.583067) in 120 feet of water with 62-64 feet of water above the top of the vessel. The reef site off Orange Beach was chosen because of clearer water, which would provide a better experience for the dive community over the next 30 to 50 years.
Argosy VI Project
The Alabama Department of Conservation and Natural Resources’ (ADCNR) Marine Resources Division (MRD) oversaw the project that started with towing the 408-foot vessel from its temporary home in Bayou La Batre into the Gulf to join two other large vessels that had been reefed in recent years. The Argosy VI, the New Venture and The Lulu make a trifecta of dive and fishing sites within a few miles of each other.
Original plans for two casino boats, which ended up docked at Bayou La Batre in 2020, were to turn the vessels into floating hotels. However, that idea did not pan out, and Alabama Governor Kay Ivey designated GoMESA (Gulf of Mexico Energy Security Act) for the purchase, preparation and deployment of the vessel.
Argosy VI Size
The Argosy VI’s size is special because of its beam of 80 feet. In the 1970s, several World War II merchant vessels, known as the Liberty ships, were deployed in the Alabama Artificial Reef Zone, but the Argosy VI’s beam is significantly wider than the Liberty ships, which are definitely showing their age because of the harsh marine environment and tropical storms. With its length and width, Argosy VI will provide a more vertically complex habitat than the Liberty ships did.
Fishing Opportunities
MRD officials and divers are already reporting seeing fish on the new reef. However, MRD officials expect it to take about a year for the vessel to be fully colonized by all the marine creatures that attach to the hull, including large fish species like amberjack and Alabama’s iconic red snapper. Because of the complexity of the vessel’s structure, it is also hoped that grouper species, which are relatively rare in our nearshore waters, will be attracted to the reef.
Plan to Fish or Dive the Argosy VI
Plan a trip to Alabama's Beaches soon and book a charter or book a diving trip, so you can explore the Alabama Artificial Reef Zone with more than 12,000 reef structures on the bottom of one of the richest fishing grounds in the world.
David Rainer
David Rainer has written about the great outdoors on the Alabama Gulf Coast for more than 20 years. For 14 of those years, he covered the many fishing opportunities on the Gulf Coast as outdoors editor at the Mobile Press-Register. He is past president of the Southeastern Outdoor Press Association and currently serves on the Gulf of Mexico Fishery Management Council's Outreach and Education Advisory Panel and the Alabama Gulf Coast Reef & Restoration Foundation board.
