Latest News: Plans to scuttle a retired U.S. Navy destroyer as part of a three-state artificial reef system just 30 miles from the Ocean City Inlet, initially scheduled for later this month, have likely been moved back until April 2011 as final preparations on the vessel continue and the window for suitable weather starts to close.

Coming in 2011, the USS Arthur W Radford

Coming in 2011, the USS Arthur W Radford will be the largest ship sunk on the East Coast as anartificial reef. This wreck will be an exciting addition to the local and national dive industry. This wreck will lay in approximately 140 feet of water with the top deck of the ship around 60 feet deep allowing for the whole range of divers from recreational to the technical diver.

USS Arthur W. Radford (DD-968) was a Spruance-class destroyer in the United States Navy. She was named for Admiral Arthur W. Radford USN (1896–1973), the first naval officer to hold the title of Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff. She was laid down by the Ingalls Shipbuilding Division of Litton Industries at Pascagoula, Mississippi and launched on 21 March 1975, sponsored by Mrs. Arthur W. Radford, the widow of the late admiral. She commissioned on 16 April 1977 and decommissioned on 18 March 2003, after serving 26 years.

Dive charters to the USS Arthur Radford will be run out of Ocean City, MD by a recreational and technical dive boat "OC Dive Boat" http://www.ocdiveboat.com. They will be running weekly trips to the dive site and sign ups will be available online through there website.