Hundreds of Navy veterans who grew to love the famed aircraft carrier USS Oriskany saw their old ship off on her final voyage, Wednesday--a trip to the bottom of the Gulf of Mexico, where she will become a massive artificial reef.

Meanwhile, anglers and divers eagerly await the opportunity to take advantage of the recreational opportunities that the decommissioned aircraft carrier will now offer.

The Oriskany was commissioned in 1950, serving through the Korean and Vietnam wars, and decommissioned in 1976. The ship was among those used by President John F. Kennedy as a show of force in 1962 during the Cuban missile crisis.

The ship was originally set to go down in summer 2004, but plans were delayed by environmental permit problems and hurricanes, sending project costs soaring to more than $20 million.

The ship was sunk in 212 feet of water approximately 24 miles off the coast of Pensacola. The site is part of the permitted Escambia East Large Area Artificial Reef site, which is 77 square miles. The proposed location is 30* 02' 38" N Lat 87* 00' 25" W Lon.