SS TARPON UNDERWATER
ARCHAEOLOGICAL PRESERVE

By  Mike Miller April 22, 2025

The SS Tarpon Underwater Archaeological Preserve, located off the coast of Panama City Beach, Florida, is a captivating dive site and one of Florida’s 12 underwater archaeological preserves.

This historic shipwreck, resting 95 feet below the Gulf of Mexico’s surface, offers divers a chance to explore a late 19th-century steamship that sank in 1937.

SS Tarpon Monument

Designated as a preserve in 1997, the SS Tarpon is both a historical treasure and a vibrant artificial reef teeming with marine life, making it a must-visit for divers and history enthusiasts alike.

Built in 1887 in Wilmington, Delaware, as the Naugatuck, the SS Tarpon was a 130-foot twin-screwed steamship designed for freight and passenger service.

Renamed Tarpon in 1891 after a 30-foot hull extension, it became a vital lifeline along Florida’s Gulf Coast, connecting ports like Mobile, Pensacola, and Panama City under Captain Willis Barrow.

SS Tarpon in Better Days

On August 30, 1937, the heavily loaded Tarpon, carrying 200 tons of cargo and 31 passengers, encountered a fierce storm. Despite efforts to lighten the load, the ship sank, claiming 18 lives, including Captain Barrow’s.

The tragedy, attributed to the captain’s decision to sail in rough weather, marked a somber end to the Tarpon’s 50-year career.

Today, its wreck is listed on the U.S. National Register of Historic Places, preserving its legacy. 

The SS Tarpon lies 7.8 nautical miles offshore from Panama City, with its bow facing west, parallel to the shoreline.

Accessible year-round and free of charge, the site is best explored via dive charters from local shops like Diver’s Den or Panama City Dive Center.

Divers should be prepared for depths of 90–95 feet and variable visibility, which can turn murky after rain.

A laminated underwater guide, available at dive shops, enhances the experience, and a concrete monument marks the preserve.

Check weather conditions and bring appropriate gear for a safe dive. 

• The Tarpon’s wreck, once intact enough for divers to swim through cargo holds filled with beer cases, has flattened over time but remains a haven for marine life, including sharks, amberjacks, and lobsters.  
  

• Its anchor, recovered in 1962 by Southern Skin Divers Supply, is now a historical marker in Panama City.  
  

• The ship’s estimated 700,000 miles of travel—equivalent to 28 global circumnavigations—highlight its remarkable service.  

• The Museum of Man in the Sea offers a dedicated Tarpon exhibit for those wanting to learn more ashore. 

SS TARPON UNDERWATER ARCHAEOLOGICAL PRESERVE WEBSITE