Here in Gulf Shores and Orange Beach, we’re known for our miles and miles of flat, sugar-white sands. Those smooth, level sands continue from the shore out into the Gulf – meaning there are few natural structures that would make fish want to linger. Flat, structure-free sand: great for wading in the water, but not so great for observing (or catching) sea life. So, back in the 1950s, local fishermen took matters in to their own hands.
In an attempt to get fish to stick around, they decided to sink 250 cars into the Gulf, and within a year, they had a booming ecosystem among the vehicles. This created our area’s first artificial reef. Since then, old military ships, tanks, tugboats and more have been used to create reefs in Alabama waters. Thanks to the hard work done by local fishermen and state and federal agencies, Alabama now boasts 17,000 artificial reefs spanning 1,200 square miles – one of the largest artificial reef system in the country! This has helped make our area one of the top fishing destinations on the Gulf Coast as well as a scuba diving hot spot.
That’s right – all that underwater structure means more fish. And more fish means scuba diving. These reefs are fully functioning ecosystems ready to be explored; and who doesn’t love to explore warm, clear water via easily accessible dive sites?
One of the most popular diving spots is also one of our newest. The Lulu is a 271 foot freighter which rests on the Gulf’s bottom and is located 17 miles off of Perdido Pass (+29° 59' 50" / -87° 33' 00"). The ship, which was sunk in 2013, sits in 100 feet of water, but parts are just 50 feet from the surface, making it the perfect spot for both novice and experienced divers.
If you want to visit The Lulu or any of our artificial reefs, head to one of our local dive shops. They offer guided dive trips, training and gear rental. There’s a world of underwater excitement beneath our waves. What are you waiting for? Dive on in!