Update: Vandenberg Sinking A Success

We reported that after much delay, the USS Vandenberg was finally scheduled for sinking on May 27, 2009, some 7 miles off the coast of Key West, Florida. After 10 years, the former missile tracking ship was finally laid to rest at 10:21 am, when the 44 strategically placed charges were set off, and the vessel sank in less than 2 minutes. It is now officially the 2nd largest intentionally-sunk ship in the world. Videos of the historic event can be found on Youtube, but the best views were from the deck of the Vandenberg itself - several on-board cameras were mounted on the ship and documented every moment of scuttling. The video can be found on the official Key West website here. Even on video, it was an amazing sight to behold as water slowly engulfed the 522-foot former military boat, and reach the bottom of the sea.

3 Days later, the wreck was opened to recreation divers. The video of the first divers reaching the wreck can be found here, and the site is expected to draw divers from all over the US and the world. It is hoped that in the decades to come, the Vandenberg will become an artificial reef and attract a variety of corals and other marine life.