ANOTHER delay hampers SS United States trip to the bottom of the Gulf.

The SS United States is set to leave Philadelphia on February 8, 2025, en route to Mobile, Alabama, where contractors will prepare it for deployment as the world’s largest artificial reef. The transformation will take approximately a year, with the final reef location expected to be 20 nautical miles south of Destin-Fort Walton Beach. Okaloosa County will also develop a museum to preserve the ship’s history.

Okaloosa Island Begins Construction On Multi Use Pathway

On Monday, July 8, 2024, Okaloosa County officials will host a groundbreaking ceremony at John Beasley Park to mark the beginning of construction on a new multi-use path. The event will occur at 7 a.m. at 1550 Miracle Strip Parkway SE, Okaloosa Island. The new path will stretch approximately four miles between the Brooks Bridge and Marler Bridge on Okaloosa Island, providing a safe and scenic route for cyclists and pedestrians.

Emerald Coast Open Helps Control Invasive Lionfish

The Emerald Coast Open lionfish tournament, held from May 17-19, saw divers remove 11,844 invasive lionfish from the Gulf of Mexico throughout the event. Participants competed for $125,000 in prizes, with winners including VJL Seafood, Deep Water Mafia El Gato Negro, Lookin’ Back, and Bob Brown. The tournament also featured the Lionfish Festival and Restaurant Week, promoting conservation and culinary innovation with lionfish dishes.

Destin-FWB Tourney Catches Almost 14,000 Lionfish

Lionfish Menace to Local Ecosystems Reduced Okaloosa County, Fla. – Divers participating in the 4th Annual Emerald Coast Open Lionfish Tournament successfully removed 13,835 lionfish from local waters. The invasive species prey on native fish and have no known predators due to their venomous spines. Hosted by Destin-Fort Walton Beach, alongside Florida Fish and Wildlife […]

Mid Bay News

A drone view of the activity on Boggy Bayou before the annual fireworks festival put on every year by the cities of Niceville  and Valparaiso.