Why a Former Indiana Riverboat Casino Was Deliberately Sunk in the Gulf

Argosy VI

In December of 1997, a 408-foot-long vessel known as the Argosy VI was christened as Indiana's newest riverboat casino. Docked in Lawrenceburg, Indiana, the Argosy saw no shortage of visitors; its proximity to a large metropolitan area like Cincinnati helped considerably with the flow.

The Sinking of the Argosy VI

But it all came to an end in 2009 when the Argosy VI was decommissioned. Fast forward 17 years, and the Argosy is in the news once again, and for a unique reason. The Argosy VI was selected to be the newest component of a nearly 1,100-mile-long artificial reef off the coast of Alabama.

Alabama's Artificial Reef

According to Outdoor Alabama, reefs made from materials such as army tanks, decommissioned bridge spans, repurposed concrete culverts, barges, dry docks, and many others have been used to create ecologically productive reefs for the purpose of boosting local scuba diving and fishing economies, as well as establishing marine habitats.

And now, the former Indiana riverboat casino has become one of the newest sections of this man-made reef. The vessel was submerged on the morning of July 1st about 23 nautical miles off the coast of Orange Beach, Alabama, at a depth of 122 feet. Sporting four levels and a width of 80 feet, the Argosy is one of the largest sections of the Dr. Robert (Bob) Shipp Alabama Artificial Reef Zone, which covers 364 square miles.

There's no set schedule for additions to the offshore reef zone, but there will be more, despite its already impressive size, as illustrated by an interactive map provided by Outdoor Alabama.

Bon voyage, Argosy VI. Enjoy your new reef, uh, I mean, LEASE on life.