FORT MYERS BEACH, Fla. -- A World War II ship, the USS Mohawk, will be scuttled Monday morning to become an artificial reef and veteran's memorial 28 miles off the coast of Sanibel Island.
At 11 a.m. July 2, the county's Marine Services Program and Reefmakers LLC, a Key West company that specializes in sinking ships as artificial reefs, is scheduled to scuttle the 165-foot World War II Coast Guard cutter Mohawk
Joe Weatherby and his team spent two months in Fort Myers Beach reviving the rusted ship, removing hazardous oil and readying her for her final destination.
"She's still got her propellers, she's still got her guns and her life raft back on board and you never ever, ever see artificial reefs going into the sea looking like this," Weatherby said.
Sunday morning crews towed the ship 28 miles off of Sanibel and will anchor it there until Monday.
Monday, crews will sink it in 90 feet of water and turn it into an artificial reef for scuba divers and anglers.
It is a much anticipated event, similar projects have created millions of tourism dollars throughout Florida.
The USS Mohawk will make the only artificial reef of its kind in Southwest Florida, and it's the first to memorialize veterans.
WESH