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PCMI Boat Sinking

BAY COUNTY - Mack McCullen was one the most respected diving instructors in the area.  Since he passed away over a year ago, he is being remembered in a way he would’ve loved. 

You will see many different things eleven miles off the coast in the crystal clear waters of the Gulf of Mexico.

But this one is not so common.  The Panama City Marine Institute (PCMI) sank an eighty foot navy vessel on Friday morning in honor of McCullen.

“This is just great.  He loved diving” McCullen’s daughter, Katie McCullen said.  His hope in heaven is there would be plenty of lobster.”

“This is just a chance for us to do something for that group of sportsman in the community,” PCMI Executive Director Rusty Russell said.

McCullen taught diving classes for over 40 years in Bay County.

“When he taught his classes, usually the students had all this new equipment,” McCullen’s widow, Nancy McCullen said.  “He had the worst equipment of anybody.”

When the boat was in place, the crew used seacocks and a pump to fill the hull with water.

“Once she starts to take on water passed the Maximum Draft Allowed,” Capt. Ron Spriggs said.  “She’s going to take on water pretty quickly, thirty to forty seconds.”

After three and a half hours for the water to get to that point.  The vessel finally sank 96 feet under.

“We just thought it was appropriate to put a wreck down,” Russell said.  “It would be perfect for fishing and spear-fishing because Mack was an avid fisherman.”

Divers took the plunge to make sure the boat landed right-side up. They came back to the surface with all smiles.

Posted by on 06/29 at 05:26 PM
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