Ironic 'Black Pearl' Ship From 'Pirates of the Caribbean' Gets a New Home

Fans of the Pirates of the Caribbean franchise are quite familiar with the Black Pearl, the legendary ship "of the seven seas."

According to a fan page devoted to the franchise, the Black Pearl "was originally a merchant vessel called 'The Wicked Wench' before being raised from the depths as a pirate vessel and renamed the Black Pearl. With sails as fark as a moonless night, and a hull painted to match, the Black Pearl was every inch a pirate ship, build for action." According to MyPandhandle.com, the Black Pearl was "built as a prop for Pirates of the Caribbean: Dead Man’s Chest."

Now, the actual Hollywood ship has been moved to new depths. It now lies "Six nautical miles southwest of St. Andrews Pass."

The Black Pearl Will Be Part of a 'Diving Site' Open to the Public, Reports Say

According to WJHG-TV, "the famous Black Pearl from the film series Pirates of the Caribbean, starring Johnny Depp, became an artificial reef in Bay County" this winter. The "97-foot steel pirate ship became Panama City Beach’s newest Davie Jones’ locker treasure."

The television station explained that the ship "was towed from Orange Beach, Alabama, and made its final descent about an hour southwest of St. Andrews Pass."

“This was designated for a movie prop, so it did not have a lot of the grease buildup, the engine, the fuel, everything that is required to remove for artificial reefs. So this was a prime artificial reef vessel,” said Erin Graham, artificial reef coordinator at Visit Panama City Beach, to the television station. 

• According to WJHG-TV, "the ship is now on the seafloor at approximately 75 feet deep."
• What's the purpose? "The diving site will open to the public starting November 21st for scuba diving, fishing, and other activities," the television station reported.
• “This is going to be a great dive opportunity for people, especially new open water divers. It’s a very safe, easy swim with a shallow depth,” Graham told MyPanhandle.com.

That news outlet reported that the reef "offers an interactive experience: you can walk the plank and explore the pirate-themed touches hidden around the ship, from flags to the infamous steering wheel, cannons, and a treasure chest."

A Local Technical College Helped With the Project

Technical college students received real-world training by working on the Black Pearl project.

"Haney Technical College Sets Sail with the Black Pearl! ????‍☠️⚓," the college wrote on Instagram. "Haney Technical College is proud to partner with the Bay County Artificial Reef Association in bringing the Black Pearl Pirate Ship to life!"

The college added: "Students in our Welding Program put their skills to the test by crafting treasure chests, cannons, and flags that will be welded onto the ship before it’s deployed about seven miles offshore in the Gulf of America."

"Once sunk, the Black Pearl will become an artificial reef, enhancing local scuba diving adventures and fishing opportunities for years to come," the post continued. "???? Hands-on learning. Real-world impact. Community pride. That’s the Haney way!"

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