Get a Britannica Premium subscription and gain access to exclusive content. What ACT target score should you be aiming for? Its over 600,000 square miles and from east to west it covers 932 miles. The Gulf of Mexico has around 1443 different species of fish in its water. The Deepwater Horizon oil spill in pictures, The Perils of Industry: 10 Notable Accidents and Catastrophes, https://www.britannica.com/event/Deepwater-Horizon-oil-spill, National Ocean Service - Deepwater Horizon Oil Spill, Deepwater Horizon oil spill of 2010 - Student Encyclopedia (Ages 11 and up), Deepwater Horizon oil spill: debris and oil, Deepwater Horizon oil spill of 2010: path of the oil, National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration. Although Native Americans living in the region used the Gulf of Mexico for centuries as a source of food and building materials, the first European to explore the Gulf was Italian Amerigo Vespucci in 1497. On April 20, 2010, an explosion on the Deepwater Horizon platform caused the largest oil spill in history. In geographic terms, the Gulf of Mexico is also an ocean basin. Eleven of the 126 workers on the rig were killed and, over the following 87 days, an estimated 3.19 million barrels (~134 million gallons) of oil spilled into the Gulf . Learn more about us & read our affiliate disclosure. First discovered in 1999 by Texas A&M deep-tow data and 3D seismic supplied by WesternGeco LLC, the furrows are expressed for over 200 km along the Sigsbee . The Gulf of Mexico contains seven barrier islands located along the Gulfs northwestern part. These hurricanes are either formed or make their way into the Gulf and eventually make landfall in the areas surrounding the Gulf of Mexico. Where Is the Gulf of Mexico? Every day, 30A shares Beach Happy stories and eco-conscious products with millions of fans worldwide. SAT is a registered trademark of the College Entrance Examination BoardTM. The Gulf of Mexico was the site of a largeoil spillthat occurred on April 22, 2010, when an oil drilling platform, the Deepwater Horizon, suffered an explosion and sank into the Gulf about 50 miles (80 km) from Louisiana. Today, there are roughly 27,000 abandoned oil and gas wells underneath the Gulf. Gulf of Mexico water temperature: The surface water temperature of the Gulf of Mexico, as recorded in February, varies from 18C in the northern part of the Gulf to about 24C off the Yucatn coast. Have some feedback for us? Introduction. The Gulf Stream originates here, and it is one of the strongest ocean currents in the world. The average depth of the Gulf of Mexico is 5,299 feet (1,615 meters) and the maximum depth is estimated to be 14,383 feet (4,384 meters). Click on a 1 degree by 1 degree square for access to low and high resolution images. Seabirds, fish, and reptiles are abundant, as well as bottlenose dolphins, a large population of sperm whales, and sea turtles. "By clicking OK or by using this Website, you consent to the use of cookies. Without a doubt, the sugar-white sand beaches on the Alabama and Florida gulf coast are among the most beautiful on the planet. Over the years, these water bodies turn into dead zones. The Gulf formed about 300 million years ago, and in all it encompasses 600,000 square miles. With the consent of the seven companies, the BOEM released the map to the public. Your personal data will be governed by Mapsofworld, When Did Alaska Become Part of the United States. . Some of these Gulf of Mexico sharks include bull sharks, hammerhead sharks, and lemon sharks. These include Kemps ridley, loggerhead, green turtle, leatherback, and hawksbill. Bacteria that had adapted to consuming naturally occurring gas and oil seeping from the seabed were thought to have consumed a portion of it. More than 400 species of shellfish are found in the Gulf region. Briney, Amanda. The Gulf of Mexico is a sea and is part of the Atlantic Ocean. When did the Deepwater Horizon oil spill happen? Two days later, following a series of pressure tests, it was announced that the well was completely sealed. Black coral that grows in the Gulf of Mexico is thought to be one of the oldest living organisms on Earth. The basin has an area of 600,000 square miles (1.5 million sq km) and most of it consists of shallow intertidal areas but there are some very deep portions. Thank you for reading! Plenty of marine life lives on its borders but its a rare occurring killer lake for sure. The most common found around Alabama beaches are bull sharks, great hammerhead sharks, sand tiger sharks and shortfin mako sharks. Thirty-one nominal species of the benthic harpacticoid family Zosimeidae Seifried, 2003 are known from several coastal systems less than 200 m depth and the deep sea. Birds were particularly vulnerable to the effects of the Deepwater Horizon oil spill. These floating feeding grounds can grow to be so large theyre detectable from space! "Sigsbee Deep" applied to the entire deep basin appears on some of the earliest charts of the Gulf of Mexico. Today, the most serious pollution threats to the Gulf of Mexico come from oil drilling and agricultural runoff. Now thats deep! They are often connected to the ocean by narrow water passages but that is not always observed in all geographical areas. The Gulf of Mexico is bordered by 1,680 miles of US coastline. Leopard is located in OCS block Alaminos Canyon (AC) 691, approximately 20 miles (32 kilometers) east of the Whale discovery, 20 miles (32 km) south of the recently appraised Blacktip discovery . A well-preserved shipwreck is seen in the Gulf of Mexico. But it wasnt good enough for biologists who needed a more detailed picture of the area around the 2010 Deepwater Horizon oil spill so they could assess the ecological damage. A sea lily (Crinoidea) rests in the middle of a mushroom coral (Anthomastus sp.) Briney, Amanda. Breathtaking vistas create an inviting back drop for all-season entertaining.. The narrow subtropical sea is 1,130km (700 miles) long and 80-209km (50-130 miles) wide. The Gulf of Mexico is an ocean basin located close to the southeastern United States. These include: Atlantic Spotted dolphin, Striped dolphin, Frasers dolphin, Pantropical spotted dolphin, Clymene dolphin, and Spinner dolphin. Its considered one of the worst natural disasters in history, and efforts to reverse some of the damage that was caused are still ongoing. One escarpment has a towering drop of 1,220 meters and extends for 560 kilometers, or 348 miles. "IHO-IOC GEBCO Gazetteer of Undersea Feature Names (Microsoft Excel spreadsheet/Adobe PDF document formats)", "Sixteenth Meeting of the GEBCO Sub-committee on Undersea Feature Names (SCUFN)", https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Sigsbee_Deep&oldid=1009657881, This page was last edited on 1 March 2021, at 17:52. This region consists of about 1,394 miles (2,243 km) of coastline. The seawater from the Caribbean Sea that enters the Gulf of Mexico via the Yucatn Channel, quickly circulates in a clockwise loop current before exiting the Gulf through the Florida Straits, eventually forming the Gulf Stream. Do You Know the Different Regions of the US? The basin is located in the southwestern quadrant of the Gulf, with its closest point to the U.S. coast at 200 miles (320km) southeast of Brownsville, Texas. In high school she scored in the 99th percentile on the SAT and was named a National Merit Finalist. Efforts to protect and conserve the thriving ecosystem found here are a serious priority as continuous ecological discoveries are being made and new species are being discovered. This entailed pumping cement through a channelknown as a relief wellthat paralleled and eventually intersected the original well. Due to the warm water temperatures in the Gulf of Mexico, hurricanes regularly form there. Often referred to as the Mediterranean of the Americas, the Gulf of Mexico is the 9th largest water body, measuring approximately 1,600 km from west to east and about 900 km from north to south. Each year millions of migratory birds trek the long journey across the Gulf to feed and mate. Get the latest articles and test prep tips! The Gulf of Mexico is believed to contain over 660 quadrillion gallons of water. These nutrients favor the growth of algae and results in an algal bloom. This striking view of the ocean floor off the coasts of Louisiana and Texas was created by a government agency youve likely never heard of called the Bureau of Ocean Energy Management (BOEM). Some of these beaches are Malaquite Beach (Texas), Crystal Sands Beach (Florida), Biloxi Beach (Mississippi), Grand Isle State Park (Louisiana), East Beach (Texas), Dauphin Island Beach (Alabama), and Orange Beach (Alabama). The casual observer would need to watch the coral for many years possibly hundreds to notice any difference in its growth, however. The plan would mainly limit drilling to the Gulf of Mexico, with one proposed lease sale in waters off Alaska. Maybe youre aware that its located along the Gulf coast but dont know the exact boundaries, or maybe youre trying to figure out if its part of the Atlantic Ocean or not. The average depth of the Gulf of Mexico by shore is roughly 5,200 feet. The dead zones are incapable of supporting aquatic flora and fauna. The feature known as Horseshoe Basin in the western Gulf of Mexico shows up far more clearly on the new high-resolution map (right). Currently, there are about 27,000 wells, both oil and gas, that have been drilled and abandoned in the Gulf. Some of the devastating hurricanes in the Gulf of Mexico region include Hurricane Katrina (2005), Hurricane Ike (2008), Hurricane Harvey (2016), Hurricane Michael (2018), Hurricane Rita, Galveston Hurricane, etc. Fish caught in the Gulf of Mexico make up about of the total catch in the US. Pilots who live in Florida, and especially on the west coast of Florida, have this problem. Some dolphins are also found in the waters of the Gulf of Mexico. We end with some fun facts about the Gulf (spoiler alert: its home to a lot of sharks!). Endangered marine species such as sperm whales and West Indian manatees are found in the gulf along with nearly 50 shark species like tiger and bull sharks. 7. A few hundred years ago, our beaches were home to pirates who hid in Perdido Pass and Perdido Bay while waiting to raid ships in the Gulf. For over 10 years, scientists and researchers have come a long way in restoring, recovering, and researching the . About 5 million acres of wetlands border the Gulf of Mexico. Its shallow, saltier, and serene waters surrounded by velvety quartz sand may seem like another world when compared to the Atlantic's cool and thrilling waves and golden-brown sand. Transcendentalism was a key movement in 19th-century America, but many people still aren't sure what it was all about. We had been planning a trip to run deep into the Gulf, but . It doesnt hurt that a large part of the Gulf is right over the North American Continental Shelves, which means the water is fairly shallow. But its not just another waterway. NOAA. Eco-friendly burial alternatives, explained. Scientists warn that the "dead zone" wreaking havoc on marine life in the Gulf of Mexico will cover almost 9,000 square miles this summer. The Joshua Channel (labeled channel-levee) in the eastern Gulf of Mexico stands out clearly on the new high-resolution map of the sea floor. Zoom and drag the map to find the location of marker 2. The paper presents and discusses two semisubmersible designs that assume a common topsides and riser payload. You may commission us to create customized maps, infographics and stories as well. The Gulf of Mexico is the largest gulf in the world, as well as the worlds 9th largest body of water. The BP Deepwater Horizon catastrophe in 2010 spilled 205.8 million gallons of oil and 225,000 tons of methane into the Gulf of Mexico. Over 400 species of birds have been recorded visiting our coast while migrating southward. The Sigsbee Deep, 200 miles southeast of Brownsville, Texas, is estimated to be between 12,300 to 14,383 feet. (2021, September 8). To learn more about the Gulf of Mexico, visit theGulf of Mexico Programfrom the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency. Most of the basin consists of shallow intertidal areas, but its deepest point is called Sigsbee Deep and has an estimated depth of about 14,383 feet (4,384 m). The Gulf of Mexico, located between Florida and Yucatan peninsulas, is a great place to vacation, live, and work. and southward under the influence of eddies typical of the deep Gulf of Mexico (Androulidakis et al., 2018). At its deepest point the bottom is 2.7 miles underwater, but most of the Gulf is much shallower. . The average depth of the Gulf is roughly 5,200 feet, but other parts of the Gulf of Mexico are surprisingly deep. Though fitted loosely over the BOP and allowing some oil to escape, the cap enabled BP to siphon approximately 15,000 barrels of oil per day to a tanker. The strange geology of the floor of the Gulf is mostly caused by thick underlying layers of salt. The Gulf of Mexico features a wide continental shelf, specifically around Florida and the Yucatn Peninsula. Our editors will review what youve submitted and determine whether to revise the article. Check out our top-rated graduate blogs here: PrepScholar 2013-2018. It later emerged through documents released by Wikileaks that a similar incident had occurred on a BP-owned rig in the Caspian Sea in September 2008. The average depth of the Gulf of Mexico is 5,299 feet (1,615 meters) and the maximum depth is estimated to be 14,383 feet (4,384 meters). The small juvenile turtles also depend on the sargassum habitats in the open ocean for their survival. The average depth of the Gulf of Mexico is 5,299 feet (1,615 meters) and the maximum depth is estimated to be 14,383 feet (4,384 meters). Although BP attempted to activate the rigs blowout preventer (BOP), a fail-safe mechanism designed to close the channel through which oil was drawn, the device malfunctioned. Unauthorized use is prohibited. Over the next 150 million years the gulf continued to deepen and enlarge with the movements of the earth. Deepwater Horizon oil spill, also called Gulf of Mexico oil spill, largest marine oil spill in history, caused by an April 20, 2010, explosion on the Deepwater Horizon oil riglocated in the Gulf of Mexico, approximately 41 miles (66 km) off the coast of Louisianaand its subsequent sinking on April 22. Our new student and parent forum, at ExpertHub.PrepScholar.com, allow you to interact with your peers and the PrepScholar staff. The entire basin is about 600,000 square miles (1.5 million sq km). Some of the important fishes include Albacore tuna, Red snapper, greater amberjack, tarpon, grouper, Atlantic spadefish, king mackerel, Gulf flounder, bluefish, etc. Her family is still awaiting justice. How deep are the oil rigs in the Gulf of Mexico? The Mississippi is the largest river that drains into the Gulf of Mexico and carries with it an extraordinary amount of these contaminants into the Gulf. The groundbreaking promise of cellular housekeeping. With so much marine life dependent upon the delicate ecosystem the future of the Gulf of Mexico depends on the proper management of resources and conservation of marine life. Though the leak had slowed, it was estimated by a government-commissioned panel of scientists that 4,900,000 barrels of oil had already leaked into the gulf. Because this continental shelf is easily accessible, the Gulf of Mexico is exploited for oil with offshore oil drilling rigs centered in the Bay of Campeche and the western Gulf region. Human activities in and around the Gulf of Mexico such as agricultural practices, oil spills, and shipwrecks are harming the ecosystem. The Gulf of Mexico is an important economic region for all the three countries (Cuba, Mexico, and United States) that border it. There are 4,000 drilling platforms there. Right, In addition to impacts to the diversity of marine life living on the seafloor, researchers found a conservative chemical tracer of petroleum in surface seafloor sediments extending 15 miles from the Macondo wellhead (Valentine et al. They die when they enter and are preserved by the high salt content, pickled in their tracks! Tourism accounts for $100 billion annually and in 2008 the fishing harvest from five Gulf states totaled $661 million. The Gulf of Mexico is one of the most important offshore petroleum . The Gulf of Mexico basin appears to have formed ~200 million years ago as the result of rifting within North . Because it is a warm current, sea surface temperatures in the Gulf of Mexico are normally also warm, which feeds Atlantic hurricanes and helps in giving them strength. BE HONEST!! The Gulf of Mexico is a part of the Atlantic Ocean and is considered an ocean basin and marginal sea. Home Fishing Ocean Depth Maps Florida and Eastern Gulf of Mexico. Expect southerly winds, gentle to moderate for the eastern Gulf, and moderate to occasional fresh at the western Gulf. Situated in the southwestern part of the Gulf, the Sigsbee Deep (Mexico Basin) is the deepest region in the Gulf of Mexico that has an estimated depth of over 4,384m. Click to place marker 2. Regardless of region, the Gulf of Mexico has a striking diversity of flora and fauna which support fish, sharks, dolphins, and countless other marine life. These complex ecosystems include corals, fish, anemones, sponges, and sea cucumbers-but limited knowledge about these habitats creates challenges for their restoration. It borders the coasts of Texas, Louisiana, Mississippi, Alabama and Florida as well as the island of Cuba and parts of Mexico. WATCH: Sharks biting alligators, the most epic lion battles, and MUCH more. 7. The accident resulted in the deaths of 11 workers and caused a massive, ongoing oil spill into the Gulf of Mexico. The Gulf of Mexico is shallower, saltier, and warmer than the Atlantic Ocean. Located in between the U.S. coast and Yucatan Peninsula, this deep rests on an area of salt beds created millions of years ago. A study has dated the coral to be at least 2,000 years old. The Gulf of Mexico is connected to the Caribbean Sea via the Yucatn Channel (between Cuba and Mexico); and with the Atlantic Ocean through the Straits of Florida (between Cuba and US). 7. West views and deep water! At that point, the Gulf was probably a separate basin that was filled with seawater that later evaporated, leaving a blanket of salt behind. The Brydes whale has recently been declared as an endemic species. On August 3 BP conducted a static kill, a procedure in which drilling mud was pumped into the well through the BOP. The southeast is bordered by the northwest portion of Cuba, which includes the capital, Havana. However, in portions such as The Sigsbee Deep, which is 2 miles southwest of Brownsville, Texas, the depths reach up to 4,384 meters, or 14,383 feet! Over 750 historical shipwrecks have occurred in the Gulf of Mexico, some of which date back to the 16th century. The Gulf of Mexico is a large oval-shaped oceanic basin, that is located on the southeastern coast of North America and is bounded by the US states of Mississippi, Louisiana, Texas, Alabama, and Florida to the north, northeast and northwest; by the Mexican states of Campeche, Quintana Roo, Tabasco, Tamaulipas, Veracruz and Yucatan to the south and southwest; and by the island of Cuba to the southeast. Over the centuries, people continued to use the Gulf of Mexico as a source of food and resources, as well as for navigation. How did the Deepwater Horizon oil spill affect birds? While most of the Gulf of Mexico is fairly shallow, its deepest point is Sigsbee Deep, which has an estimated maximum depth of 14,383 feet! Now that's deep! Since that time thousands of wells have followed. The second had been intended to serve as a backup and was not completed. Scientists just confirmed a 30-foot void first detected inside the monument years ago. The oil rig involved in the Deepwater Horizon oil spill was owned and operated by offshore oil-drilling company Transocean and leased by the oil company BP. Fisheries are also extremely productive in the Gulf of Mexico, and many Gulf Coast states have economies centered on fishing in the area. Additionally, the storm surge for each Category increases with severity, a Category 1 is 4 5 feet, while a Category 5 is 19 feet or more! In addition to being home to so many incredible beaches, it is also a very unique region of the world. When does spring start? Some 1,680 miles of the US coastline and 1,743 miles of the Mexican coastline borders the Gulf of Mexico. 9. The North-West Gulf of Mexico. The Gulf of Mexico also features numerous coastal wetlands and mangrove forests. In 2011, the oil taken from the gulf made up 54 percent of U.S. oil. This is twice the size of Texas. [4] A proposal by the United States renaming Sigsbee Deep, with coordinates of 23 52 N 91 35 W, to "Mexico basin" was rejected by the Sixteenth Meeting of the GEBCO Sub-committee on Undersea Feature Names (SCUFN), the international authority on feature names, in 2003 with the note that it is "an historical name dating back to Sir John Murray." Its a diverse ecosystem with a long and interesting history. Christine graduated from Michigan State University with degrees in Environmental Biology and Geography and received her Master's from Duke University. One of Earth's loneliest volcanoes holds an extraordinary secret. The Sigsbee Deep, 200 miles southeast of Brownsville, Texas, is estimated to be between 12,300 to 14,383 feet. The average depth of the Gulf of Mexico is approximately 1,600 meters, or 5,200 feet. It is widely believed, that the impact that led to the creation of this crater had triggered a series of catastrophic events, which ultimately led to the mass extinction at the end of the Cretaceous Period. [3] The Sigsbee Abyssal Plain is the deepest and flattest sector of the deep basin.[1]. While every effort has been made to follow citation style rules, there may be some discrepancies. The rig's sinking on April 22 began the discharge of oil into the Gulf of Mexico. The grid defines water depth with 1.4 billion 40-by-40 ft cells and is available in feet and meters. These strange, complex configurations are part of the geology that created the conditions that allowed vast oil deposits to collect. These banks provide critical habitats for many marine animals including commercially valuable fishes, sharks, rays, and sea turtles. All rights reserved. The Gulf of Mexico, under ordinary conditions, has tides of two feet or less, but on the wide and shallow shelf such a variation is quite noticeable. Though similar to the failed top kill, mud could be injected at much lower pressures during the static kill because of the stabilizing influence of the capping stack. Along the south and southwest, the Gulf of Mexico is bordered by the Mexican states of Tamaulipas, Veracruz, Tabasco, Campeche,and Yucatn. Corrections? She has a wonderful poodle-terrier mix named Nelson, and together, they enjoy long walks, outdoor adventures, and playing with his many toys. The lake gets its foreboding name because of how salty the water is and how most things dont survive it. [3] The actual maximum depth is disputed and estimates range between 3,750 and 4,384 metres (12,303 and 14,383ft). Once released by the fracture of the core, the natural gas traveled up the Deepwater rigs riser to the platform, where it ignited, killing 11 workers and injuring 17. 10. Please select which sections you would like to print: Richard Pallardy received a B.A. These slow-growing, long-living animals thrive in very deep waters300 meters (984 feet) and . In 2005 Hurricane Katrina swept over the Gulf of Mexico and storm surges caused 53 levees to be breached which flooded 80% of New Orleans. For its immense natural resources and historical significance, not many are aware of this Gulf and its role in trade and commerce. MarineMax Panama City Beach | MarineMax Fort Walton Beach | MarineMax Pensacola | Grady-White Boats, Posted by 30A on Wednesday, 2 February 2022. About 4 of the United States largest fishing ports are located in the Gulf of Mexico region. The deepest part of the Gulf of Mexico is Sigsbee Deep, which has an estimated depth of around 14,383 feet. ???? 617,800 mi Gulf of Mexico/Area. The Gulf of Mexico (Golfo de Mxico in Spanish) is located in the Atlantic Ocean, and the majority of it is bordered by the United States and Mexico. As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases. Amanda Briney, M.A., is a professional geographer. The Gulf of Mexico is an inlet connecting Mexico and the United States to the ocean and is a marginal sea of the Atlantic Ocean. Recreation and tourism are also a significant part of the economy of the lands surrounding the Gulf of Mexico. Lines of underwater microphones pulled along the surface behind the ship record how long it takes the reflected waves to reach them, data that can then be translated into topography. One of the most devastating was Hurricane Katrina, which formed in the Gulf of Mexico in 2005 and caused over 1,200 deaths and $125 billion in damage, mostly concentrated in New Orleans, Louisiana and surrounding areas. At least 33 species of whales are found in the Gulf of Mexico. The addition of an ancillary collection system comprising several devices, also tapped into the BOP, increased the collection rate to approximately 25,000 barrels of oil a day. The Gulf covers approximately 600,000 square miles. "Size of Spill in Gulf of Mexico is Larger than Thought. ThoughtCo. One hundred miles southeast of Galveston's muddy shoreline, the Gulf of Mexico becomes a dazzling, vibrant blue. Recreational and commercial fishing, water sports, scuba diving, and tourism also forms a significant part of the economy of the surrounding areas. The entire coastline felt the effects of Hurricane Katrina: 1,800 lives were lost and damages caused by the storm totaled $125 billion. The wetlands along the Gulf of Mexico cover around 5 million acres (2.02 million hectares). Unfortunately, oil spills have caused irreparable damage while overfishing, pollution, and more threaten this critical resource. You can try your hand at the pirates life with an adventure on a pirate ship cruise in Orange Beach. Can we bring a species back from the brink? In addition to this, the Gulf of Mexico provides critical habitats, feeding, and nursery grounds for the five species of endangered sea turtles that reside in its waters. Go the Distance. The position of the West Florida Escarpment is shown . Bats and agaves make tequila possibleand theyre both at risk, This empress was the most dangerous woman in Rome. Eighteen percent of the country's oil comes from offshore wells in the Gulf. The basin is roughly circular in shape and approximately 810 nautical miles (1,500 km) wide. The average depth of the Gulf is roughly 5,200 feet, but other parts of the Gulf of Mexico are surprisingly deep. How big is the Gulf of Mexico? The Gulf of Mexico is fed by the waters of 33 American rivers, the largest of which is the Mississippi River. When these algae die, they lead to deterioration in the water quality and depletion of dissolved oxygen in the water bodies. Because the Gulf of Mexico borders a portion of Mexico, Cuba, and five states Florida, Alabama, Mississippi, Louisiana, and Texas, it is divided into seven regions based on specific geological and geographical factors. The average depth of the Gulf is roughly 5,200 feet, but other parts of the Gulf of Mexico are surprisingly deep. Not only does it border five U.S. states Texas, Louisiana, Mississippi, Alabama, and Florida but the Gulf of Mexico also borders Cuba and part of Mexico. The bureaus job is to manage exploration and development of the countrys offshore mineral and energy resources. Further exploration of the Gulf of Mexico continued throughout the 1500s, and after numerous shipwrecks in the region, settlers and explorers decided to establish a settlement along the northern Gulf Coast. The Florida Panhandle becomes a magical realm when you put on scuba gear, dive in the ocean, and breathe underwater. The Deepwater Horizon rig, owned and operated by offshore-oil-drilling company Transocean and leased by oil company BP, was situated in the Macondo oil prospect in the Mississippi Canyon, a valley in the continental shelf.