Naval Support Activity - Panama City

The Naval Support Activity Panama City has a long and storied history in the region. Located in Panama City Beach, the base began in 1945 and occupies a 657-acre tract of land alongside St. Andrew’s Bay.

The NSA has seen many changes in its 62-year history. It has gone through many name changes and has had its activities changed and upgraded consistently, making it now, the premier Naval diving instruction Command in the U.S.

On Oct. 1, 2003, the base was once again reorganized as a part of the alignment under the Commander of Navy Installations. During this reorganization, the base was renamed Naval Support Activity Panama City, reporting to the Commander of Navy Region Southeast. The R&D mission workforce was renamed the Naval Surface Warfare Center, Panama City. The primary mission and work areas of the base remained unchanged.

NSA is now the host to some very unique Commands that can only be found Panama City. One of which is Navy Diving Salvage Training Center. It is the only Continental U.S. diving training center for the Department of Defense and also all NATO Forces. Annually, the center produces more than 1,600 divers.

The natural beach contours, weather, and water depths, make NSA a perfect surrogate for the Persian Gulf region.

NSA is also home to the Navy Experimental Diving Unit, which conducts equipment and biomedical research for DoD and NATO Diving. The Naval SPECWAR SEAL Delivery Vehicle Training Detachment provides education and training to both U.S. and foreign Special Operation forces.

NSA’s largest activity is NSWC PC, still one of the major research, development, test and evaluation laboratories of the Navy, which boasts a wide range of expertise in engineering and scientific disciplines in the mission areas of mine warfare, expeditionary warfare, special warfare, and diving and life support.

NSWC PC and the other three major tenants - the Navy Experimental Diving Unit, the Naval Diving and Salvage Training Center, and the Center for Navy Ordnance Disposal and Diving - make NSA Panama City the most comprehensive site for all Navy diving and salvage research, development, testing and training.

With more than 2,800 civilian and military personnel in its employment, the base contributes more than $400 million annually to Bay County’s economy. The NSA Panama City is not only vital for the region, but also vital for the U.S. as a whole since it is the hub for all military diving instruction.