Panama City Beach in Bay County, Florida — The American South (South Atlantic)

Swimmer Delivery Vehicle (SDV) MK 9

Man in the Sea Museum

Photographed by Brandon D Cross

1. Swimmer Delivery Vehicle (SDV) MK 9 Marker

Inscription.
This SDV is designed for maximum power and shallow water landings. The crew can either sit upright for surface travel or lie down for subsurface electronic navigation. The “pancake” design is made mostly of fiberglass, reinforced plastic and non-ferrous metals to minimize the magnetic signature.

The SDV MK 9 is unique among the SEALs submersibles because it could be armed with two heavyweight torpedoes. Additionally, the MK 9 could carry two Limpet Assemble Modular (LAM) large anti-ship limpet mines in place of the torpedoes. Satchel charges and smaller limpet mines could be carried in the payload bay behind the divers feet if they lay prone.

The large flat construction provided a rough ride at slow speeds in choppy seas, so production was limited.

Erected by Man in the Sea Museum and the History of Diving Museum.

Topics. This historical marker is listed in this topic list: Waterways & Vessels.

Location. 30° 13.95′ N, 85° 53.615′ W. Marker is unreadable. Marker is in Panama City Beach, Florida, in Bay County. It is at the intersection of Panama City Beach Parkway

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(U.S. 98) and Heather Drive, on the right when traveling west on Panama City Beach Parkway. The marker is located in the parking lot of the Man in the Sea Museum. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 17314 Panama City Beach Parkway, Panama City Beach FL 32413, United States of America. Touch for directions.

Regionally, this marker is on the Florida Panhandle.

It is also in the American South,

specifically in the Deep South,

and on the Gulf Coast.

Globally, it is in the North Atlantic Region,

North America,

a Gulf of Mexico state,

the Western Hemisphere,

the Western World,

and the Anglosphere.

Historically, it finds itself in what was once New Spain,

the territory of the Mississippian Culture,

one of the Confederate States of America,

and the Antebellum South.

Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within walking distance of this location: Swimmer Delivery Vehicle (SDV) MK VIII (here, next to this marker); Swimmer Delivery Vehicle (SDV) MK 7 (here, next to this marker); Swimmer Delivery Vehicle (SDV) MK 6 (here, next to this marker); Trieste II (DSV) (here, next to this marker); Mark I Deep Dive System (DDS)

Photographed by Brandon D Cross

2. Swimmer Delivery Vehicle (SDV) MK 9 Marker

(a few steps from this marker); Decompression Chamber (within shouting distance of this marker); US Navy Sealab Program (within shouting distance of this marker); Man in the Sea Museum History (within shouting distance of this marker). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Panama City Beach.

Also see . . .
1. Mark 9 SDV: The SEALs’ mini-sub that packed full-sized torpedoes. Sandboxx website entry (Submitted on January 6, 2026, by Larry Gertner of New York, New York.)

2. Man in the Sea Museum. Westend PCB website entry (Submitted on August 11, 2024, by Brandon D Cross of Flagler Beach, Florida.)

Photographed by Brandon D Cross

3. SDV Mk. IX

Man in the Sea Museum sign image. Click for full size.

Photographed by Brandon D Cross

4. Man in the Sea Museum sign

Mark IX Swimmer Delivery Vehicle (SDV) image. Click for full size.

Photographed by Brandon D Cross, August 12, 2024

5. Mark IX Swimmer Delivery Vehicle (SDV)

Credits. This page was last revised on January 6, 2026. It was originally submitted on August 11, 2024, by Brandon D Cross of Flagler Beach, Florida. This page has been viewed 335 times since then and 56 times this year. Photos: 1, 2, 3, 4. submitted on August 11, 2024, by Brandon D Cross of Flagler Beach, Florida. 5. submitted on August 12, 2024, by Brandon D Cross of Flagler Beach, Florida. • Bernard Fisher was the editor who published this page.