Some of the most amazing, as well as some of the safest shipwrecks for diving can be found in San Diego, California’s aptly named “Wreck Alley.” Many of these wrecks have been opened up for safety, and some have been reinforced. If you are planning to visit other, more dangerous wreck sites, Wreck Alley can be a good place to hone up your wreck diving skills.
The Wreck of the Ruby E - California Dive Sites
The Ruby E, which was sunk in 85 feet of water, one mile off Mission Beach, is now an underwater paradise. She started life as a United States Coast Guard cutter called “Cayne”, and was later transformed into a salvage ship, and finished her above-water life as a fishing vessel. She now lives on as part of San Diego’s artificial reef program, thanks to the generosity of her owners, who donated her to the program in the 1980’s.
The Ruby E is huge, and simply stunning. She is forty feet wide and 156 feet long, and each compartment has been opened up to let in some natural light. The engine room features a pair of diesel engines, and the props, now wreathed in anemones and gorgonians, are huge.
HMCS Yukon - California Dive Sites
The relatively new wreck of the HMCS Yukon is located approximately two miles off Mission Beach. She foundered in 2000, just before she was to be sunk as part of the Artificial Reef system. The Yukon, at a whopping 366 feet long, is still mostly intact, and is one of the most dangerous dives Wreck Alley has to offer. While she was cleaned and salvaged before she went down, she sank overnight, before she was completely prepared for addition to the reef.
The Yukon features low decks and a maze of bulkheads. To add to the technical difficulty of the dive, silt and sand constantly shift as she continues to settle into the ocean’s bottom. On the first day after she sunk, a dive instructor was trapped inside for half an hour. Although he made it out alive, he had only 100 psi remaining in his tank. If you want to see the inside of HMCS Yukon, be sure you are qualified. Otherwise, practice your skills outside - there is plenty to see! Her fore and aft guns are amazing, and it is interesting to see how life is forming on her structure.
Other Ships and Structures in Wreck Alley - California Dive Sites
Besides the Ruby E and the Yukon, Wreck Alley is home to the El Rey, a kelp cutter that was sunk in 1986 to begin formation of the artificial reef. El Rey is covered in bright pink strawberry anemones, and lies in ninety feet of water. She is fifty feet wide and 110 feet long.
“The Tower” was a Naval Electronics Lab that was knocked over during a storm in the winter of 1988. There are less hazards here than in other places, so it is often the first structure dive charters take novices to. There are plenty of fish and marine life, and like the El Rey, The Tower has plenty of colorful anemones making their homes on its structure.
Finally, the old Ingraham Street Bridges now lie in about 65 feet of water in Wreck Alley. Be careful as you explore the cement pilings and twisted metal, since there are some overhead hazards. Watch for spiny lobster and nudibranchs, and keep an eye out for orange Garibaldis and other fish!
Visiting San Diego, California
Besides some fabulous diving opportunities, the San Diego area is home to plenty of attractions, wonderful hotels, world class surfing, and splendid vistas. The cuisine and nightlife is amazing, as well. You’re sure to enjoy diving Wreck Alley, and once you visit, you’ll want to return again and again.