Wreck Alley Dive Site Descriptions
HMCS YUKON
Coordinates: 117° 17' 7.2" W 32° 46' 21" NThe HMCS Yukon, a 366 foot Canadian Destroyer Escort, lies in 105 feet of water off Mission Beach in the Northern area of Wreck Alley. She lies on her port side with average minimum depth from bow to stern about 75 feet along the starboard side. She was intentionally sunk in July of 2000 by SDOF as part of an artificial reef project. She was prepared for divers and an abundance of entry and exit holes were cut into her to increase accessibility and diver safety. Penetration is readily available for those with the proper training, as well as plenty to see on the exterior by less experienced divers including forward and aft gun turrets. The Yukon has something to offer for almost every diver from the novice to the "Techie".
The Yukon has no less than 1000 Metridium Anemone's growing predominantly in the 70-100 ft range. There are also small soft corals taking root, hundreds of juvenile rockfish, and many larger species of crustaceans!
RUBY E
Coordinates: 117 16'36" W, 32 46'02" NThe 165-foot, 150-ton Ruby "E" was once a Coast Guard Cutter, a fishing boat, and a salvage vessel before it was sunk in 1989 to be used as an artificial reef. Extending to a depth of 85 feet, the wreck offers an ample number of dive opportunities. Working aft from the bow, there are holes burned into the deck exposing a hold and the anchor chain locker. The bridge and wheelhouse are readily accessible and are one of the high points of the dive. A plaque, dedicating the wreck and acknowledging its supporters is centrally located on the front of the bridge superstructure. Inside the superstructure are the remains of the chart locker and the captain's quarters. Holes cut into the port and starboard side of the ship below the bridge allow access into the crew's berthing quarters. The engine hatches have been removed which offer divers a view of the engine room with the massive engines still in place. The port engine has the heads off the top of the motor exposing the cylinders, while the starboard engine is completely intact. On days with good visibility, the light streaming into the engine room is an amazing sight. The aft deck has several open holds leading to the stern rail, where the letters "Ruby E" were once visible.
While fairly a safe dive, caution should be taken when penetrating, as sharp rusted metal is all around. The site is in an area with heavy boat traffic and care should be taken to ascend and descend via the buoy or anchor chain. Most of the wreck is covered with growth, such as strawberry anemones and a small kelp bed on top of the wheelhouse.
EL REY
Center Coordinates: 32° 45' 51" N x 117° 16' 36" WA retired kelp harvesting vessel, the EL REY was donated by KELCO and sunk in 1987. The artificial reef lies about one-quarter mile south of the Ruby E, and the 100-foot long, 133-ton vessel provides ample underwater photographic opportunities on clear days. While normally classified as an intermediate dive, EL REY can be a difficult dive due to low visibility, currents and surge under less than ideal conditions. Even though there is little penetration on this wreck it is very interesting because of the growth and sea life.
NOSC TOWER
Coordinates: 117º 16' 03" W x 32º 46' 21" NKnocked over by an El Nino storm in 1988, the NOSC (Naval Ocean Systems Center) Tower once stood over 100 feet tall and was used for research of internal waves, swell, wave propagation and numerous other areas. Consisting of four stories, the tower had a dive platform, and above that labs that have parts missing that still haven't been found. Now sitting at a depth of 70 feet (although the top is only about 35 feet down), the tower is a haven for lobster and numerous other forms of marine life.
PACIFIC BEACH ARTIFICIAL REEF
Center Coordinates: 32° 47' 35" N x 117v 16' 35" WCompass Bearing: 324° (mag), 2.5 N miles from Mission Bay entrance
Constructed in 1987, the Pacific Beach artificial reef consists of 10,000 tons of quarry rock and encompasses an estimated 109 acres while extending to a depth of 42-72 feet. The reef supports a wide variety of kelp-rock habitat organisms; and excellent lobster diving has been reported there as well as good numbers of kelp and sandbass.
Additional Wreck Alley Information