Wreck Alley Moorings Project
Established in 2002, the Wreck Alley Mooring Project was developed to provide permanent (public) mooring on San Diego's most popular artificial reefs: the Yukon, Ruby E, NOSC Tower and El Rey. Within this program monthly inspections are made and maintenance is performed on the Wreck Alley bouys. This includes repairing and replacing damaged and aging moorings, scrubbing Yukon safety plaques, and maintaining SDOF research sites.San Diego Dive Boats are contributing a monthly amount to the Mooring Fund as well as several dive clubs. If you or your dive club is interested in volunteering for the program, please contact SDOF to learn more. Cash and equipment donations are also needed.
General Information on Wreck Alley Moorings
A mooring is typically a heavy object located on the seabed with a rope or cable going to the surface where a float makes it possible for a boat to tie off to. These moorings mark popular scuba diving and fishing sites while reducing massive damage that would be caused by anchoring. The best way to assure longevity for the mooring systems is to conduct diligent maintenance, routine cleaning for marine growth and replacement of parts before they fail. Each month SDOF volunteer divers inspect the moorings and make needed repairs. Transportation is generously donated by Marissa Dive Charters.The Yellow Can Marker on the Yukon and White Can Marker on the Ruby E
These are not moorings, please do not use them as such. The markers are there for easy identification for dive boaters and for easy avoidance by other boaters. The Yukon yellow marker in particular is very expensive, very heavy and has a radar reflector inside to help larger boats en route back to the harbor at night avoid the area. Using this as a mooring weakens the system unnecessarily. Please encourage other boaters you see not to use these markers. When that marker breaks free, it is a major endeavor to replace it.Moorings
Each mooring ball has a "painter" or a line coming off the mooring to use. Please put your own line through the loop at the end; do not bring the painter onto your boat. We use polypropylene line for the painters which is extremely durable in all instances except one; it chafes badly when rubbed against the edge of a boat under pressure. Friction is the killer for this type of line. There are lines that are stronger, and much more expensive, but do not float. A 10' to 15' section of line is ideal; tie one end to your boat, thread through the loop and tie the other end back to your boat creating a "bridle". It is perfectly acceptable to tie your line directly to the loop, but this is much harder to undo when there is wind and swell.Sharing Moorings
Moorings are first come first served, but small boats should share whenever possible. 2-3 inflatable or comparable sized hard boats are fine on a mooring. Larger boats (25'+) under most conditions should not share moorings; this creates more strain on the lines than is needed. Larger boat operators should be proficient enough at anchoring, that a mooring should not be a major issue. Commercial dive boats have been the major source of funding for this project, if you want to show them your appreciation, let them have a mooring when it's possible. Commercial boat operators may not want you to tie to them; they have the safety and comfort of a large group of divers to consider. Do not assume it is ok to share a mooring with a commercial operator, ask first.Wear and Tear
This stuff wears out; the ocean is a brutal place. If you notice chain links wearing thin or a line you think may break, please send SDOF an email. The SD Lifeguards have been exceptional in helping us recover moorings that have come free, as well as allowing us to store large items on their moorings in the harbor during the winter months.Winter
We often do not replace moorings in the winter; no sense in putting out expensive gear only to subject it to our winter swells and storms. Anything that breaks free during the winter is replaced in late March.Expenses
There are three sources of income for the moorings project: regular donations from the Dive Operators, Wreck Alley t-shirt sales, and individual donations. All project members are volunteers and the use of the Lois Ann has been donated by her owners for this project.Purchase a Wreck Alley T-shirt to support this project!