The 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 the San Diego Oceans Foundation as part of the 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".

Skill Rating: Novice when calm clear conditions, can be Experienced when they are not. External conditions are novice on average.

Skill Recommendations: We recommend that divers have at least 10 cold water dives deeper than 60 feet in the last 18 months to do this dive. This is not an ideal site for brand new divers nor for refresher dives. We never advocate penetration by those untrained in this specialty, or without the proper equipment to do so safely.

Update March 2005: The Yukon has no less than 1000 Metridium Anemone's growing predominantly in the 70-100 ft range. There is also a lot of anemone's and small soft corals taking root, a giant Broomtail Grouper living under the bow with a huge Spider Crab and an abundance of fish making the wreck home. parts of the wreck are now completely encrusted with anemones.

The Ruby E, a 165-foot long Coast Guard Cutter, sunk as part of the Artificial Reef Project in July 1989 in 85 feet of water. She sits upright on the bottom and is intact and penetrable. All the hatches have been made larger and most rooms have an exit to the outside.

Most of the wreck is covered with growth, such as strawberry anemones and a small kelp bed on top of the wheelhouse.

Skill Rating: Novice when calm clear conditions, can be Experienced when they are not. External conditions are novice on average.

Skill Recommendations: We recommend that divers have at least 10 cold water dives deeper than 60 feet in the last 18 months to do this dive. This is not an ideal site for brand new divers nor for refresher dives. We never advocate penetration by those untrained in this specialty, or without the proper equipment to do so safely.

The El Rey, a kelp cutter which is a barge-like vessel, 110 foot long and 50 foot wide was sunk in 1986 in 90 feet of water and was the first site in the project. She had a superstructure fore and aft which now has mostly collapsed. Even though there is little penetration on this wreck it is very interesting because of the growth and sea life.

Skill Rating: Novice when calm clear conditions, can be intermediate when they are not. External conditions are novice on average.

Skill Recommendations: We recommend that divers have at least 10 cold water dives deeper than 60 feet in the last 18 months to do this dive. This is not an ideal site for brand new divers nor for refresher dives. We never advocate penetration by those untrained in this specialty, or without the proper equipment to do so safely.

In 1988 a strong winter storm knocked down the Naval Electronics Lab ("The Tower"), research tower which had been a fixture ½ mile off the San Diego coast since 1959. The tower looked very much like an oil rig and was always a good dive because it attracted many fish and was home to a multitude of small marine life. Now the entire structure lies in 60 feet of water and is still home to many species of marine life.

Skill Rating: Novice to beginner.

Skill Recommendations: With a 60 foot maximum depth, this is a good site for new divers. Entanglement hazards do exist; ask your captain or DM for additional information if you have not dived in conditions similar.

When the Ingraham Street Bridges, which spanned Mission Bay were replaced in 1985 the old bridge pilings and roadway were dumped in the Wreck Alley area. This little known spot is loaded with marine life especially a large population of the much hunted California spiny lobster.

Skill Rating: Novice to beginner.

Skill Recommendations: With a 65 foot maximum depth, this is a good site for new divers. Overhead hazards do exist; ask your captain or DM for additional information if you have not dived in conditions similar.

Ancient Sea Cliffs with depths from 70 to 100 ft. and is believed by some to be an old seashore, possibly from the Ice Age when the sea level was much lower.

Skill Rating: Intermediate to Novice due to depth and current.

Skill Recommendations: With a 105 foot maximum depth and a 60 foot drop to the top of the cliff, this dive is recommended for those with at least 5 kelp dives deeper than 60 feet.

7 Fathom Pinnacles are a great area, depths range from 85 to 45 at the tops of the 3 pinnacles. Due to the deep surrounding water the regular swell action in the area disturbs this site less than all the others, visibility averages 25ft

Skill Rating: Novice due to depth.

Skill Recommendations: With a 90 foot maximum depth and a 45 foot drop to the top of the shallowest pinnacles, this dive is recommended for those with at least 5 kelp dives deeper than 60 feet.

The Orange Grove, Baxters, NRAD and Horsehead Reefs are rock structures in 50 ft. of water with the tops at about 25 ft.

Skill Rating: Beginner to Novice.

Then there is New Hope Rock in 40 feet. up to as shallow as 25 feet. and loaded with large and small critters, eels, octopus, lobsters, scallops, fish and of course lots of kelp.

Skill Rating: Beginner to Novice.

The Coronado Islands in Mexican waters are another nice dive destination. They are just 20 miles from our dock which is only a 1-1/2 hour boat ride to a full day of diving in blue water with visibility averaging 50 feet. The island group consists of two main islands referred to as North and South Island. Even though North Island is the smaller of the two, it has the better dive sites. On the leeward side is Lobster Shack, a small cove where 20 years ago a Mexican fisherman built and lived in a shack on the rocks just above the cove. Depths range from 10 to 65 feet. A few harbor seals call this cove home year-round while in the winter some 200 sea lions move over from the windward side of the island and often will leave the shore to play with the divers. Farther down the island toward the southern tip is The Arch, an arch that divers can swim through to the windward side of the island. But this is only possible on days when the waves are small. Depths here range from 10 to 130 feet.

Skill Rating: Beginner to Novice.

Skill Recommendations: This is a good site for new divers and is often used for OW training.

The P-38

The Lois Ann does not allow hunting or collecting on the P-38 off our vessel.

A WWII era Fighter-Bomber than was used in every combat theater of the war. Today there are less than 30 of the 10,000 built. 37' long with a wingspan of 52', one of the less fortunate of these lies in 130 feet of water off Torrey Pines State Beach.

Predominately intact; she sits upright with a one of her four 50mm cannons intact. Ammo is still in the magazine. Relief off the bottom is about 5-7 feet.

There is absolutely no salvage, hunting or touching of the wreck please. She is extremely delicate.

GPS units are not allowed on this trip.

Skill Recommendations: With a 130 foot maximum depth and unpredictable bottom visibility, this dive is for experienced divers only. You should be able to do a 130 descent and then ascent without a line to hang on. Lines will be for visual reference only.

The Hogan

A WICKES (LITTLE) Destroyer launched in 1919.
314' long and 31' wide, she boasted four 4" guns and two 20mm anti-aircraft guns. In WWII she served as a minesweeper and convoy escort. She took part in the invasion of North Africa as well as the battle of Iwo Jima. In 1945 she was slotted as a bombing target and was sunk off San Diego.

She lies in 125 feet right on the Mexican Border. Currents are common in the area and visibility can be reduced. On clear days she is fantastic; I've had the pleasure of diving her a few days of 70+ visibility. There is not much in the way of penetration; must of the structure is collapsed.

Skill Recommendations: With a 130 foot maximum depth and unpredictable bottom visibility, this dive is for experienced divers only. Currents are common in the area and all divers are required to have a surface visual signaling device and well as an audible device.

The Lois Ann does not allow hunting or collecting on the Hogan off our vessel