wrecks of Subic Bay. The battleship
was commissioned in 1899 as the
USS Rochester and subsequently
renamed New York. It saw action in
Manila Bay during the Spanish
American War, in China during the
Chinese Revolution and throughout
the Pacific during WWI.
She was decommissioned in 1932
and was stripped of most fittings
and lay at anchor for 10 years off
Alava Pier. In early WWII, retreating
U.S. forces scuttled her to prevent
the massive guns from falling into
the hands of the advancing
Japanese army.
Today USS New York rests on her
port side in 100 ft. (30m), relatively
intact. The hull has the large holes
the demolition experts blasted in it
to sink her. The large guns have
escaped salvage and are still
mounted along both sides of the
vessel. The huge aft propeller is also
intact.
The battleship is easy to penetrate
for those tek and wreck trained. It is
best to have an experienced guide
as the vessel is massive (360
ft./109m long) so one could easily
get lost in the maze of corridors and
passageways.
The New York holds sponges,
hydroids and a variety of soft corals
with their soft coral crabs. Lionfish
are ubiquitous. Other fish life
includes sweetlips, fusiliers and
batfish. Look inside the main
interior passageway for groupers.
There is a shoal of barracudas
cruising around the wreck at times.
Divers sometimes see bluespotted
rays, especially along the muddy
bottom of the bay.
Visibility on the wreck varies from
10 ft. - 50 ft. (3 - 15m). To best
enjoy the ship, plan two or more
dives to see it all properly.3) El Capitan
Icons:
Location: Ilanin Bay
Depth: 16-65 ft. (5-19m)Easy, shallow, a great history and
marine life make this a very popular
wreck in Subic Bay. El Capitan is
certainly one of the better wrecks
for photography. Visibility, as with
most sites in Subic Bay, ranges fromWreck Diving SafetyWreck diving can be safe and
fascinating. Penetration of
shipwrecks, however, is a skilled
specialty and should not be
attempted without proper training.
Wrecks are often unstable; they
can be silty, deep and disorienting.
Use an experienced guide to view
wrecks and the amazing coral
communities that have developed
on them.