San Diego, California, United States

HMCS Yukon

The HMCS Yukon was a Canadian Mackenzie-class destroyer escort, 111 metres long, that served in the Royal Canadian Navy from 1963 to 1993. Towed to San Diego in 2000 by the San Diego Oceans Foundation, she was prepared for divers and scuttled on 14 July 2000 about 2 km off Mission Beach. The sinking did not go entirely to plan; she rolled on her port side as she went down and now lies at 30 metres on her port flank, with the highest stern superstructure around 18 metres. The orientation makes the wreck more challenging to navigate than an upright ship, and many openings have been pre-cut for safe penetration by trained wreck divers. The Yukon has matured into a heavily encrusted reef of metridium anemones, hydroids and sponges. Resident fish include large lingcod, schools of blacksmith and senorita, rockfish, and the occasional giant black sea bass at the bow. Visibility is variable: 6 to 18 metres. Advanced certification required.