Last Saturday, three experienced San Diego wreck divers, David Hershman, Peter McGuinness and Michael Bear got an opportunity to explore the former HMCS Yukon, now property of the city of San Diego, a 366 foot-long Mackensie-class Canadian warship, the size of a football field, 1.8 miles off the coast of Mission Beach.

http://www.examiner.com/scuba-diving-in-san-diego/san-diego-divers-explore-the-yukon

 Photo: Red Gorgonian and Yellow Sponge Grow Alongside White Metridia on the Yukon

Date: 11-19-11

Location: Yukon, Wreck Alley

Time: 11:53 am

Surface Conditions: 3-5 ft swells, but far apart

Viz: not bad: 25-30 ft

Surge: slight Mix: 30%

Buddy: Peter McGuinness

Max Depth: 95 ft.

Critters seen (by me): Strawberry Anemones, lots of White Metridia, both inside and out of the Yukon, Blacksmith fish, Senoritas, Giant Spined Sea Stars…….

Remarks:

At first, we were concerned because we heard from another boat, on the way out from Mission Bay channel, that they had encountered 5-6 ft high swells and had to turn back at Pt Loma, so we decided to divert to the Yukon in Wreck Alley, and didn’t regret it, as vis was surprisingly good. My only regret was that, because I was using a borrowed 100 cu. ft. tank and not my usual 120, I turned back a bit early and Peter saw a seal harassing a Mola Mola near the smoke stacks……..never fails, right?–lol! Otherwise, it was an excellent dive, considering conditions elsewhere.