Channel Islands · United States · Wreck
SS Winfield Scott
An 1850s gold-rush steamer in 8-9 m of water off Anacapa
Photo: National Marine Sanctuaries · Public domain
The sidewheel steamer Winfield Scott ran onto Middle Anacapa Island in heavy fog on 1 December 1853, working the gold-rush passenger run between San Francisco and Panama, and lies under 25-30 feet (up to 9 m) of water. Much of the wooden hull has long since disintegrated, but some of the machinery is still relatively intact, and the site is on the National Register of Historic Places.
Also known as Winfield Scott, Winfield Scott wreck.
Where it is and how deep
34.0167° N, 119.3833° WApproximate position — the dashed circle shows where the site lies; your operator's briefing has the mooring.
The dive
This is a shallow, bright dive rather than a deep one: the wreck lies under 25-30 feet (7.6-9.1 m) of water off Middle Anacapa Island, so neither depth nor gas is the limit. A 225-foot (69 m) ship wrecked in water that shallow leaves a scatter of material rather than a hull to swim along, and the whole site sits inside Channel Islands National Park and its marine sanctuary.
What remains is machinery more than structure. Much of the wooden hull has long since disintegrated, while some of the machinery is still relatively intact; salvage after the wreck recovered much of the iron machinery and hundreds of copper bolts, and more iron and brass was taken for the war effort during the Second World War. Nothing may be lifted now — California and United States law prohibits divers from removing any part of the wreckage.
The wreck
- Vessel
- SS Winfield Scott
- Type
- Sidewheel steamer, passenger ship
- Length
- 69 m (226 ft)
- Built
- 1850
- Sunk
- 1853
- Cause
- Ran aground on Middle Anacapa Island in heavy fog; the stern was struck while reversing and the rudder torn away
- Lies
- Broken up in 25-30 feet (7.6-9.1 m) of water off Middle Anacapa Island
Winfield Scott was built by Westervelt & MacKay of New York, completed in March 1850 and launched on 27 October that year, and carried passengers and cargo between San Francisco and Panama during the California Gold Rush. On 1 December 1853 she met heavy fog and ran aground on Middle Anacapa Island; when the master reversed to back off, the stern was struck and the rudder removed. The wreck was placed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1988, and removing any part of it is prohibited by California and federal law.
Marine life and season
The sources we used don't single out particular species here.
| Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Fair | Fair | Fair | Fair | Good | Good | Good | Good | Prime | Prime | Prime | Fair |
Season follows Channel Islands: Water is clearest and calmest September-November after summer plankton blooms settle; winter storms bring rough crossings and colder water.
Know before you go
- The wreck lies in only 8-9 m off an exposed island coast, so swell and surge reach it; the machinery is sharp and legally protected, so contact has to be avoided.
- Water runs 13-21°C (55-70°F) and the park recommends wetsuits and hoods; the wreck is exposed island water reached only by boat.
Dive videos
Visiting the shipwreck site of the California Gold Rush side-wheel Winfield Scott · Robert Schwemmer on YouTube
Winfield Scott Wreck off Anacapa Island · KelnKelp on YouTube
Questions divers ask
How deep is the Winfield Scott wreck?+
It lies under 25-30 feet (7.6-9.1 m) of water off Middle Anacapa Island, so cold water and surge, not depth, set the limits — an easy profile for any certified diver comfortable diving from a boat off an exposed island.
Can you take souvenirs from the wreck?+
No. The Winfield Scott was listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1988, and California and United States law prohibit divers from removing any part of the wreckage. The site is also inside Channel Islands National Park and its marine sanctuary.
Sources
- SS Winfield Scott — Wikipedia
- Channel Islands National Park — Wikipedia
- SS Winfield Scott (Steamship) -- National Register of Historic Places #87002111 — National Park Service
Photo credits
- Diver hovering over encrusted wreck timbers of the Winfield Scott inside a kelp forest by National Marine Sanctuaries, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons
In The Logbook
- What is surge in diving, and how deep it goesOcean science · 8 min read
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