Redondo, Palos Verdes & San Pedro · United States · Wreck
Olympic II
An 1877 Harland and Wolff sailing ship lying on her side
Photo: Unknown author · Public domain
The Olympic II began life in 1877 as the Star of France, a three-mast sailing ship from Harland and Wolff, and ended it as a fishing barge on the Horseshoe Kelp Bed off San Pedro. She sank in 1940 after a freighter rammed her, and now lies on her starboard side in about 30 m (100 ft), mostly collapsed apart from the bow and stern.
Also known as Star of France.
Where it is and how deep
33.6650° N, 118.2520° WApproximate position — the dashed circle shows where the site lies; your operator's briefing has the mooring.
The dive
The wreck lies on her starboard side in about 30 m (100 ft) of water, so the descent on the downline reaches the deep end of a recreational profile. Most of the hull has collapsed except the bow and stern areas. The bow stands some 9 m (30 ft) off the bottom, with the anchor chain still attached to the windlass inside, while the stern has started to collapse.
Visibility varies a lot here: it can be around 6 m (20 ft), and on better days it reaches 15 m (50 ft) or more. The wreck sits in a high-traffic area off San Pedro, so finish the dive back at the downline and ascend on it rather than surfacing in open water where boats pass.
The wreck
- Vessel
- Olympic II (ex Star of France)
- Type
- Three-mast sailing ship converted to a fishing barge
- Length
- 79 m (259 ft)
- Built
- 1877
- Sunk
- 1940
- Cause
- Struck while stationary by the Japanese freighter Sakito Maru
- Lies
- On her starboard side in about 30 m on the Horseshoe Kelp Bed
The Star of France was a 79-metre (258 ft) three-mast sailing ship built in 1877 by Harland and Wolff of Belfast. In 1933 she was bought, renamed Olympic II and heavily modified to serve as a fishing barge, and in early 1940 she was moved to the Horseshoe Kelp Bed. On 4 September 1940 the Japanese freighter Sakito Maru ran into the stationary barge, slicing 7 m (23 ft) into the hull near the main mast; she sank quickly and eight people died. Divers found the wreck in 1960.
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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Prime | Prime | Good | Good | Good | Good | Fair | Fair | Fair | Fair | Fair | Good |
Season follows Redondo, Palos Verdes & San Pedro: The squid run at Veteran's Park, mid-December to early March, falls in the coldest water of the year; August is the warmest month at about 19 °C.
Know before you go
- The wreck is in a high-traffic area; ascend on the downline, never in open water.
Dive videos
Exploring The Wreck Of The Olympic II · Jim Sheaffer on YouTube
Questions divers ask
How deep is the Olympic II wreck off San Pedro?+
The Olympic II lies on her starboard side in about 30 m (100 ft) of water. Most of the hull has collapsed except the bow and stern area.
Sources
- Olympic II (San Pedro, CA — 95 fsw) — Wrecked in my rEvo
- Olympic II — California Wreck Divers
- Los Angeles Harbor Light — Wikipedia
Photo credits
- Black and white photo of a three-masted square-rigged sailing ship moored near shore by Unknown author, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons
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