Subic Bay · Philippines · Wreck
USS New York (ACR-2)
An 1891 armored cruiser scuttled to deny her to Japan
The USS New York (ACR-2), an armored cruiser launched in 1891 and scuttled in December 1941 to keep her out of Japanese hands, is Subic Bay's most famous and most popular wreck. She lies in 16–32 m between Alava Pier and the northern end of the Cubi Point runway, inside an active shipping lane, so every dive runs on advance Harbor Patrol clearance.
Also known as USS Rochester.
Where it is and how deep
14.8036° N, 120.2794° EApproximate position — the dashed circle shows where the site lies; your operator's briefing has the mooring.
The dive
You descend onto a warship in the middle of a working harbour: the hull rests in about 27 m of water between Alava Pier and the northern end of the Cubi Point runway, and the dive runs between 16 and 32 m depending on which part of the cruiser you work along. This is the most popular of the Subic Bay wrecks, and the profile keeps it firmly in Advanced Open Water territory rather than a casual second dive.
How far you go inside depends on your card. Open swim-throughs suit Advanced Open Water divers and give a taste of the interior without commitment; full penetration into the hull requires Wreck Diver certification and appropriate equipment, and is treated as a separate, planned dive. Outside, the structure itself is the attraction, and eagle rays are reported around the wreck, as they are at the LST and El Capitan.
The end of the dive is shaped by where the wreck sits. Because the cruiser lies in an active shipping lane, dives run on advance Harbor Patrol clearance and boats keep station over the site, so you ascend with your group rather than drifting off the wreck. Between the paperwork and the depth, this is a dive you book ahead rather than decide on over breakfast.
The wreck
- Vessel
- USS New York (ACR-2)
- Type
- Armored cruiser
- Sunk
- 1941
- Cause
- Scuttled by American forces to prevent Japanese capture
- Lies
- In 27 m of water between Alava Pier and the northern end of the Cubi Point runway
The USS New York was launched in 1891 and served under three names — New York, Saratoga and Rochester — before ending up a decommissioned cruiser lying at Subic when the Pacific war reached the Philippines. American forces scuttled her in December 1941 to prevent her capture by advancing Japanese forces, and she has rested between Alava Pier and the Cubi Point runway ever since.
Marine life and season
- Eagle rays
| Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Prime | Prime | Prime | Prime | Prime | Good | Fair | Fair | Fair | Good | Prime | Prime |
Season follows Subic Bay: November–May dry season is clearest, best February–May; the July–September monsoon cuts inner-bay visibility and cancels rough days.
Know before you go
- The wreck sits in an active shipping lane and requires advance Harbor Patrol clearance — ascend on the line with your group, not in open water.
- The hull is large and complex inside; enter beyond the open swim-throughs only with Wreck Diver certification and appropriate equipment.
Photos from USS New York (ACR-2)
Murat Halstead · Public domain
Frederick Kynaston Barnes · Public domain
Questions divers ask
How deep is the USS New York wreck?+
The dive runs between 16 and 32 m; the hull rests in about 27 m of water between Alava Pier and the northern end of the Cubi Point runway.
What certification do I need to dive the USS New York?+
Open swim-throughs suit Advanced Open Water divers; full penetration requires Wreck Diver certification and appropriate equipment. The dive also needs advance Harbor Patrol clearance because the wreck sits in an active shipping lane.
Sources
- Subic Bay Wreck Diving Sites | Maps, History and Dive Information — Scuba Tech Philippines
- Subic Bay Dive Guide: WWII & US Navy Wrecks — philippinedives.com
- Olongapo (Wikivoyage) — Area wrecks list — Wikivoyage
- Subic Bay — Wikipedia
- USS New York (Wreck) — Scubago
- USS New York (ACR-2) — Wikipedia
Photo credits
- Cabinet card photo of the armored cruiser USS New York steaming into New York harbor in 1898, flanked by tugboats by Harley Flowers from Mobile, USA, CC BY-SA 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons
- Color lithograph of the armored cruiser New York cresting waves under steam and sail, captioned Capture of the Blockade Runner by Murat Halstead, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons
- 1894 naval reference drawing of the cruiser New York in profile and deck plan, showing her twin gun turrets and four funnels by Frederick Kynaston Barnes, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons
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