USS New York (ACR-2)

Camayan Divers
USS New York (ACR-2)

USS New York Dive Specs

Depth: 17-27m
Classification: Advanced Open Water, Deep, Wreck, Technical Wreck Divers

The USS New York is one of the most famous wreck dives in Asia. It was built in 1891 as the second in a line of armored cruisers, with the original designation of ‘ACR-2′ (Armored Cruiser no.2). The New York was upgraded (including the turreted 8 inch guns) and became the flagship of the US Asiatic Fleet and Pacific Squadron.

She participated in World War I and was renamed ‘USS Saratoga’ and later, the ‘USS Rochester’. In 1933 she was finally laid up at the Subic Bay to be cannibalized for spares. She was eventually scuttled by the US Navy in 1941 during their preparations to withdraw from Subic to prevent her four 8 inch guns falling into enemy hands.

Resting on her port side at a depth of 27m, she is still mostly intact, except for explosive damage caused by salvage operations in her mid-section. Fortunately for divers, her 4 massive turreted deck guns and enormous propeller are still intact. The wreck is 110m long, making it one of the largest wrecks in the Bay. Diving the USS New York is an awesome experience for divers and the scale of the wreck can really be appreciated as you swim alongside her main guns or around her propeller.