Salvatierra Wreck

The Salvatierra Wreck is the remains of a former US Navy WWII landing ship (LST) called La Salvatierra that struck a reef and sank in 1976. The wreck lies upright on a sandy bottom at about 18 meters with the bow facing south; the hull is roughly 70% intact though much of the upper structure was torn off in the same storm. Numerous cargo trucks remain on the deck and the structure is encrusted with sponges, corals and other growth, serving as an artificial reef that attracts a wide variety of local marine life. Access is by boat only; divers descend beside the hull and typically swim the perimeter and along its length, viewing open decks from the outside. The dive is entirely in open water above the hull with no overhead cover, depths around 18 m, visibility commonly 15–30 m, and water temperatures around the mid-20s °C. Currents in the nearby San Lorenzo Channel can be moderate to strong so divers should monitor surge and direction and limit bottom time if flow increases. Penetration is not recommended because of loose metal and entanglement hazards; possible hazards include sharp metal edges, fishing line and unstable wreck debris. The dive is relatively shallow and does not require special decompression procedures. La Salvatierra was a WWII-era LST that struck a reef and sank in 1976; a hurricane tore much of the upper structure off at that time. Both propellers are visible and spilled cargo is scattered among the wreckage, while many cargo trucks remain on deck, some with inflated tires.