ACE Wreck, San Clemente, CA
19 May, 2019
- Team Leader
- David Mansfield
- Number of Participants
- 14
- Total Debris Collected
- 84 lbs (estimated)
33.39152217791, -117.67411946655
Survey Information
- Location Name
- ACE Wreck, San Clemente, CA
- Organization/Dive Centre
- Beach Cities Scuba Centers
- City
- Dana Point
- Country
- United States
- Date
- 19 May, 2019
- Survey Duration
- 72 Minutes
- GPS Coordinates
- Latitude: 33.39152217791
Longitude: -117.67411946655
- Weather Conditions
-
Cloudy with scattered rains. Winds during the afternoons. Storms rolling through the area headed for the Midwest. Day of dive was overcast with light rains.
- Survey Depth Range
- 75–121 feet
- Area Surveyed
- 1800 ft2
- Dominant Substrate
- sand
- Ecosystem
- Wreck
- Wave Conditions
- Smooth (wavelets) for waves 0.1 - 0.5 meter high
Survey Photos
Debris Items Collected
| plastic materials collected | |
|---|---|
| Bags: Trash (plastic) | 1 |
| Beverage Bottles: Less Than 2 Litres (plastic) | 2 |
| Buoys & Floats (plastic & Foamed) | 1 |
| Fishing: Line | 22 |
| Fishing: Lures, Rods/poles | 19 |
| Fishing: Nets & Pieces Of Nets | 2 |
| glass materials collected | |
|---|---|
| Beverage Bottles (glass) | 3 |
| rubber materials collected | |
|---|---|
| Rubber Fragments | 2 |
| cloth materials collected | |
|---|---|
| Bags (burlap) | 1 |
| Rope And String (cloth) | 44 |
| Towels/rags | 1 |
| Cloth Fragments | 1 |
Additional Information
Weather took down the ACE wreck about 9 years ago and the materials on this wreck are still present. It is virtually untouched. Over the years, fishermen have decorated the wreck in fishing line, lures, anchors, anchor lines, beer bottles and much more.
Electronics and all of the debris found on that day are still there. Oddest found so far is the wallet of the captain.
The fishing lines
The fishing net. It is wrapped and at it's safest right now. But, it will need to be brought up.
The fishing lures, they pose a hazard to divers for sure.
Comments and Feedback
We've been diving the ACE for years, but the debris is getting worse and not improving. The divers have decided that it is time to take action and get the lines off this wreck and preserve the massive amount of aquatic life that has used it as a home. It is literally a living reef system now covered in sea anemones and fish.
We are planning to clean up this wreck over time. June 15, July 13, August 25 are the next dates. Getting a commercial unit to come in and help as well.
