Site Resources & Tools
Dive planning for America
Site Briefing
America is a dive site in the San Juan Islands . Wreck of the coal barge America, a former three-masted sailing bark, off the west side of San Juan Island in Haro Strait.
On August 30, 1914, in heavy fog, the America grounded on the rocks while under tow by the tug Lorne with a coal cargo bound for Vancouver, B.C.; no lives were lost. San Juan Island divers located the wreck in 1959; the pnwdiving site pin aligns with that historical position in Haro Strait.
Access: Boat access from Friday Harbor or Roche Harbor; live boat recommended in Haro Strait.
Marine life: Historical wreck site -- structure has deteriorated since 1950s salvage dives; expect encrusting invertebrates on remaining hull fragments if any structure remains.
Conditions: Exposed Haro Strait site -- swell, wind, and boat traffic.
Hazards: Modern dive details are sparse; confirm conditions and remaining structure with local wreck divers before planning.
⚠️ Safety & accuracy
Before diving at America, always check the site-specific wind/wave forecast, tide/currents, and recent reports ! Reminder: Winds (even offshore winds) can impact slack time.
Briefings may be out of date or have inaccuracies. Dive within your training and experience. The first time diving a site, join someone familiar with the site and/or start on a mild day.
See our currents, tides, wind, and waves guide for help reading charts and planning current-sensitive dives.
The nearest NOAA or XTide current and tide stations within 25 miles are selected by default when available. NOAA stations show charts here; XTide stations link to Dairiki. Click a pin on the map below to choose another station for current, tide, camera, or buoy data (you may need to zoom in or out).
See an issue? Would you suggest a different default station or depth? Suggest briefing updates.
Nearby Stations
Discovery Island, 3.0 nm NE of (41 ft) -- 3 miles away
Kanaka Bay, San Juan Island -- 2 miles away
Nearest Featured Dive Sites
- Breakfast Rock (~6 miles)
- 10 Mile Point (~7 miles)
Nearby Dive Sites
- Pile Point (~1 miles)
- Deadman Bay (~2 miles)
- Lime Kiln Point (~2 miles)