El Capitan
Conditions & tides
Scored by DiveConnect's site-physics model
Marine forecast via Copernicus Marine. Score is a rule-based guide from swell/wind vs. the site's exposure — always dive your own assessment.
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About this site
El Capitan is a wreck dive in Subic Bay, Philippines. The ship is the USS Majaba (AG 43), built as SS Meriden in 1919 in Portland, Oregon, chartered by the US Navy as El Capitan on 23 April 1942, renamed Majaba and placed out of service at Subic Bay on 14 March 1946.
Size and condition. The wreck is about 3,000 tonnes and 80 m long, and structurally intact. The top (starboard) side is at about 5 m, and the outside of the wreck sits at slightly over 18 m, so no extra safety stop is needed after coming up the side.
Penetration. The forward hole is wide open and allows entry even for novice divers. From there you can reach the accommodation area and the rear cargo hold. Divers can swim inside the large forward and rear holds, and trained, equipped divers can make a comparatively safe penetration into the boiler room.
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Conditions and who it suits. Good visibility, shallow depth, no current and an intact structure make it an ideal starting point for novice wreck divers. The wreck is alive with a wide variety of fish, and giant clams and large schools of jacks are noted on the nearby reef.
Marine life here
Confirmed by our research team, reported by independent divers, or observed nearby via iNaturalist — each entry is labelled with its source.
TrevallyTrevallyReported here · unconfirmed
TunaTunaReported here · unconfirmed- Martin's cowrieRansoniella martiniReported here · unconfirmed
Scissortail SergeantAbudefduf sexfasciatusReported here · unconfirmed
Common LionfishPterois volitansReported here · unconfirmed
Coi's GoniobranchusGoniobranchus coiReported here · unconfirmed
Moon WrasseThalassoma lunareReported here · unconfirmed
Manta rayManta rayReported here · unconfirmed
DugongDugongReported here · unconfirmed
GrouperGrouperConfirmed present · 2 independent sources
BarracudaBarracudaReported here · unconfirmed
TriggerfishTriggerfishReported here · unconfirmed
AngelfishAngelfishReported here · unconfirmed
Whale SharkRhincodon typusReported here · unconfirmed
SnapperSnapperConfirmed present · 2 independent sources
ClownfishClownfishReported here · unconfirmed
ParrotfishParrotfishReported here · unconfirmed
SeahorseSeahorseReported here · unconfirmed
Durable tips from divers — access, hazards, marine life, facilities. For day-of conditions, use the report tool in the conditions card above.
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