Advice for diving San Quintin in Philippines

Armed Transport San Quintin (Spanish Navy) ex S/S Andes (Cunard Lines)

Very little other than the boilers, bow and stern are left of the ship, however, the corals have done well in covering her.

Depth range: 10 to 20 meters (33 to 66 feet) siting next to a reef that 5 to 10 meters deep

Length: 236 feet (72 meters)

Skill Levels: Open Water Diver

Current: Generally calm, some mild current at tide change, currents are stronger at surface.

Visibility: 10-15 meters

Average Dive Time Recreational Diver: 40-50 minutes

In 1850, the British and North American Royal Mail Steam Packet Company ordered four identical iron screw Passenger/cargo vessels from the Scottish ship builder William Denny & Brothers. They were the Andes, Alps, Australia and Sydney. Before being delivered in 1852, the company had changed its name to Cunard Lines and transferred ownership of the Australia and Sydney to an Australian company. In December 1852, the S/S Andes started sailing the Liverpool to New York route.

In 1854, with the out break of the Crimean War, the British government leased the S/S Andes. The ship was initial used as troop transport and later used as a hospital ship. After the war, it returned to service with Cunard Lines.

The S/S Andes was purchased in 1859 by the Spanish government and renamed to the San Quintîn. She initial served as a troop transport station in Cuba and later transferred to the Philippines.

In 1894, she was retired and laid up at Subic Bay. In preparation for a possible war with the United States, the Spanish Admiral Montojo devised a plan to fight at Subic Bay, that plan included the sinking of the San Quintin. Admiral Montojo’s plan was approved on March 15, 1898 and orders give to scuttle the ship.

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