Fang Ming

The Fang Ming was seized by Mexican authorities in the mid-1990s after being caught smuggling undocumented Chinese migrants toward the United States, and the confiscated freighter sat idle in La Paz until conservationists and the government found a better use for her. Cleaned, opened up and scuttled in November 1999 in the sandy shallows of the Bay of La Paz, near the channel toward Isla Espíritu Santo, she is celebrated locally as the first ship in Mexico — often claimed for Latin America — sunk deliberately as an artificial reef with full environmental preparation. The gamble worked. Sitting upright at about 21 meters, shallow enough for generous bottom time, she has been claimed enthusiastically by the Sea of Cortez: green morays coil in the holds, king angelfish and Cortez rainbow wrasse work the plating, schooling snapper pack the companionways, and sea turtles genuinely do nap inside the sheltered cargo spaces. Sea lions from the nearby colonies buzz divers on their safety stops in season. With her wide cut openings and easy depth, she doubles as the region's standard wreck-training platform and a soft introduction to overhead environments.

How she sank: Deliberately scuttled as an artificial reef in the Bay of La Paz, November 1999.

Condition: Upright and stable, structure fully colonized; steel thinning at the upper works

Penetration: Limited. Large access holes were cut before sinking, so holds and upper spaces are bright with multiple exits — ideal for supervised wreck training, still deserving of lights and care. Entering any overhead environment requires specific training — a wreck certification at minimum, technical wreck training for full penetration.

Recommended certification: Open Water

Current: Mild · Visibility: 10–25 m

Marine life: Green morays, king angelfish, resting green turtles, schooling snapper and goatfish, passing sea lions, and stingrays on the surrounding sand.

Hazards: Occasional low visibility after wind, and mild silting inside the holds