Antonio López Wreck
Also known as: shipwreck · Antonio Lopez · vapor Antonio López · SS Antonio López
Dive siteFrom Puerto Rico Dive Sites, the sourced field guide
Antonio López Wreck
| Region | San Juan & North Coast |
|---|---|
| Municipality | Dorado |
| Access | Access not established |
| Site type | Wreck |
| Depth (reported range) | to 30 ft (9 m)Single source (current tier 3) |
| Location | Coordinates withheld (sensitive site). |
| Confidence | Moderate confidence |
| Last researched | 2026-10-17 |
Overview
The Antonio López is a Spanish steamer, built in 1881–82, that ran aground off the Dorado coast in 1898 during the Spanish-American War. It is listed on the National Register of Historic Places and designated a National Historic Landmark, so treat it as protected historic heritage; its position is not published here. A 2021 naval history article puts the remains in about 30 ft of water on the rocky floor of a barrier reef, with much of the hull and machinery still identifiable. A newspaper article says recreational divers visit it often.[1][2][3]
Site characteristics
- Wreck[2]
Habitat & marine life
- rocky floor of a barrier reef[3]
Marine life is what sources report having seen or commonly seeing — not a guarantee.
Wreck information
- Listed on the US National Register of Historic Places (heritage:operator=nrhp)[2]
- Spanish steamer (built 1881-82, Dumbarton) run aground in 1898 during the Spanish-American War; listed on the NRHP and designated a National Historic Landmark[1]
- substantially intact where she grounded: machinery, boilers, hull remains and double bottom exposed and identifiable (NPS description quoted)[3]
Recent diver reports
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First-hand reports from divers, reviewed before they appear. Conditions change daily; a report describes one day.
Safety considerations
No site-specific hazards are recorded in our sources. That does not mean there are none.
Ocean conditions change daily. Dive within your training, plan with current local information and consider a local professional guide. Water safety guide.
Depth reports by source
| Reported | Source | Status |
|---|---|---|
| to 30 ft (9 m) | U.S. Naval Institute - Naval History magazine[3] | Current source |
Sources & verification
Last researched: 2026-10-17 · Last independently verified: not yet field-verified · Confidence: Moderate confidence
- 1.Sabías que... en la costa entre Levittown y Dorado yace un naufragio español que pocos conocen — El Nuevo Día · Other · Tier 3: Corroborating · accessed 2026-10-11
- 2.OpenStreetMap via Overpass API (bbox 17.5,-68.1,18.7,-65.1): sport=scuba_diving/free_diving/snorkeling, amenity=dive_centre, shop=scuba_diving, leisure=dive_site, historic=wreck, seamark:type=wreck|mooring, name~dive|buceo|snorkel — OpenStreetMap contributors (2026-09-26 (OSM base timestamp)) · Mapping resource · Tier 3: Corroborating · accessed 2026-09-25
- 3.The Last Voyage of the Antonio Lopez (Naval History, vol. 35 no. 6) — U.S. Naval Institute - Naval History magazine (2021-12) · Other · Tier 3: Corroborating · accessed 2026-10-17
Facts are summarised in our own words from the sources above; we do not reproduce operators’ or publishers’ descriptions. How confidence is assigned.