AMERICAN STAR

The SS American Star had a long and storied career that began long before she came to rest on the shores of Fuerteventura. Launched in 1940 as the magnificent SS America for the United States Lines, she was a pinnacle of American naval architecture. Her service was varied and patriotic; she served as the troop transport USS West Point during World War II, carrying soldiers across treacherous seas. After the war, she returned to passenger service, later sailing under different flags and names, including the popular SS Australis for a Greek-owned line, carrying countless passengers across the globe.

Her final chapter began in 1994. After years of service, the old liner was sold with the intention of being converted into a five-star hotel ship in Thailand. Renamed the American Star, she was taken under tow from Greece. However, during a severe Atlantic storm, the tow lines snapped, leaving the grand old ship at the mercy of the waves. On January 18, 1994, she ran hard aground at Playa de Garcey, her back broken by the relentless surf, creating one of the most photographed shipwrecks of the modern era.

For years, the American Star was a haunting landmark, slowly surrendering to the power of the ocean. Today, the wreck is no longer visible above the waves, having completely collapsed onto the seabed. Lying in just 4 meters of water, her scattered remains have become a vibrant artificial reef. While the proud structure is gone, divers and snorkelers can explore the debris field, which teems with the Canary Islands' diverse marine life, a final, living monument to a legendary ocean liner.