San Diego galleon
Near Fortune Island, Batangas, Philippines (pin at the island)
What happened
The San Diego was a Spanish merchant ship that was turned into a warship to defend Manila from Dutch raiders. On 14 December 1600, it fought the Dutch ship Mauritius near Fortune Island, outside Manila Bay. Overloaded with cannons, cargo and people, the San Diego became unstable and sank.
Why it matters
The wreck is a time capsule of trade in Asia around 1600. Its cargo included Chinese porcelain, Japanese sword parts, Mexican silver coins and European weapons, showing how many cultures met in Manila.
What came next
Antonio de Morga survived by swimming for hours to Fortune Island and later wrote about the battle. Franck Goddio and the National Museum of the Philippines found the wreck in 1992 and recovered more than 34,000 objects.
Did you know?
Among the objects found was a maritime astrolabe, a tool sailors used to work out their position from the sun and stars.
Timeline
- 1600The merchant ship San Antonio is turned into the warship San Diego.
- 14 December 1600The San Diego sinks during a battle with the Dutch ship Mauritius.
- 1992Franck Goddio and the National Museum of the Philippines find the wreck.
- After 1992Divers recover more than 34,000 objects from about 50 metres deep.