HMCS Mackenzie (DDE 261) was the lead ship of a Canadian destroyer escort class. Commissioned 6 October, 1962, Mackenzie started off in the Atlantic, operating out of Halifax, Nova Scotia, before she was transferred to the Pacific after five months. Mackenzie spent most of her time assigned to training duties, and on coastal surveillance missions. She intercepted some drug smugglers in March, 1973, and counter-shadowed a Soviet spy ship that was tolling for new American submarines in July, 1982. Mackenzie underwent DELEX (the Destroyer Life Extension Program) from 1986 to 1987, but only remained in service another six years. Mackenzie was paid off 3 August, 1993, and sunk as an artificial reef 16 September, 1995. In only 105 feet of water, Mackenzie is a popular dive site, but subject to periodic strong currents.