With its miles of coral reefs and warm crystalline waters, the Caribbean is the world’s most popular dive destination. The Caribbean’s ocean currents, rocky reefs and tropical storms have also created a trail of Caribbean ship wrecks you can dive on. These once proud vessels are now happy new homes for myriad marine life and a prized underwater experience. For some divers, wreck diving is the ultimate way to dive. And if it’s wreck diving you want – the Caribbean is full of shipwrecks waiting for you.
So pack your gear and get ready to explore these popular Caribbean shipwrecks and dive deeper into the region’s history and natural beauty.
Kittiwake, Grand Cayman It only makes sense that the destination where scuba diving was invented in the 1960s is home to one of the Caribbean’s most fascinating wrecks. Submerged in 64 feet of water, the submarine rescue vessel’s five decks promise divers and snorkelers sightings of sponges, grouper, urchins and squirrelfish.
RMS Rhone, British Virgin Islands Wrecked off the coast of Salt Island back in 1867, this Royal Mail ship’s iron hull is encrusted with coral. Divers can expect to encounter encounter lobster, eel, and, if you look closely, even a silver teaspoon secreted within her crevices.
Hilma Hooker, Bonaire This former drug-running vessel sunk off the coast of Kralendijk in 1984 and has since become a popular site, ideally located between two coral reefs 100 feet below the surface, and filled with snapper, parrotfish and angel fish.
Kodiak Queen, British Virgin Islands The Caribbean’s newest wreck diving destination is set off the coast of Richard Branson’s Necker Island and is actually a full-fledged art exhibit replete with a giant kraken sculpture.
MV Bianca C, Grenada Only a mile off scenic Grand Anse beach, the 600-foot cruise liner wreck, known as the “Titanic of the Caribbean,” is the largest in the region, sunk after an engine room explosion in 1961.
Odyssey, Roatan This 300-foot freighter was sunk at Mud Hole in 2002 and now lies in three pieces under 110 feet of water. Suitable for penetration diving, the artificial reef is home to schools of barracuda, sharks and jacks.
Superior Producer, Curaçao Overloaded with Christmas cargo destined for nearby Venezuela, this vessel sunk soon after it left port at Willemstad, and is now an attraction for divers drawn to its sponge- and coral-covered carcass sitting perfectly upright in 100 feet underwater.
C53 Felipe Xicotencatl, Cozumel After more than half a century of service as a mine sweeper, rescue ship and drug patrol, this former U.S. Navy ship was sunk in 2000 just offshore from Chankanaab Park. Today divers can explore the crew lockers and engine room equipment in the company of starfish, shrimp and grouper.
M.S. Antilla, Aruba Just off the northwest tip of the island, the wreck of this 400-foot German freighter is ideal for intermediate and advanced divers, who’ll see sponge and fire coral, anemones, angel fish and yellow frogfish inhabiting its hull, about 60 feet underwater.
Sugar Wreck, Grand Bahama Sunk while carrying (you guessed it) sugar, this storied wreck diving spot lies off the West End in just 20 feet of water, making it an ideal excursion for both snorkelers and divers, who’ll be delighted by the abundance of, snapper, grunt and gobies in the Bahamas’ most storied wreck diving destination.
Hermes, Bermuda More than 300 wrecks surround Bermuda, but the wreck of this 1943-built freighter is one of the most popular. Sunk a mile off Horseshoe Bay, the 165 foot-long ship remains upright and intact in clear waters that are an underwater photographer’s dream.