Darlington

A sturdy iron-hulled steamer built in 1881. On February 22, 1886, she wrecked on the Western Reef while travelling from New Orleans to Bremen, Germany carrying a cargo of cotton and grain.

Today, she remains fairly intact, but has collapsed onto herself and lies on her port side. The wreckage sits in 6M / 20FT of water, with her steamer boilers, propeller shaft and deck winches still visible. Within swimming distance of the Darlington are the buried remains of an unidentified Spanish galleon.

Grotto Bay Barges

Within easy swimming distance from our shores rest the remains of three intact barges, sitting upright in 4.5M / 15FT of water. Although there is no historical information on these wrecks, rumour has it that this area was used as a dump site, and the barges were scuttled deliberately. However they ended up here, the Grotto Bay wrecks are ideal for snorkelling.

Hermes

This is our most popular wreck dive because the ship is fully intact, sits upright on the bottom and lies in crystal-clear water. Originally a buoy tender, this 50M / 165FT, steel-hulled vessel was constructed in Pennsylvania during World War II. Long after her military service was over, the ship arrived here as a Panamanian-registered freighter with engine trouble. The Hermes was abandoned by her crew because repairs were estimated to cost more than the ship was worth.

In 1985, the derelict became an artificial reef one mile off the South Shore. She sits on a flat sand bottom in 24M / 80FT of water with her mast pointing toward the surface. Visiting divers can explore her cargo hold, galley and wheelhouse, or examine her deck winch, cargo boom, mast and other fixtures.

Iristo (Aristo)

The 76M / 250FT Norwegian freighter that sank in 1937 lies in 15M / 50FT of water with her engine, boilers, propeller and a fire engine still visible.

A most unlucky ship, she crashed because of another shipwreck. Unfamiliar with our reefs, her captain was surprised by the sight of the wrecked Cristobal Colon, and ordered his ship turned away. The course change caused the Iristo to crash into a submerged reef and sink.

Kate

A 61M / 200FT English steamer, she was en route from Galveston, Texas to Le Havre, France when she struck a reef 35KM / 22MI northwest of Gibbs Hill Lighthouse on November 30, 1978.

Today she sits in 14M / 45FT of water, with her boilers, engine, propeller shaft and deck winches still visible. Snorkellers can also find her propeller sitting alone on top of the reef in 6M / 20FT of water.