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WRECK SITES
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Marie Celeste 1864
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The Marie Celeste was a blockade runner that hit reefs off Bermuda's south shore on September 6th, 1864 only eight month's after being launched. She was well built and very fast, equipped with twin oscillating cylinder steam engines and feathering paddlewheels. Carrying 534 boxes labelled "General Merchandise" - actually ammunition and rifles - she sank in just 8 minutes after hitting a reef as she left the island. Part of her bow is visible, as are her two huge boilers and her paddlewheels.
Depth: 50ft.
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Lartington 1878
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This 245ft cargo ship, carrying cotton from Savannah to Russia, was struck by a hurricane, then a storm and diverted to Bermuda for repairs. As the Lartington approached the island, it struck reefs just 5 miles out. Her bow and stern sections are intact and her twin steam boilers and propeller are visible.
Depth: 30ft.
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King
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The US Navy tugboat King was scuttled in recent years having been donated for use as a dive site. She sits upright with her stern in the sand and her bow on a reef.
Depth: 60ft.
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Hermes
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Built during World War II, the Hermes was scuttled in 1984 having been abandoned in Bermuda in need of costly repairs. The 165ft freighter is one of Bermuda's most popular dive sites as it sits completely intact and upright allowing divers to explore the cargo hold, engine room and galley.
Depth: 80ft.
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Minnie Breslauer 1873
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The Minnie Breslauer sank on her maiden voyage when her captain misjudged Bermuda's reefs while passing the island en route from Portugal to New York. The huge boiler, propeller and rudder of the 300ft steel hulled English steamer are clearly visible.
Depth: 35-70ft.
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Airplane 1961
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This US B-29 bomber crashed just after take off due to a fuel problem. The wreckage was blown up the the US military and now lies scattered over a wide area. The combination of airplane parts and coral reef make for a fascinating dive location.
Depth: 25-40ft.
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North Carolina 1880
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This iron-hulled, 200ft cargo vessel was leaving Bermuda for Liverpool on New Year's Day when the captain misjudged the island's southwest reefs. An attempt to refloat her failed as the anchor broke free and crashed through the hull. She now sits upright with her bow and stern mostly intact and her bowsprit protruding, providing an excellent wreck dive site.
Depth: 25-40ft.
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Darlington 1886
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The 285-ft steel-hulled English steamer, built in 1881, sank as a result of navigational error while en route from New Orleans to Bremen carrying cotton and grain. Lying on her port side, in a collapsed state, her propellers and boilers are still clearly visible.
Depth: 30ft.
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Constellation 1943
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This four-masted, wooden-hulled 60ft schooner was built in 1918 and had a number of owners and uses. As a cargo ship, having been drafted into naval service, she was carrying a general cargo of building materials (including bags of cement), ampoules of medicine, 700 cases of Scotch whisky, etc, when she was swept onto the reefs after detouring to Bermuda for repairs in 1943. The cement bags and other items from her cargo are clearly visible. The Constellation and the nearby Nola wrecks were featured in Peter Benchley's best-selling book and movie, The Deep.
Depth: 30ft.
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Montana 1863
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The 236-ft paddle wheel steamer, the Nola, was an American Civil War blockade runner destroyed in 1863 only one year after it was built. (To confuse Union spies, she was sometimes called other names including Montana.) She hit reefs around Western Blue Cut at the island's west end in heavy seas. The ship lies in three pieces, her paddle wheels, boiler and anchor chain are clearly visible. The Nola and the nearby Constellation wrecks were featured in Peter Benchley's best-selling book and movie, The Deep.
Depth: 25ft.
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Pollockshields 1915
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The Pollockshields was built in 1890. In 1915 she was carrying ammunition from Wales to Bermuda to support the garrison from naval attack. As she approached Bermuda she ran into dense fog and strong winds drove her onto the reefs just off south shore. The wreckage remained stuck upon the reef and clearly visible from the shore until local treasure diver, Teddy Tucker, dynamited the ship for the safety of swimmers - the wreck could be reached by swimmers from Elbow Beach. The wreckage is now scattered over a wide area.
Depth: 5-30ft.
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Other Dives
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Tarpon Hole
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This popular reef formation has numerous caves, tunnels and overhangs to explore.
Depth: 10-40ft.
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Southwest Breaker
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The Southwest Breaker is a system of coral reefs known for the caves and tunnels that run all the way through it. The reef is about 250ft across and is a fabulous dive site during calm sea conditions.
Depth: 25-35ft
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