Shipwrecks of the Virgin Islands
Ahoy! And welcome aboard! Ever wonder what lies captive beneath the deep, brilliant blue water of the Virgin Islands? Here at Stormy Pirates Charters we know because we’ve been helping people explore these waters for years. For starters, there are more sunken ships than you might imagine. In fact, the USVI offers adventure seekers some of the finest wreck dives in the Caribbean. So let’s go exploring!
*** First Stop – St. Thomas & Great St. James Island
While diving to explore this island’s abundant coral reefs and submerged pinnacles (a small mountain, hill or heap of rocks rising from the seafloor) is exciting and beautiful, there’s nothing quite like the thrill of exploring an old wreck. For anyone who is hooked on the adrenaline rush of weaving around and through old sunken ships, St. Thomas is your dream destination as it has the largest concentration of wreck dives within the Virgin Islands. Here are a few to wet your appetite.
Random Sail boat sunk in Shallow Waters – This is one of our guests favorite stops in the USVI. A small sailboat sank in shallow waters just off of Great St. James Island, Christmas Cove and instead of removing it is it now a fun snorkel where guests normally see Turtles, Squid and tons of colorful reef fish and sometimes a dolphins enjoying a new habitat.
Cartanzar Senior – If you’re a novice diver, the Cartanza Senior, an old WWII military boat, is a great place to start. After WWII ended, the ship was commissioned into an agricultural shipping vessel that made numerous trips throughout the islands. Rumor is that the crew, which surely consisted of a few pirates, grew restless and decided to expand the use of the ship by smuggling narcotics onboard. When the Coast Guard got suspicious and made plans to board the vessel, the crew bailed and the ship was abandoned, floating around St. Thomas for several years until it eventually sank. After being classified as a hazard, the boat was moved from Charlotte Amalie harbor and dropped near Buck Island Cove, where it broke into several pieces, thanks to Hurricane Hugo back in September of 1989. Since then, additional hurricanes have battered the ship’s remains, though you can still see the ship’s two engines intact.
Today, the Cartanza Senora is home to numerous tropical fish, rays, sharks, turtles, and Barracudas. Keep your eyes peeled on all the nooks and crannies around you and you’ll no doubt encounter an eel or two. If luck is with you, you’ll even be graced by the sighting of an Eagle Ray or two.
WIT Shoal – For more advanced divers, the WIT Shoal (also known as the M/V Wit Shoal II) dive site, located a couple of miles out from Charlotte Amalie harbor, is a popular destination. Originally built in 1943 by Kaiser Co. Inc. in Vancouver, Washington, the ship was later rebuilt in 1952 by Davie Shipbuilding & Repairing Co. Ltd. of Quebec. When in its prime, the freighter could make 10 knots, while also consuming 7 tons of diesel fuel per day. Well past her prime, the ship sank in 1984 during Hurricane Klaus. At the time of the storm, the ship was carrying a load of cement, and it was unable to maintain its position.
Today, the WIT Shoal lies in about 90 feet of water, but divers can easily drop into the top of the boat because the ship sits 70 feet high. On calm days, the top of the wreck is even visible. There are five levels of deck worth exploring that stretch from the pilothouse down to the bottom of the hold. Visitors often are greeted by Baz, the resident barracuda, while various sea creatures – everything from horse-eye jacks and turtles to various rays and sharks – routinely make appearances. Beware, though, as the currents in this area can be strong and unpredictable, making it a dive for those with more advanced skills.
WIT Concrete – The WIT Concrete hails from the national Ship Company in Oakland, California and was built in 1943. Initially sinking during hurricane Marilyn in 1995, the 350-foot carrier once used for towing in the Pacific, was eventually raised by the Army Corps of Engineers and re-sunk two miles south of Porpoise Rocks.
Totally upright at a depth of 92 feet, the ship remains intact and provides divers with numerous easy access points. While swimming through the multiple compartments, divers can see many of the internal fixtures of the ship like steering wheels, cage-lights and various valves and switches.
The wreck has become home to a multitude of marine life. Lobsters love to nestle in all the nooks and crannies, while at the bow of the ship, a plethora of reef fish now gather around a winch-like device as large schools of jacks swim to and fro. Divers frequently comment on the large French Angelfish that swim among the Gorgonians (soft corals, many of which are fan-like in appearance) as well as the multicolored sponges and corals that cling to the sunken remains. If you have the time, search for the resident jew fish known to play hide-and-seek in the area.
Miss Opportunity – Intentionally sunk and sitting at a depth of 90 feet, Miss Opportunity rests on its starboard side. Located close to the St. Thomas airport extension, this 300-foot former WWII Navy Hospital barge remains intact and its hull rises to about 40 feet below the surface of the sea. According to local lore, the ship was converted to office space in Charlotte Amalie’s harbor after the war ended and used to help locals with job placement. After it was purposely sunk, the government decided to fill it with trash and move it about five miles out to sea, but the contractor, feeling a bit lazy, decided that towing it only a short distance away was good enough. Once the fraud was discovered, the trash was cleaned up and someone went to prison, but thankfully, the wreck remained where it was dropped, allowing easy access for curious explorers.
Recommended for intermediate to advanced divers, the dive is quite fascinating as one can start at the “top” decks (which actually are now on the bottom) and work towards the bottom levels (located in shallower water). Because most of the rooms and exits are intact, divers can basically do a swim-through, moving along former hallways to see light fixtures with bulbs still in place as well as tables and chairs that remain undisturbed. If you’re brave enough, you might want to scour the wreck for the rumored morgue that may still exist onboard.
For those more interested in searching for living things, the colorful array of barracudas, stingrays, sea turtles, jacks and sharks will complete your adventure.
The Kennedy – This 147-foot former landing craft barge, fitted with a concrete platform, was used to transport personnel to and from the USS John F. Kennedy. It sank in 1986 without warning, taking the Navy by surprise. As the ship sank, it flipped over and the concrete barge tore away from the hull. Although the Navy tried to raise and salvage the ship, The Kennedy refused to cooperate and once again slipped beneath the sea, resting some 40 to 60 feet deep with the concrete pad lying in front of it at a 90 degree angle.
This dive should be on everyone’s radar as it’s a beauty to photograph, thanks to the field of Gorgonians that cover the wreck as well as the giant sea anemones near the concrete pad and the garden eels that live in the sand. For those who like adventure, there’s plenty of sharks and rays to swim with and at the rear starboard side of the barge, you’ll find everything from yellow headed jawfish to sailfin blennys and blue gobies. Night dive, anyone? The Kennedy is an ideal location.
SS Grainton – Exploring this massive ship is for advanced divers only, and it can’t be seen in its entirety in one trip. The SS Grainton, a British Cargo Steamer some 416 feet long, sank in 1928 after striking rocks off of Little Saba Island while trying to complete a journey from Vancouver to Hamburg. While being towed from the site, the ship sank again directly off the coast of St. Thomas, where she rests today.
Sitting at a depth of 110 feet, the ship appears to be frozen in time with her three steam engines intact as though ready to be restarted. A haven for barracudas, sharks, moray eels and even elusive goliath groupers, the wreck never disappoints. The abundance of lush coral and sponge growth is an added bonus.
East Wind – This ship, also referred to as the Chrysler, was once a corporate yacht. During a heavy squall in the late 60s, it fatefully ended up on the rocks and now sits a mere 50 feet below the surface and has become an extensive artificial reef. Perfect for swim-throughs and interesting photography, the wreck is also ideal for all levels of divers. Say “Cheese” to all the crabs, sergeant majors, parrotfish and turtles who might just pose for a picture or two.
Navy Barges – The Navy Barges are another accessible treat for divers of all degrees. While the term “barge” sounds rather bland, the wreck is more colorful and interesting than imagined as the ribs of the ship reach upward like the skeletal remains of a giant whale while fish and sponges will dazzle you with a rainbow of colors.
*** Stop #2 – St. John
HMS Santa Monica – This 28-gun frigate was once commanded by Don Miguel de Nunes, but in 1779, she came under attack by the HMS Pearl near the Azores. After surrendering, the HMS Santa Monica became the property of the British Royal Navy and was repaired before being put into service defending British holdings in the Caribbean. The ship was 145 feet long and was manned by 202 crew.
Back in 1782, in Coral Bay off of St. John’s East End, the frigate hit rocks while attempting to intercept American vessels that were raiding Tortola during the American Revolution. In an effort to keep the ship from sinking, the captain purposely ran the ship aground, but the ship eventually went down just 100 yards offshore in a mere 40 feet of water.
In the 70s, archeologists recovered numerous artifacts from the ship, including objects made of glass, ceramics, copper and iron. By 1978, the shipwreck site was added to the National Register of Historic Places.
*** Last Call – Black Point Rock near Salt Island in the BVIs –
RMS Rhone – Rated as one of the best wreck dives in the world, the RMS Rhone is frequented by numerous divers every year, though millions have seen the locale on the big screen as they watched the movie, The Deep.
The ship was once a royal mail ship that set sail in 1865, traveling between Southampton, Brazil, and the Caribbean. Dubbed “unsinkable,” the twin-mastered iron hulled sail-steamer was 310 feet long. Much like the Titanic, the ship didn’t live up to its billing and sank in 1867 during an October hurricane that rolled past Peter Island as the ship was refueling.
When the ship sank, the bow drifted about 100 yards away from the stern and now sits at an angle in about 80 feet of water. Because the stern and mid-section of the ship sit in about 35 feet of water, the dive is well lit and perfect for a nice swim-through for most divers.
For more adventurous divers, there’s the challenge of dropping down to the stern section which includes a 15-foot bronze prop and “lucky” porthole that promises good luck to those who rub it. Like most other wrecks, the ship serves as host to numerous colorful fish and coral, making it a prime spot for photographs.
What to know before you go!
Most underwater wrecks are managed by the U.S. Virgin Islands Department of Planning and Natural Resources, which has overall responsibility for administering and enforcing preservation and conservation laws. The Division of Environmental Enforcement also assists with enforcing protection, preservation and conservation laws relating to antiquities and cultural resources.
While diving trips can be arranged to shipwreck sites by certified companies, divers may not disturb or remove submerged artifacts without a permit. Applicants for that permit must submit an archeological research design that reflects their professional qualifications and methods of research.
Who to Contact for Dive Trips
- St. Thomas Dive Center
- Red Hook Dive Center
- Aqua Marine Dive Center in St. Thomas
- Low Key Watersports on St. John
- Dive BVI
Other Options: For those who prefer to snorkel, ask Stormy Pirates Charters about the areas adjacent to these shipwrecks that might offer a glimpse of the wrecks while also offering great viewing of the sea creatures that inhabit the area. And yes, the crew will happily indulge you with a pirate story or two that’s sure to rouse your curiosity!
End Notes: Have we sparked your interest in exploring the deep, clear waters of the Virgin Islands? We hope so, and we encourage you to share this post with your friends. Then visit our website and book a boat day with Stormy Pirates Charters – we’ll put the gangplank down and escort you in style!