Diving in Barbados
There's no need to choose between wrecks and reefs when diving Barbados, as both coexist in close proximity just off the island's western coast. The majority of these ships were sunk intentionally, and positioned at diver-friendly depths. The centerpiece of the island's wreck collection is Carlisle Bay, which is home to six wrecks ranging from barges and passenger vessels to historic war wrecks. Sitting upright and rising to just ten feet below the surface, the 60-foot tugboat Berwin is a favorite shallow stop. Scuttled by a mutinous crew in 1919, this iron vessel has accumulated nearly a century of marine growth. Also rising close to the surface is the island's first tugboat, the 120-foot Bajan Queen. While a bit deeper, the 110-foot Elion provides divers with an opportunity to swim through a hold that smugglers once packed with bales of pot. The wreck with the most interesting back story is undoubtedly the Cornwallis, a Canadian-flagged freighter that was torpedoed by a German U-boat, re-floated and repaired, only to be torpedoed a second time. Years later, the wreck was relocated to Carlisle Bay to join the sunken fleet. Due to the relatively shallow depths and proximity of these wrecks to one another, it's possible to visit several wrecks on one dive. When transiting between wrecks, it's not uncommon to encounter stingrays and turtles, and the sand bottom is littered with nautical jetsam such as anchors and even a cannon. Pause for a closer look under some of this debris and you might locate one of the resident frogfish.
Other noteworthy wrecks not found in Carlisle Bay include the 165-foot Pamir resting at a depth of 60 feet, and the 160-foot Friar's Craig, which has become a fish haven at a depth of 50 feet. The big dog of Barbados wrecks is the Stavronikita. This 365-foot Greek-flagged freighter caught fire while en route from Ireland to the Caribbean carrying a cargo of cement. The fire-damaged hulk was towed to Barbados, stripped and cleaned, then sent to rest on the sea floor at depths from 100 to 120 feet. Though considered an advanced dive due to the depths, the wreck has been prepped for safe penetrations, and there are no strong currents.
There are more than 30 named reef sites on Barbados’s western and southern coasts, some starting in as little as 20 feet of water, with many more beginning in depths of 40 to 50 feet and dropping below 100. Topographies range from gentle to steep slopes, with some vertical sections and the occasional mini wall. Most sites are covered in a mixture of hard and soft corals, and attract the usual range of Caribbean suspects, including barracuda, turtles, rays, angelfish and parrotfish.
The large bell-shaped coral head aptly named Bell Buoy is one of the island's most popular dives, as is Horseshoe Reef, where conservations efforts have resulted in a revitalization of this landmark site. The reef at Dottins is the top pick for night dives. For something different, Macock's Reef offers a series of high profile spur-and groove coral heads separated by sand channels, while Shark Bank provides a coral wall that drops from 60 to 140 feet, giving advanced divers an opportunity to practice multi-level skills. When summer lulls in the trade winds occur, several dive shops can arrange for trips to the island's seldom-dove east coast, where steep underwater topography includes walls, caverns and deep overhangs, along with the impassibility of shark sightings.