No trip to St. Thomas is complete without at least one wreck dive, and some of the most innocuous sounding are also some of the best! While these wrecks have humble names and were hardworking boats in their day, they are now fantastic sites filled with colorful life. Let’s take a look at these five fun wreck dives.
Saint Thomas Wrecks - WIT Shoal
MV WIT Shoal was built in Vancouver Washington, in 1943. 327 feet long, and equipped with two GM diesel engines, the ship was used for hauling cargo for decades. Today, this ship is enjoying her retirement, upright and intact beneath 85 feet of water, on a brilliant white sand bottom. The ship has five levels to explore, and there are many points for safe penetration. The Shoal is home to jacks and spadefish, a few goliath groupers, and thousands of smaller, more brightly colored fish. You’ll also find eagle rays, a resident barracuda called Baz, and turtles, many of which use the wreck as a place to nap.
Saint Thomas Wrecks - WIT Crane
Lost during Hurricane Klaus in 1984, the WIT Crane is the wreck of a crane barge, lying beneath 94 feet of water, and accessible at 75 feet. The barge is inverted, with the crane smashed beneath the huge concrete and metal platform, but you can still see what remains of the crane’s tip, as well as the cable drum and a section of twisted metal off to one side. Today, this wreck is coated in colorful sponge and coral, and is home to an endless parade of colorful tropical fish, as well as many larger visitors. Look for sharks and barracuda, turtles, southern stingrays, and big Caribbean lobsters!
Saint Thomas Wrecks - WIT Service
The WIT Service was lost after hitting Dry Rocks on April 1st of 1979, while towing a barge. The barge was saved, but the ship quickly sank, and now lists to port with her keel at 100 feet and her top accessible at about 75 feet. The Service can be penetrated with ease, and her engine room is of particular interest, as many of the gauges are still completely intact, displaying the ship’s final settings to this day. The propeller is huge, as is the rudder, and both make excellent spots for photos. Look for everything from little lobsters to huge stingrays as you explore this incredible wreck!
Saint Thomas Wrecks - WIT Power
The 120 foot WIT Power was a derelict vessel when she was sunk by Hurricane Klaus, and although she was recovered, she was simply used for storage for some time before being towed to her final resting place in 1985. Today, the Power sits beneath 100 feet of water, and can be accessed at 85 feet. The ship is home to a wealth of marine life, and is covered in brilliant cup corals as well as gorgonians and sponges. There is at least one very shy resident Goliath grouper among the many creatures that call the wreck home, and as time passes, this ship will only become a better dive site. Penetration is possible, but the spaces are tight.
Saint Thomas Wrecks - WIT Concrete
Built in 1943, the WIT Concrete was a 350 foot long carrier, primarily used for hauling gasoline. Originally lost during the 1995 hurricane Marilyn, she was raised by the Army corps of engineers and towed out to her current position two miles south of Porpoise Rocks and re-sunk. Sitting intact and upright in 91 feet of water, this massive ship is accessible at 49 feet, and is very popular with huge southern stingrays, which enjoy lounging on the decks. You can also find barracuda and nurse sharks, lots of colorful tropical fish, and plenty of invertebrates and crustaceans as you explore. Experienced wreck divers will find that penetration is easy, and photographers will find endless subjects just waiting to be discovered!
The old WIT ships are just a handful of the fantastic wrecks you’ll find when you take a diving vacation to St. Thomas. In fact, there are so many that you may just want to come back for more on your next holiday! Remember to book in advance, as these sites are popular and space is limited.