The tiny island of Anguilla is one of those places that if you didn’t know it existed; you’d sail right past it without even realizing. But for those who know the greatness of what lies under the surface of its shores, Anguilla is the ideal destination for wreck diving enthusiasts. Several large ships lie just underwater, although all of the sites in Anguilla’s underwater graveyard aren’t accessible to divers as they lie much too deep or have been lost over the years. There are eight wrecks worth exploring if you take a visit to this most-northern of the Leeward Islands to learn a bit about the history of the mighty sea’s wrath.
The Sarah
The Sarah is Anguilla’s largest wreck - it is 70 meters (232 feet) in length, making it an attraction worth venturing out to. The wreck is located off Sandy Ground in 10-25 meters (30-83 feet) of water. Like many other shipwrecks strewn about around the island’s waters, this ship was a victim of Hurricane Klaus; she sank onto her side in Sandy Ground as the hull filled with sand and became unsalvageable. Six months after she sank, she was raised and towed to her present resting place. The wreck is completely intact, and stands upright. Large openings in the hull allow divers access to the three holds. Thorny oysters abound at the wreck site, and the starboard side is vibrantly colored with corals of every hue. Fish and marine life at the site includes bar jacks, sergeant majors, blue tangs, blue-striped grunts, chromis, cowfish, and barracuda.
El Buen Consejo
This wreck is so historic; it’s now protected as a marine park and archaeological preserve. Removal of objects is strictly prohibited, making the dive incredibly interesting for divers as they inspect the trinkets on this ship that sank in 1772. Part of a group of ships en route to Mexico, the El Buen Consejo, was carrying Franciscan priests and a cargo of linens, cottons, provisions, livestock, religious books and thousands of bronze devotional medallions that were to be used in converting heathens to Christianity. Divers can see cannon balls, 10-1/2 foot cannons weighing up to 3,500 pounds, medallions, beads, and thimbles. This is one site you don’t want to miss!
The Oosterdiep
Also a protected marine park, this dive site northwest of Meads Bay is a wreck that lies approximately 22 meters (75 feet) below the surface. The 150-foot (45 m) Oosterdiep drift aground in 1990 on a shoal at the south west entrance to Road Bay Harbor, and was deliberately sunk on the sandy bottom near Meads Bay after being stripped by a salvage yard. Marine life teems around the wreck including fireworms, shrimp, blue tang, snappers, jacks, arrowcrabs, and hundreds of garden eels that populate the sand. Next to the wreck, there is also a car wreck where spotted moray eels tend to hide.
Ida Maria
Northwest of Sandy Island, the 120-foot Ida Maria is a lesser known wreck - perhaps because it can be difficult to find and is generally restricted to certified divers even though it sits at shallower depths of only 12-18 meters. The Ida Maria was wrecked in 1984 during hurricane Klaus, like several other wrecks in Anguilla. Originally built in the United Kingdom during the World War I era, it was used as a general cargo ship in the Caribbean in the decade before it sank. Still afloat after the hurricane, but unusable, the ship was deliberately sunk on a reef between Sandy Island and the beginning of the deep ocean water. The reef surrounding the wreck is interesting, and marine life worth exploring as well.
Catheley H
If you’re in Anguilla in October or November, one wreck not to be missed is The Catheley H (also spelled Kathlee H by some divers). During these months, the wreck dive isn’t just a wreck - it is teeming with spiny lobsters and octopus, making it an amazing dive for animal encounters as well. A variety of fishes can be seen hovering around this wreck, which is partially in-tact. The 100-foot (33 m) Catheley H was severely damaged due to storms, and the fact that this boat was used to burn wood caused the ship to accidentally catch fire. Subsequently, it was deliberately sunk in 1993 near Crocus Bay, East of Sandy Island. The ship sits upright although it is only partially in-tact. There is a cargo cabin at one end, but some of the ship appears to be disintegrating. Rays are usually seen around the wreck as well as various other marine life.
Commerce
The 45 meter Commerce was another ship wrecked in 1984 during hurricane Klaus. Like eight others, it was intentionally sunk in 1986 to create an artificial reef. The ship now lies on a slope, and divers can see assorted cargo on the flat deck including old cars, a broken crane, and machine parts. The propeller at the stern is still intact. The site is known for sightings of gigantic 20 pound lobsters that hide in the ship’s side. There is also a reef which touches the ship’s bow, and marine life includes hog fish, goat fish, spadefish, and barracuda.
After visiting the above named wrecks along with the M.V. Lady Vie and the M.V. Meppel, any diver will surely have learned a thing or two about Anguilla’s history–only far outside any traditional school. The underwater classrooms of Anguilla’s shipwrecks teach lessons within a far more interesting environment that sitting at a desk. So pack your fins instead of your textbooks next time you want to learn a thing or two about the history of the wrecks that lie in mighty Caribbean waters!