The easternmost point of the fabled Bermuda Triangle, the British Islands that form Bermuda are surrounded by fantastic reefs that have been blamed for causing shipwrecks since the beginning of the sixteenth century. With astonishing marine life and an intriguing history, plus plenty of opportunities for fun and exploration topside, it is not surprising that Bermuda is such a popular destination. While there are many wrecks around the island that are best suited to divers with some experience, there are quite a few which offer new divers outstanding wreck diving opportunities that can be hard to come by in some other places; more experienced divers will enjoy these, as well. Let’s take a closer look.
Airplane
The wreck of a Hayes KB-50J aircraft that crashed on October 20th of 1963, the Airplane was once believed to be that of a B-29 bomber. In truth, this aircraft is the remains of a heavily modified Boeing B-50 based out of the now-closed England Air Force Base at Alexandria, Louisiana. The plane had been returning home from a mission and had stopped to refuel and have some minor repairs done; shortly after takeoff, the left auxiliary engine exploded and fire erupted. The aircraft commander, Curley Moore, ordered the crew to bail out, and they did; the pilot himself went down with the plane. His body was later recovered still strapped in his seat, and he was buried at Arlington National Cemetery. One passenger was never recovered, but the remaining six men on board escaped with their lives.
Survivors saw the plane snap in half and hit the water in two flaming pieces when it when down; today, it is broken apart and has spread over a wide area. The four massive engines with propellers still attached, plus hundreds of square feet of riveted aluminum panels sit in just about 25 feet of water, and though the aluminum itself is not conducive to growth and is still looking shiny and new, there are fish all around the old wreck, including lots of bream and some territorial sergeant majors. Visibility here is usually very good, sometimes exceeding 100 feet.
Madiana
Built in 1877, the Madiana was an iron hulled trans-Atlantic light cargo and passenger ship, just over 344 feet long, and equipped with tall masts and a steam engine. While on her way to the West Indies from New York, she was making her way through a notoriously narrow channel during the night of February 10, 1903. The captain mistook North Rock’s light for the light from St. David’s Lighthouse; believing he was off course, he changed direction and the ship crashed into the reef located just west of North Rock. Originally charged with negligence in the case, the captain was later acquitted by the British Board of Trade; in part, this was due to the fact that the lighthouse had been damaged in a previous accident.
Today, the ship lies beneath just 25 feet of water. Hull plates and bulkheads are identifiable, as are two huge boilers and the enormous propeller shaft, which is 18 inches in diameter; however, the ship’s engine is gone due to salvage attempts that took place during WWII. As the wreck is lying near the main reef line, it is possible to enjoy both the reef and wreck on a single dive. Marine life is abundant here; watch for parrotfish and schooling grunts, along with wrasse, angelfish, jacks, and lots of lobsters.
Montana
The wreck of an English Paddle Steamer, the Montana was an extremely active Civil War blockade runner that frequently sailed to England and Bermuda from North Carolina. Operating under the names Nola, Gloria, and Paramount, in addition to her proper name, Montana was built in Glasgow, Scotland, and was 236 feet long. On December 30th of 1863, the ship struck a shallow reef; while the crew was rescued, the ship was not. She now lies beneath just 30 feet of water, partially intact, and swathed in a beautifully lush blanket of hard and soft corals and sponges. The remnants of her paddle wheels lie on their sides, and her twin steam boilers tower to within five feet of the surface.
Montana’s engines and cargo were salvaged after the wreck, however the ship is in excellent condition for a wreck this old. Experienced wreck divers can even penetrate the bow and swim through to the central section, and there is an additional swimthrough at the smokestack, where a huge Black Fin Grouper is a resident. Watch for grey snappers, jacks, trevally, bream, and other fish; during the spring and autumn, a school of about 500 barracuda takes up residence in the sand hole located near the paddle wheels. If the glass bottomed boats come by, you’ll see even more fish action since boat operators feed the fish, who come in quickly as soon as they hear the boats approaching.
Pelinaion
Built in 1907 at Glasgow and originally called Hill Glen, the Pelinaion was a Greek cargo steamer that was on her way from West Africa to Baltimore with a full cargo of manganese ore and iron ore when she ran aground just off Copper’s Island while heading into Bermuda to refuel in 1939. An impressive multi level wreck resting in water ranging from 20 to 70 feet deep, the ship is still equipped with enormous steam boilers, a massive spare propeller, and her huge triple expansion engine, which is still standing upright. At 385 feet long, Pelinaion is one of Bermuda’s largest wrecks, and is also one of the most spectacular. Split in two sections, with her bow on the reef and her stern resting on the sand below, the ship is covered in a colorful mantle of corals and has become almost like an extension of the reef itself, which is punctuated with caves and tunnels. Schooling barracuda, snappers, and grunts can be seen, along with brilliant blue angelfish, yellow butterfly fish, and other colorful tropical species. Simply fantastic, this huge wreck and the reef it rests on require several dives to fully explore.
Dry Dock
Once the property of the Royal Navy, this massive dry dock was designed to be flooded, sunk, and then pumped full of air and raised once a ship in need of service had been steered into its confines. The dry dock allowed welders and ship fitters to work on ships without having to dive; and it allowed ships to be serviced quickly. Once maintenance was complete, the tanks would be filled and the dock would be sunk again, allowing the ship to leave. Between ships, the dry dock was simply moored to await the next visitor. Today, the dry dock rests in 60 feet of water just off the dockyard, in an area where ships have been dropping things for about three hundred years. Covered in coral and soft sponges, and subject to heavy silting, the dry dock contains the wreck of the Ramona, a Canadian yacht that was scuttled in 1968. While this is fascinating, there is tons of debris everywhere; you’ll find old pickup trucks and scooters, glass bottles, and even the occasional gold dubloon. Use caution at this site; while it is possible to penetrate the wreck, do so only if properly equipped and trained; and, be sure to stick with your divemaster as visibility can be poor and currents can sometimes pick up.
In Bermuda, visibility tends to be best during the winter months, often reaching 100 feet or so; during the summer months, it is still good at about 70 feet. Although there is some variation from site to site, conditions are usually excellent for photography. If you plan to visit at the height of the season, be sure to book in advance since dive charters tend to fill up quickly; as for accommodations, there are a number of choices available. Whether you are new to diving or if you’ve been enjoying the sport for decades, you’ll enjoy these fantastic wrecks as well as they history surrounding them.