At We Be Divin` Anegada we can show you shipwrecks, cannon's from shipwrecks, historical wrecks and modern wrecks, if wrecks are what you enjoy then you are diving with the right people, if you are looking for treasure you found it just by arriving on Anegada.
We dive:
1. The Dogleg
We dive the Dog Leg reef which was named by an old friend of ours Bert Kilbride Although Bert was looking for wrecks on it, we enjoyed the crazy coral formations and arches and overhangs with the coral heads tightly spaced together. We found this to be an ideal dive for beginners and experts, offering a great scenic dive with surprises around each turn. Large tarpon and sharks frequent this dive with turtle and lobsters resident to the coral heads we are sure you will find your self signing up for more.
2. Cow Wreck Reef
Although this reef is named by a wreck we ourselves have not seen it. Rumored to have cattle on board from the 1700`s whereby the dead washed ashore, hence its name. This reef is an incredible dive subject to the North Swell, however one of our favourites. It has swim throughs, caves and overhangs will leave you coming back for more. This is a must for people looking to explore Anegada and its pristine reef system.
3. The Chikuzen
The Chikuzen was a 246 foot Korean refrigerator vessel based in St. Maarten to service big Japanese fishing fleets. It was early in 1981 when a hurricane was approaching St. Maarten, the government told the owners to move the decrepit ship so it wouldn't sink in the harbor or damage the docks. The owners thought this would be a good chance to get rid of the ship once and for all.
So they set it on fire and sent it adrift, hoping it would sink just offshore. The plan went wrong and Chikuzen kept floating towards the Marina Cay area. Yacht and diving companies feared for Marina Cay's anchorage so local operators tried to fend off the ship with dive boats. This was unsuccessful. Finally, ocean going tugs were called from St. Croix and Antigua.
When they arrived they were able to attach a line to pull the ship away from the islands. The line broke, badly injuring a crew member who had to be airlifted to the nearest hospital. They decided to call it a day and let nature take its course. The Chikuzen eventually sunk about 7 1/2 miles northwest off Tortola and went to her rest in 80 feet of water. This is for Advanced divers and subject to sea conditions.
The dive: 80 feet max depth
What you can see: Big Schools of Tarpon, Jacks, Rays and larger sea creatures. Photo opportunity with large sea animals, and the chance to hear whales in the distance.
4. HMS Astrea
Only available on calm days and by request
History: The ASTREA was a 32 gun frigate of 689.27 tons burden with an overall length of 140 feet, the length of the lower deck being 126 feet, a beam of slightly more than 35 feet, and a draft of 17 feet forward and 17 and a half feet aft. She was built at East Cowes, Isle of Wright, and launched in 1781. After having been rigged and fitted out she was commissioned in Portsmouth on October 1st, 1781. A total of 220 men and officers made up her roster, and she was finally ready to do her duty in the Royal Navy.
She met her fate on the Anegada Reef on 23rd May 1809 and was a complete loss.
The Dive: Shallow and better dived in the summer months, depth varies from 10 feet to 25 feet
What you can see: Cannons, Anchors, Ballast Pile
* You may not remove artifacts
5. The IDA
Sank 1899 New Years Day, we dive her most days of the year
History: IDA, Steamer, Spanish, wrecked January 1, 1899, Captain Ceniga. Ref. St.Th.Tid, 4th January, 1899: "A boat arrived here on Monday night with the crew, some 39 in number, and 10 passengers of the wrecked Spanish steamer IDA, which went ashore at Anegada on New Year's morning at 3 o'clock. It appears that the steamer had been in bad weather for three days and had lost her bearings, thus causing the disaster. She was from Coruna, Spain, bound for Puerto Rico, and had a general cargo. It is expected that both the ship and cargo will prove a total loss, as the spot on which she struck is difficult of access by salvors at this time of the year. The Captain Ceniga is expected to arrive here today together with some of the officers who remained with the wreck. One of the crew is reported drowned by the smashing of a boat."
The Dive: 25 – 45 feet of water a remarkable site of a Spanish Steamer with large parts still intact after all of these years. Her propeller is a great photo opportunity and her hull lies lifeless on the sea floor facing a coral wall which ended her career. Large fish abound and once again tragedy brings us another awesome dive site.
* You may not remove artifacts
6. The San Ignacio 1742
History: Contrary to what you may have been told the Seville archives and the Spanish don’t lie or ask for your savings for fairy tales. The San Ignacio was a tragic tale of a vessel hired by Spain that sank on the Anegada Reef. There was no treasure, she was inbound with troops and munitions for Cartagena, with the New Governor on board.
She encountered a prize (a vessel she wanted to capture) and after a lengthy chase gave up, by this time she was caught in the Anegada Current and pulled towards the reef, she drifted aimlessly through the reef bumping coral heads all night until she thought she was clear, as dawn approached so did the English warships which bombarded her with cannon fire, they sat outside the reef and blew her up as she struggled to escape both destruction from iron and coral. What ended up was a sad situation as the ship finally grounded and rather than surrender the Spanish ran to one side of the ship and hung over the rail causing the ship to list and roll, waves ripped the soldiers from her grasp and drowned them one by one, some slaves made it ashore, most perished in the waves the English claimed a victory. We can take you to this remarkable dive site that’s full of history.
What you can see: Cannons, Cannon Ball Piles, Gulleys, Big Fish
What you won’t see: Gold, Diamonds, Coins
* You may not remove artifacts
7. The Lioness, Brig, American, wrecked 1811.
This is a photo opportunity to get your picture next to a cannon and anchors, this is a discover scuba dive site and the shallowness of the site doesn’t make it more than a “drop in and glance”
* You may not remove artifacts
8. The shoals
We have been diving the shoals for a long time now, dives vary from overhangs and caves to tarpon pits and shark shadows, you can see anything on these dives, shipwreck debris, sharks, tarpon and schools of smaller reef fish, this is a fun dive average depth between 25 to 30 feet of water. (Currents can make this a drift dive)
* You may not remove artifacts
9. The Rocus
The wreck of the Rocus is a site we dive on demand as it’s a long distance and on The Horseshoe. A fuel surcharge applies and a full day excursion.
* You may not remove artifacts
10. The Parramatta
The Parramatta, we dive this full day excursion site on demand as it is a long distance and on The Horseshoe. A fuel surcharge applies.
* You may not remove artifacts
11. The La Victoria 1738 Spanish Galleon
Dived only on calm days this wreck was purported to carry treasure but the truth was it was a Man of War and was heavily salvaged after sinking by the Spanish. It was so well raided that they recovered even the crews possessions. What remains are numerous large cannon, anchors and cannon balls encrusted into the reef make this a calm weather dive that’s exciting and full of adventure for any avid wreck diver.
* You may not remove artifacts
12. Flash of Beauty
Enjoy a beach dive where you enter the site and see incredible overhangs and deep cavernous pits explore the ledges where you will find brilliant schools of Tangs, Tarpon, Jacks and Runners and experience the surge of the raw and powerful ocean. There are at least three known of historical shipwrecks in the area of this dive so cannon are often seen. Tarpon schools and sharks are a daily occurrence; this is truly an exciting dive.
The Dive: 15-45 feet. Mixed coral gardens with coral faces, big local grouper, snapper and lobsters abound the reef inside small holes and swim throughs for the advanced diver, and for the beginner there is the opportunity to see large rays and turtle.
13. Big Bamboo
Another beach dive where you enter the site and experience the same adventure as Flash with a slightly different setting. In the right conditions you can enter a hole at 5 to 10 feet of water and exit at 35 feet on a sand bottom going through the reef and cave. This dive is not for amateurs but is a must for divers looking for something different. Large fish and reef shark are very common here with plenty of smaller fish to compliment the dive.
