Grand Bahama Wreck Dive Sites
If your interest is peaked by the mysterious structures of shipwrecks, the sea floor near Freeport and Grand Bahama Island is covered with the shells of man-made vessels. These massive crafts, steadily becoming recovered by the forces of nature, house an assortment of marine species. The waters off Freeport offer some great wreck dives for divers of all experience levels. We have listed some of the finest Wreck Diving destinations near Freeport on Grand Bahama Island. If you are curious about these wreck sites or would like to inquire about other regional scuba diving destinations, feel free to call our Freeport dive excursion experts.
Theo’s Wreck
This exciting wreck locale, because of its depth and penetration opportunities, is recommended for intermediate to advanced Scuba Divers. This two hundred and thirty foot freighter, intentionally stripped, cleaned and scuttled by UNEXSO in 1982, sits one hundred feet below the Caribbean surface on the edge of the continental shelf, where divers can peer deep into the murky abyss. This wreck, resting on its side, allows entry at both the engine room and the expansive cargo space. Some creatures that you may see at this site include Green Moray Eels, Spotted Eels, or a gargantuan Jewfish.
Jose’s Wreck
Bridging the gap between two large coral head formations, Joe’s Wreck is a forty-foot-long former tugboat that is now being reclaimed by the underwater environment. Because of its elevated position, divers can maneuver beneath this sunken craft. This wreck is located at an intermediate depth. Crustaceans, such as Spiny Lobsters and Crabs may scuttle from between the nooks of the reef. During the winter months, you may be delighted to view a swarm of Tiger Groupers.
La Rose Wreck
One of the more recently scuttled wrecks in the region, La Rose is an advanced dive that lies near the fabled Moray Manor reef dive site. This stripped carcass of this triple-decked tug was intentionally sunk by UNEXSO five years ago. Resting in approximately one hundred feet of water, this tugboat offers penetration for advanced divers. The proximity of this shipwreck to the thriving Moray Manor site makes this a great all-around dive locale.
Sea Star II Wreck
This massive two-hundred foot barge is a great spot for novice wreck divers, since it offers easy access and a manageable depth of sixty-five feet. Although this hulking shell was recently scuttled, and savaged by the currents of three massive storms, it has already become a thriving habitat for an assortment of interesting sea creatures, including: Barracudas, Amberjacks, Marine Turtles, Sharks, Snappers, and Groupers.
Etheridge Wreck
This ferryboat once transported tourists in the Carolinas. Resting at a manageable depth for novice divers, this site is home to a smattering of coral heads. Swarms of fish, such as Silversides, Snappers, Shad, Schoolmasters, and Groupers, use this structure as shelter. Cleaned, stripped, and intentionally sunk in the early Nineties, this vessel has a place in cinematic history – it served as the setting for a movie in the Halloween series.
Papa Doc Wreck
Unlike some of the other popular shipwreck sites near Freeport and Grand Bahama Island, this seventy-foot vessel sank during a violent storm and rough seas. Once a shrimp boat, this doomed craft was transporting mercenaries and firearms to Haiti during the revolution in that country. The wreck’s namesake was the dictator, Papa Doc Duvalier, who was so ruthless that he inspired an uprising. Divers can still salvage ammunition on the sea floor and amongst the coral. This wreck rests in pieces along the shallow reef, with visible engine blocks and machinery still visible at this novice-accessible dive site.
Pretender Wreck
This upside down tug sits at an approachable depth for divers of all levels of experience. This forty-five foot vessel, the Pretender, rests on the sea floor between two heads of coral. Remnants of a yacht are also strewn about this site as well. Stingrays are often seen gliding along the sandy bottom.