When most people think of ships in The Bahamas, they think of luxury cruise liners, or perhaps sleek fishing boats and passenger ferries. On a Bahamas dive, however, the most interesting boats to see are the ones that can be found beneath the water. The Bahamas are home to many wrecks, some of which have even been sunk on purpose – and they make a fascinating playground for divers to explore. Here are a few of our favourite wrecks to discover in The Bahamas.

San Jacinto

The San Jacinto was a veteran of China’s second ‘Opium War’, and the first steamship ever to be built in the United States of America. Seeing it is a a fantastic way to incorporate a little bit of learning into a dive; Bahamas visitors will enjoy discovering a little about the islands’ history. The wreck itself is visually striking, having sunk in only 40ft of water while it was on blockade duty in the Abacos during the Civil War in 1865. Once over two hundred feet long, the wreck is now completely scattered across the ocean floor, though distinctive elements still remain. One of the most famous wrecks in The Bahamas, it’s a constant draw for would-be adventurers and historians alike.

Sapona

A concrete-hulled liberty ship built by Henry Ford in 1911 just before World War 1, the Sapona made only one trip as a troop transporter during the conflict, and was used by ‘rum runners’ between The Bahamas and Florida as a floating warehouse during the Prohibition. A hurricane in the 1920’s drove the ship aground, though it only partially sank in the shallow waters. Though it was partly destroyed (often used as a target during the Second World War), the Sapona is still visible above the waters close to Bimini, and while it’s popular for a dive, Bahamas snorkelling and swimming are also great ways to visit the wreck, due to the shallow waters and the huge numbers of reef fish that make the sunken ship their home.

Austin Smith

A 90 foot, Bahamas Defence Force cutter, the Austin Smith, was decommissioned to be intentionally sunk in San Salvador in 1995, as an artificial reef and dive site. Ironically, the ship sank en route to its intended destination, ending up 60 feet deep on the ocean floor close to the Exumas. Since it sank intact, it’s a popular site to discover on a Bahamas dive, and has an eerie feel due to its ‘wholeness’ – you may feel it is out of place on the ocean floor instead of sailing proudly atop the waves.

Vulcan Bomber

Ian Fleming’s famous spy James Bond has appeared in twelve novels and twenty-two films. One of these, ‘Thunderball’, was filmed in The Bahamas, and a key part of the plot centered around the search for a sunken ‘Vulcan Bomber’ – a real version of which was sunk in The Bahamas in order to film scenes where the villain’s henchmen dove to retrieve the bomber’s deadly cargo. On a dive, Bahamas adventurers can see the remains of the Vulcan Bomber, though any nuclear bombs have long been replaced by coral and sponges. James Bond can rest a little easier next time he’s in The Bahamas!

Author Bio: Omar Isaacs is the Marketing Executive for The Bahamas Tourist Board, a tourist organisation that can help you discover the best holidays in The Bahamas. If you’re looking for amazing sites for a dive, Bahamas holidays are the perfect choice. To select and book your ideal dive, Bahamas holidays are just a click away.

Category: Travel
Keywords: Dive Bahamas