Divers Can Explore Wrecks and More in Barbados
You may know Barbados for its diverse cultural influences, historic capital Bridgetown and UNESCO World Heritage Sites, beautiful beaches and turquoise waters, distinction as the birthplace of rum, vibrant culinary scene, friendly people, and of course, Rihanna, the award-winning singer, entrepreneur and philanthropist. It is a gorgeous island, but if you haven’t experienced its underwater treasures then you don’t truly know everything the Eastern Caribbean island offers to visiting scuba divers. Here’s your guide to the island’s wrecks, reefs and marine life, plus the annual dive festival it hosts to celebrate everything scuba.
Top Three Dive Sites in Barbados
SS Stavronikita
- Depth: 25 – 135 feet (8 – 40 meters)
- Experience Level: Advanced open water; also suitable for free divers
- Marine Life: Sergeant majors, hawksbill turtles, occasional barracuda, porcupinefish, large schools of Creole wrasses, several species of jacks, sponges, black corals, and a myriad of encrusting and soft corals
“Stavronikita’s large size and depth make it impossible to see everything in one dive. This wreck is an incredible dive for those seeking a bit of adventure and is the perfect place to complete your deep and wreck diver specialties.” —Nesaba Browne, environmental biologist and divemaster, Saint John, Barbados
The 365-foot Stavronikita, affectionately nicknamed “The Stav,” was a Greek freighter that transported cement from Ireland to Barbados. After catching fire in 1976, the ship was towed into Barbados’ port. It was later acquired by the government and sunk as an artificial reef. Located in a sand channel between two coral reefs, the Stav’s deck at 90 feet (27 meters) and maximum depth—135 feet (40 meters)—make it a more advanced dive, though the forward mast comes within 25 feet (8 meters) of the surface.
Barbados Tourism Marketing Inc.The SS Stavronikita in Barbados has become a vibrant artificial reef, supporting a thriving marine ecosystem.
“The Stav is home to a thriving ecosystem,” says Nesaba Browne, a local environmental biologist and divemaster. “The wreck has two masts that are each just over 50 feet in height—some say they look like Christmas trees because of the colors and their shape. The masts are covered in encrusting sponges, an array of black corals, hydroids and large schools of Creole wrasses, which rain done on divers as they complete their safety stops. This spot is a photographer’s playground.”
Carlisle Bay
- Depth: 15 – 60 feet (4.5 – 18 meters)
- Accessible from shore and boat
- Experience Level: Novice to advanced
- Marine Life: Green sea and hawksbill turtles, moray eels, Southern stingrays, several varieties of tangs, jacks and damselfish, peacock flounders, Caribbean reef squid, seahorses, tarpon, occasional spotted eagle rays, octopuses, mantis shrimp and frogfish
“For families, Carlisle Bay is a great place to get your feet wet in calm, crystal-clear waters while offering comfortable diving for all members of the family.” —Nesaba Browne, environmental biologist and divemaster, Barbados
The marine park located in crescent-shaped Carlisle Bay is a haven for historical wrecks and marine life. These crystalline waters are home to wrecks such as the Berwyn, which was deliberately scuttled by her crew more than 100 years ago, and the Cornwallis, a relic from World War II that’s in only 15 feet (4.5 meters) of water. A more recent addition is the Bajan Queen, which was originally a tugboat and later converted to a party cruiser. Today, the party-goers on this fun wreck are the hundreds of sergeant majors and blackbar soldierfish that have set up housekeeping on the wreck.
Barbados Tourism Marketing Inc.Barbados offers more than stunning beaches and turquoise waters. Divers also love its bounty of sunken wrecks.
“Sitting opposite the Bajan Queen is the Ellion, which has a large open cargo hold for divers to swim through and explore the interior,” says Browne. “If you head a little farther north you’ll find the Ce-Trek, which is a smaller vessel but an exciting one as divers often find octopus, napping stingrays and even the occasional seahorse hanging onto the nearby soft corals.”
Other wrecks in the Bay include the Barge, and a newer addition, the Zoom sailboat. “The Zoom comes to life at night as lobsters and banded shrimp make their appearance, which often attracts rays in search of dinner,” Browne says.
Carlisle Bay truly has something for everyone—free divers, underwater photographers, night divers and experienced wreck divers who make penetrations on the larger ships. Many of the island’s dive operators use this site for training.
Pamir
- Depth: 40 – 50 feet (12 – 15 meters)
- Accessible from shore and boat
- Experience Level: Novice to advanced
- Marine Life: Trumpetfish, lizardfish, flying gurnards, French angelfish, Spanish and slipper lobsters, banded coral shrimp, leaf lettuce slugs, bar jacks, Spanish mackerel, occasional seahorses and octopuses
“Visiting Pamir is the best of both worlds as you can explore a wreck and reef all in one dive. You don’t need a torch, but having one helps bring out the brilliance of the encrusting sponges and assortment of gorgonians on the wreck.” —Nesaba Browne, environmental biologist and divemaster, Barbados
Easy entry and exit points to the interior of the hull make the Pamir a favorite among wreck divers. “Inside the wreck you’ll find a large winch that is inhabited by Spanish and slipper lobsters along with other crustaceans, but the adventure doesn’t end here,” says Browne. “On the port side there is a small “Yellow Submarine,” which is visible from the wreck on a clear day. The submarine is surrounded by a variety of corals, and if you are lucky, you may be able to spot a seahorse hanging out on one of the nearby sponges.”
Barbados Tourism Marketing Inc.The Pamir enchants visitors with its accessible depths and vibrant marine life.
After being intentionally sunk in 1985, Pamir came to rest on the sand bottom with her stern in 50 feet (15 meters) of water off the island’s northwest coast. The 170-foot former freighter has a sister ship on the island’s southern coast called Friar’s Craig. “It is less intact but also makes for a fun dive as it is visited by several hawksbill turtles and sits between two stunning, fringing reefs,” Browne says. “It’s a shallow site that is beloved by night divers and divers working on their advanced open water and wreck diver specialty courses.”
The Annual Barbados Dive Fest
One way to experience all underwater Barbados has to offer is through Dive Fest
The island’s annual Dive Fest was originated by the Barbados Dive Operators Association (BDOA) in 2016 as a way to strengthen connections within the local dive community while giving visiting divers an exhilarating week of activities to look forward to during their dive vacations. With a diverse schedule, Dive Fest offers visiting divers of all experience levels a chance to explore the wonders of Barbados, plus make lasting memories with members of the local dive community.
The annual festival was also designed to connect Barbadians to their most cherished natural resource—the Caribbean Sea. BDOA wanted a program that would help more young people to become involved in showcasing and protecting the island’s vibrant underwater habitats, so it launched the Water Awareness program. In the weeks leading up to Dive Fest, 100 young people are trained to swim and safely enjoy the ocean with the hope that they will become future divers who will act as stewards of the ocean and ensure that diving remains an active part of the island’s culture for generations to come. Dive Fest is an excellent opportunity to bring people together from across the globe and allow them to share in their love for adventure, the ocean and its inhabitants.
You can experience it for yourself at Barbados Dive Fest 2025, which will be held from August 15–20, 2025.
2025 SCUBA DIVING READERS CHOICE AWARDS
Barbados won awards in two categories—a Top 5 ranking for Best Wreck Diving and a Top 10 ranking for Best Shore Diving.
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