Page 105 - The British Big Four

Grand Bahama: Deep Dives

E theridge Wreck - Once an operating car ferry in the Carolinas, P apa Doc’s Wreck - A group of mercenaries headed to fight in
this vessel was also featured In the movie ‘Halloween’. Sunk the Haitian revolution to overthrow Francois “Papa Doc” Duva-
in early 1992 in an area of scattered coral heads. This site can be lier made it no further than this spot. Their 70-foot boat sunk in a
quite surprising sometimes with Manta Ray and loggerhead turtle storm in 1968. As recently as ten years ago, ammunition clips could
sightings. On the top of the wreck, soft corals create homes for still be found among the scattered coral heads. Two engine blocks
flamingo tongues while scattered debris in the area offer hiding and assorted sections of the old shrimper are still visible. The only
places for drum fish. thing left of the original 1968 shipwreck are the engine blocks.

J ose’s Wreck - Balanced between two separate coral heads, this B adger - Sitting in 50 feet deep and upright in the sand, is a
40-foot tugboat allows divers to swim under the hull. Lobsters tugboat named the Badger. The wreck supports a healthy array
and crabs can occasionally be seen hiding in the crevices between of reef fish safely tucked away in the wheelhouse and significant

the wreck and the reef. In the winter, congregations of tiger coral and sponge growth is starting to show on its hull.

groupers are in the vicinity. P retenders Wreck - Shape of this reef forms a rough ‘painters
palette’. It is said the coral heads at this site are like master-
L a Rose Wreck - La Rose is a classic triple-decker tugboat that pieces in an art gallery, you move from one piece to the next
sits upright in 95 feet of water next to a dive site called Moray
Manor. Sunk in 2004 as an artificial reef, the wreck’s close proximi- seeing what each one has to offer. Lots of small life, Arrow crabs,

ty to the sloping coral reef allows for longer bottom times by using slugs, juveniles. You will often find a stingray or a stray reef shark.

a tiered dive profile. Antcipate being able to spend 10-15 minutes Other than the base of the hull and twin props sticking up a few

on the wreck at 80-90 feet and then work our way up into the large feet out of the sand, there was little left to see. Most divers never

coral heads that populate Moray Manor. Once on the reef, you will even notice the wreck at all as th site is also referred to as Shark

experience an abundance of marine life. Junction. Divers are usually kneeling in the sand along the edge of

the Pretender, surrounded by circling Caribbean Reef Sharks.