Page 456 - The British Big Four
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SEA VENTURE (1609) The Sea Venture is a completely protected ing efforts to get her back up. This tragedy led to abandoning further
wreck and cannot be visited. This English Flagship brought Bermuda’s attempts to refloat the vessel, although the cargo was saved. Divers find
first settlers. Sea Venture was the Flagship of a fleet bringing settlers a row of deadeyes marking her location, and a bow that points to the
from Plymouth, England to Jamestown, Virginia. However, a ferocious surface at 25’ (8m) depth on the north side of Mills Breakers.
hurricane blew her off course and separated her from six other vessels TAUNTON (1920) This 1,329-ton, 228’ (69.5m) Norwegian Cargo
in her fleet. She was deliberately grounded by Admiral Sir George Ship was en route from Norfolk Virginia to St. George’s, Bermuda with
Somers to save her and her 150 passengers, plus a dog. These people a load of coal, when a misty fog hid the reef that she hit. Her engine
inadvertently became Bermuda’s first colonists. Two sailing vessels and boilers are investigated by divers, as well as her widely scattered
were built by these first Bermudians, and this tiny fleet was then sailed wreckage. Her depth is only 20’ (6m).
to Jamestown in 1610, leaving behind only three men. Upon arrival IRISTO (ARISTO) (1937), This 1,821-ton, 251’ (76.5m), made-in-
the new Jamestown settlers found that only 60 of Jamestown’s 500 early U.S.A. Norwegian Steamer was coming into Bermuda from St. John’s,
settlers had survived their first two years in their new world. Note that Newfoundland when she ran into the reef. Her captain had actually
the Bermuda Coat of Arms features a depiction of heavy seas wreck- changed course to “follow” the COLÓN, which he didn’t realize was
ing the Sea Venture. The Latin banner proclaims “Quo Fata Ferunt”, sitting high, wrecked on the reef since a year before. She was being
which means “Whither the Fates Carry Us.” Restricted Dive site. towed to port the next day, but sank at this spot due to her consider-
COL. WILLIAM BALL (1943) During WWII this 119’ (36m) Yacht able damage. Her bow and stern are still intact, sitting in 55’ (17m) of
was converted for U.S. Army Transportation, but severe weather drove water. Divers find photogenic opportunities in her anchors, boilers,
her onto Mills Breakers, where she still lies is just 15’ (5m) to 26’ (8m) engine and a broken propeller.
of water. A wreck investigation discovered that the Mills Breakers MANILLA (1750’s) The remains of this unknown wrecked Dutchman
warning buoy had disappeared during the high seas, resulting in the lie upside-down in just 15’ (5m) of water.
loss of the ship. ELDA (1956) This 45’ (14m) American Yacht was racing from New-
AVENGER (1894) Bermuda’s “Mills Breakers” reef claimed this fine port, R.I. to Bermuda, but ran into the reef upon reaching her destina-
English Brigantine as she sailed from Nova Scotia to the Caribbean via tion. Her 3-ton lead keel is still there, but that’s all that a diver might
Bermuda. She is one of at least three wrecks that this reef has sunk. find, other than tons of fish and a beautiful reef.
BEAUMARIS CASTLE (1873) This 1,040-ton, 202’ (61.5m) English
iron-hulled sailing vessel had sojourned all the way from Calcutta en
route to New York when she met her demise on Bermuda’s wicked
Mills Breakers reef. Attempts to refloat her failed, and one man lost
his life and others were poisoned as they inhaled noxious fumes dur-
