Page 457 - The British Big Four
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EAGLE (1659) The crew and passengers of this English Merchantman coral bottom at 25’ (8m) depth. Visibility is great.
had to take to the lifeboats when she ran into Bermuda’s reef while CARAQUET (1923) This English Mail Steamer was stopping at Ber-
voyaging from Plymouth, England to Jamestown, Virginia. She wasn’t muda while sailing from St. John (Virgin Islands) to Halifax when she
discovered until 1956 when the Elda almost sank right on top of her. A went down in a treacherous current after smashing into the reef here.
few old artifacts have been recovered, but the only thing to find at the Her wreckage is scattered over an area the size of two soccer fields, but
site today are two encrusted cannons. divers still find her four big boilers, corroding deck plating, piping,
CRISTÓBOL COLÓN (1936) This beautiful 10,833-ton, 499’ (152m) winches, capstans, and a big encrusted anchor.
Spanish Luxury Liner was built in 1923, and is the largest shipwreck SAN PEDRO (1596) This 350-ton Spanish Nau was amongst its sister
in Bermuda. She had a full crew of 160, but no passengers when she ships in the Spanish “Nueva España Flota” when she went down, not to
ran high and upright onto the reef at 15 knots. North Rock’s light was be found again until 1951. This turned out to be the first major treas-
out of commission at the time. The IRISTO steamed into the rocks the ure recovery of the 20th Century. Only a few timber remnants and
next year, believing the ballast remain to be found. A famous emerald-studded cross, which
COLÓN to be a ship under way. The U.S. Military used her for tar- was recovered by San Pedro’s discoverer Teddy Tucker, was stolen. Re-
get practice during WWII, so she is fully destroyed, with half on one stricted Dive site.
side of the reef, and half on the other, all ranging from 15’ (5m) to 60’ XING DA (1997) This 221’ (67m) Chinese Smuggling Vessel was used
(18m) depth. for smuggling contraband, weapons, people, and loot for 30 years. She
ALERT (1877) This sleek Bermuda Fishing Sloop set off for a fishing was seized by the U.S. Coast Guard in 1996 while smuggling 86 Chi-
trip, but never returned. A month later she was found in 40’ (12m) of nese nationals to the U.S., and then the broken down ship was scuttled
water just south of North Rock, but with no survivors. Divers find that outside the reef in 104’ (31m) of water in 1997. Trash, waste, oil, and
jacks and barracuda make a home of her remnants now, along with all bulkhead doors were removed before sinking. She is a haven for big
kinds of reef fish. The water is pristine and visibility is in excess of 80’ snappers, barracuda, and groupers.
(24m). MARK ANTONIO (1777) This Spanish Ship is known as a “double-
MADIANA (1903) At 3,045 tons and 345’ (105m), this huge iron- ended Mediterranean privateer” and was en route from St. Eustatius
hulled Canadian Passenger Steamer hit the reef with force while en to Cape Henlopen, Delaware with a stop in Bermuda. Explorer Teddy
route from New York to the West Indies, via Hamilton, Bermuda. She Tucker discovered her sparse remnants, including musket shot and
went down, but all hands escaped on life boats. Her engine was sal- cannon balls, in the early 1960’s.
vaged during WWII, but wreckage can be seen by divers, including her
boilers. Her stern overhangs a sand hole, and her keel sits on a hard
