RSSShipwrecks are a major part of Bermuda's history and its reputation in the maritime world. Referred to as the Isle of Devils, many ships were sunk off the coast of the island due to the dangerous ring of coral reefs surrounding it. While not all the ships carried treasure chests bursting with gold coins and jewels, the mystery of the wrecks and the underlying myths make these underwater attractions popular with divers.
Blanch King
It is an American schooner built in 1887, which on route in 1920 from Norfolk with a load of coal, got stranded on the reefs and sank. Lying near the North Carolina, her cable and rigging are scattered across the reefs.
Caraquet
This is a 350' mail packet and passenger steamer launched in 1894, which while en route from St. John to Halifax wrecked on Bermuda’s Northern Barrier Reef. She lies 30' down.
Constellation
This is a 200' American schooner built in 1918. In 1943, this ship was carrying building materials, medicinal drugs, and 700 cases of scotch whiskey to Venezuela when she went down. She lies in 30' of water.
CristobalColon
This is 500' Spanish luxury liner was launched in 1923. The largest of Bermudian wrecks, she lies 30'–55' under with her wreckage scattered across 100,000 square feet.
Darlington
This is a steamer built in 1881, which while on a voyage from New Orleans to Germany in 1886, hit a reef and sank. She lies 20' down, and within swimming distance of an unidentified Spanish galleon.
Hermes
This is a fully intact 165' steel buoy tender built during World War II. In 1985, she became an artificial reef and rests 80' down with her mast pointing toward the surface.
is a 385' cargo steamer built in 1907, which while heading to Baltimore, struck a reef off St. David’s Head in 1940. Lying one mile offshore 20'–70' down, and is considered to be the best East End wreck.
Pollockshields
This is a cargo steamer built in 1890, which ran into a “white squall” in 1915. The ship can be found scattered in 20'–40' of water on a coral bottom and live ammunition, shell casings, boilers, a propeller, and the engine can be seen amongst her wreckage.
Taunton
This is a 228' Danish cargo steamer built in 1902 and being another victim of Bermuda’s tricky reefs, it sank in 1920. The Taunton is a favourite shallow water dive and quite a photogenic wreck, as her bow comes within 10' of the surface.
