Kayali (Wreck) - Sandy Island
The Kayali wreck is one of our favourites in Anguilla, a real highlight out by Sandy Island. Dropping down to 28 metres, it’s a proper dive, ideal for those comfortable with a bit of depth. This old cargo ship, scuttled years ago, has settled perfectly upright on the sand, making for some great penetration if you’ve got the training. We particularly love exploring the engine room – it’s dark, moody, and full of that eerie silence only a wreck can provide. Outside, the ship’s structure is covered in sponges and soft corals, painting a pretty picture against the blue. You’ll often find schools of jacks circling the mast, and we’ve seen some hefty barracuda lurking in the shadows of the bow. Look closely and you’ll spot moray eels peering out from gaps in the hull. It’s a photographer's dream on a sunny day, with shafts of light piercing into the cargo holds. We’d suggest going in the morning before any potential boat traffic picks up, when the light is best and the currents tend to be gentler.
- Location
- Sandy Island, Anguilla, Caribbean
- Coordinates
- 17.898300, -62.878300
- Type
- wreck
- Maximum Depth
- 28m
- Difficulty
- Intermediate
Marine Protected Area: Little Bay
Nearby Dive Sites in Sandy Island
- Baleine de Gros Ilet - 17m
- Banc Médée - 7m (pinnacle)
- Basse Espagnole - 14m (reef)
- Carib Cargo (Wreck) - 20m (wreck)
- CATHELEY H - 13m (wreck)
- Caye verte - 17m (reef)
- Charly shoal - 17m (reef)
- Chico 1 - 19m
- Chico 2 - 19m
- Chico 3 - 19m
- Circus - 18m
- Coralita - 17m (reef)
- Cow and calf - 16m (pinnacle)
- DIANA V - 1m (wreck)
- DOOSTER-DEB - 0m (wreck)
Nearest Dive Centres to Kayali (Wreck)
Marine Life in Sandy Island
Home to 297 recorded species including 247 reef fish, 13 hard corals, 10 other, 6 whales & dolphins, 5 crabs & lobsters, 3 seagrass & algae.
Notable Species
- Mustard hill coral (Porites astreoides) - Hard Corals
- Barber (Acanthurus bahianus) - Reef Fish
- Gutong (Sparisoma aurofrenatum) - Reef Fish
- Blue Doctor (Acanthurus coeruleus) - Reef Fish
- Dark Green Parrotfish (Sparisoma viride) - Reef Fish
- Harlequin Brittle Star (Ophioderma appressum)
- Boulder Brain Coral (Colpophyllia natans) - Hard Corals
- Spinyhead Blenny (Acanthemblemaria spinosa) - Reef Fish
- Rusty Goby (Priolepis hipoliti) - Reef Fish
- Parrotfish (Thalassoma bifasciatum) - Reef Fish
- Great star coral (Montastraea cavernosa) - Hard Corals
- Goldspot Goby (Gnatholepis thompsoni) - Reef Fish
- Sheephead (Microspathodon chrysurus) - Reef Fish
- Sharpnose Pufferfish (Canthigaster rostrata) - Reef Fish
- Spiny Brittle Star (Ophiocoma echinata)
- Yellowhead Wrasse (Halichoeres garnoti) - Reef Fish
- Island Goby (Lythrypnus nesiotes) - Reef Fish
- Slender Filefish (Monacanthus tuckeri) - Reef Fish
- Slippery Dick (Halichoeres bivittatus) - Reef Fish
- Angelfish (Holacanthus tricolor) - Reef Fish