CHRISTIANA - Antigua South Coast
The Christiana wreck, just off Curtain Bluff, is one of our favourite shallow dives on Antigua’s south coast. It’s a 13-meter runabout, sunk in '76, and honestly, it’s just a lovely, relaxed dive. We love the way the light filters down through the three-meter shallows, dappling the deck. You can really get a sense of the boat, even though it’s broken up now; the bow and stern are pretty distinct. What we really enjoy here is the resident population of squirrelfish, their big eyes watching you from the shadows, and we always spot a few lobsters tucked away. The whole wreck is encrusted with sponges and corals – purples, yellows, and oranges making it incredibly photogenic. It’s a perfect spot for newer divers, or anyone who just wants a chill dive without strong currents. We’d suggest going in the morning; the light is best then, and you often have the place to yourself.
- Location
- Antigua South Coast, Antigua & Barbuda, Caribbean
- Coordinates
- 17.012500, -61.925000
- Type
- wreck
- Maximum Depth
- 13m
Marine Protected Area: Cades Bay
Best Time to Dive in Antigua South Coast
The warmest water temperatures in Antigua South Coast occur in January, averaging 27.2°C. The coolest conditions are in December at 27.2°C.
Monthly Water Temperatures
- January: 27.2°C (air: 25.5°C)
- February: 27.2°C (air: 25.3°C)
- March: 27.2°C (air: 25.6°C)
- April: 27.2°C (air: 26.3°C)
- May: 27.2°C (air: 27.4°C)
- June: 27.2°C (air: 28.1°C)
- July: 27.2°C (air: 28.1°C)
- August: 27.2°C (air: 28.3°C)
- September: 27.2°C (air: 28.2°C)
- October: 27.2°C (air: 27.8°C)
- November: 27.2°C (air: 26.9°C)
- December: 27.2°C (air: 26.1°C)
Nearby Dive Sites in Antigua South Coast
- Andes (Wreck) (reef)
- Andes (Wreck) (wreck)
- Andes Wreck - 8-20m (wreck)
- Cades Reef (reef)
- Cades Reef - 5-25m (reef)
- DELORIS - 1m (wreck)
- ELCO - 1m (wreck)
- Horse Shoe Reef (reef)
- JETIAS (POSSIBLY) - 2m (wreck)
- Middle Reef (reef)
- Mill Reef Club (reef)
- NORMA J - 2m (wreck)
- OKAVANGO - 35m (wreck)
- ST JOHN'S - 11m (wreck)
- Sunken Rock - 12-35m (wreck)
Nearest Dive Centres to CHRISTIANA
- Antigua Scuba School
- Divecarib - ["PADI"]
Marine Life in Antigua South Coast
Home to 234 recorded species including 201 reef fish, 7 other, 5 whales & dolphins, 4 sea snails & nudibranchs, 4 hard corals, 2 sea urchins.
Notable Species
- Dorado (Coryphaena hippurus) - Reef Fish
- Dark Green Parrotfish (Sparisoma viride) - Reef Fish
- Gutong (Scarus iseri) - Reef Fish
- Longspine Squirrelfish (Holocentrus rufus) - Reef Fish
- Parrotfish (Thalassoma bifasciatum) - Reef Fish
- Swordfish (Xiphias gladius) - Reef Fish
- Butter Hamlet (Hypoplectrus unicolor) - Reef Fish
- Mottled Conger Moray (Enchelycore nigricans) - Reef Fish
- Key Worm Eel (Ahlia egmontis) - Reef Fish
- Flamefish (Apogon maculatus) - Reef Fish
- Bastard soldierfish (Myripristis jacobus) - Reef Fish
- Sharpnose Pufferfish (Canthigaster rostrata) - Reef Fish
- Caribbean Chestnut Moray (Enchelycore carychroa) - Reef Fish
- Lizardfish (Synodus intermedius) - Reef Fish
- Rosy Blenny (Malacoctenus macropus) - Reef Fish
- Slate-pencil Urchin (Diadema antillarum) - Sea Urchins
- Goldspot Goby (Gnatholepis thompsoni) - Reef Fish
- Yellowtail Parrotfish (Sparisoma rubripinne) - Reef Fish
- Slippery Dick (Halichoeres bivittatus) - Reef Fish
- Blue Doctor (Acanthurus coeruleus) - Reef Fish
Recommended Packing List for CHRISTIANA
Based on average water temperature of 27.2°C.
- Shorty or Rashguard - warm 27°C water needs minimal exposure protection
- Mask - essential for every dive
- Fins
- BCD - buoyancy compensator
- Regulator - your most safety-critical piece of gear
- Dive Computer - tracks depth, time, and NDL
- Surface Marker Buoy (SMB) - essential for boat pickups
- Dive Torch - useful for crevices and colour at depth
- Underwater Camera - capture your diving memories