NORMA J - Antigua South Coast
The Norma J is one of our favourites on Antigua’s south coast, a wooden sailing vessel that ran aground way back in 1972. You’re looking at a maximum depth of two metres here, which means phenomenal natural light and endless bottom time. We love drifting over her skeletal remains; the timbers are well broken up, but you can still make out the ribs and deck planks in places. It’s an easy, relaxed snorkel or a super shallow dive that feels more like an archaeological dig. What really sells the Norma J for us isn’t the wreck itself, but how nature has taken over. The remaining structure is carpeted in colourful sponges and soft corals, a real nursery for juvenile reef fish. Keep an eye out for tiny gobies darting between the crevices and parrotfish grazing on algae right off the hull. Visibility here is usually excellent, so you get brilliant wide-angle views of the whole site. It’s perfect for photographers wanting to practice natural light shots, or anyone just looking for a peaceful, sun-drenched hour exploring a bit of maritime history.
- Location
- Antigua South Coast, Antigua & Barbuda, Caribbean
- Coordinates
- 16.726667, -62.236668
- Type
- wreck
- Maximum Depth
- 2m
Marine Protected Area: Redonda
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)
- CHRISTIANA - 13m (wreck)
- DELORIS - 1m (wreck)
- ELCO - 1m (wreck)
- Horse Shoe Reef (reef)
- JETIAS (POSSIBLY) - 2m (wreck)
- Middle Reef (reef)
- Mill Reef Club (reef)
- OKAVANGO - 35m (wreck)
- ST JOHN'S - 11m (wreck)
- Sunken Rock - 12-35m (wreck)
Nearest Dive Centres to NORMA J
- 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 NORMA J
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