WESTERN SUN - Antigua South Coast
The *Western Sun* is less a dive and more a snorkel, but don’t let that put you off. It’s absolutely worth checking out if you’re in the area. This old motor vessel went aground on the rocks back in '92, and now its broken hull sits right on the surface, practically begging you to take a look. We love how the waves crash over the exposed metal, creating a foamy, dynamic scene that’s surprisingly dramatic. You're looking at a maximum depth of two metres here, so forget the BCD. Grab your mask and fins, and you're good to go. What you'll find is a mangled skeleton of a ship, all twisted metal and rusty beams, now completely colonised by the sea. Schools of tiny silversides dart in and out of the shadows, and we've often spotted parrotfish grazing right on the wreck itself. It’s a fantastic spot for photographers, especially on a bright, sunny day when the light dances through the shallow water. We’d suggest going at high tide for the easiest access and best visibility.
- Location
- Antigua South Coast, Antigua & Barbuda, Caribbean
- Coordinates
- 16.707500, -62.222830
- 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)
- NORMA J - 2m (wreck)
- OKAVANGO - 35m (wreck)
- ST JOHN'S - 11m (wreck)
Nearest Dive Centres to WESTERN SUN
- 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 WESTERN SUN
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