CROYDON - Barbuda
Croydon is a wreck dive, but it’s probably not what you’re picturing. This isn’t some deep, intact hulk. The SS Croydon, a steamship that went down in 1919, lies in just 5 metres of water off Barbuda’s coast. That makes it incredibly accessible, a real treat for those who want to spend their time exploring without worrying about bottom time. We love Croydon for its sheer size and the way the Caribbean has reclaimed it. It’s been down there for over a century, so the hull, though broken, is absolutely carpeted in sponges and colourful soft corals. You’ll weave through massive sections of collapsed plating, past huge anchor chains, and into what used to be cargo holds, now open to the sky. Look closely among the nooks and crannies – you’ll spot moray eels peering out, plenty of snapper, and schools of grunts ghosting through the structure. It’s a photographer’s dream, especially on a sunny day when the light penetrates everywhere. Our pick for an afternoon dive, when the sun is lower and creates incredible shafts of light through the wreck. It’s shallow enough for snorkelers to enjoy too, making it a brilliant spot for mixed groups.
- Location
- Barbuda, Antigua & Barbuda, Caribbean
- Coordinates
- 17.745277, -61.861168
- Type
- wreck
- Maximum Depth
- 5m
Marine Protected Area: Goat Point Sanctuary
Best Time to Dive in Barbuda
The warmest water temperatures in Barbuda occur in January, averaging 27.0°C. The coolest conditions are in December at 27.0°C.
Monthly Water Temperatures
- January: 27.0°C (air: 25.4°C)
- February: 27.0°C (air: 25.1°C)
- March: 27.0°C (air: 25.4°C)
- April: 27.0°C (air: 26.0°C)
- May: 27.0°C (air: 27.1°C)
- June: 27.0°C (air: 27.9°C)
- July: 27.0°C (air: 28.0°C)
- August: 27.0°C (air: 28.2°C)
- September: 27.0°C (air: 28.3°C)
- October: 27.0°C (air: 27.8°C)
- November: 27.0°C (air: 27.0°C)
- December: 27.0°C (air: 26.1°C)
Nearby Dive Sites in Barbuda
- AMERSFOORT - 3m (wreck)
- Cobb Reef (reef)
- ELITE - 5m (wreck)
- Goat Reef (reef)
- Palaster Reef (reef)
- Palaster Reef - 5-20m (reef)
- PIERRE KUYPER - 10m (wreck)
- POLROSA - 10m (wreck)
- RED JACKET - 9m (wreck)
- The Pillars of Hercules - 8-22m (cave)
- VICTOR - 5m (wreck)
Marine Life in Barbuda
Home to 157 recorded species including 142 reef fish, 5 other, 3 whales & dolphins, 2 sea snails & nudibranchs, 1 octopus & squid, 1 sharks & rays.
Notable Species
- Longspine Squirrelfish (Holocentrus rufus) - Reef Fish
- Dark Green Parrotfish (Sparisoma viride) - Reef Fish
- Gutong (Scarus iseri) - Reef Fish
- Dorado (Coryphaena hippurus) - Reef Fish
- Parrotfish (Thalassoma bifasciatum) - Reef Fish
- Spotted Lanternfish (Myctophum nitidulum) - Reef Fish
- Sperm Whale (Physeter macrocephalus) - Whales & Dolphins
- Slippery Dick (Halichoeres bivittatus) - Reef Fish
- Fairy Basslet (Gramma loreto) - Reef Fish
- Mottled Conger Moray (Enchelycore nigricans) - Reef Fish
- Rosy Blenny (Malacoctenus macropus) - Reef Fish
- Blue Doctor (Acanthurus coeruleus) - Reef Fish
- Hind (Epinephelus guttatus) - Reef Fish
- Yellowtail Parrotfish (Sparisoma rubripinne) - Reef Fish
- Key Worm Eel (Ahlia egmontis) - Reef Fish
- Conklin's cardinalfish (Phaeoptyx conklini) - Reef Fish
- Spotted Goatfish (Pseudupeneus maculatus) - Reef Fish
- Lizardfish (Synodus intermedius) - Reef Fish
- Blue Parrotfish (Sparisoma chrysopterum) - Reef Fish
- Hamlet (Gymnothorax moringa) - Reef Fish
Recommended Packing List for CROYDON
Based on average water temperature of 27.0°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