PIERRE KUYPER - Barbuda
Pierre Kuyper isn't your typical Caribbean wreck dive. Forget huge metal hulls and engine rooms; this is an exercise in maritime archaeology and coral reclamation. We’re talking about a barque that ran aground in 1874, the captain famously doubting his chronometer, which, ironically, was spot on. What you find now, in a mere ten metres of water, are scattered timbers and plates, completely overgrown. It’s less about penetration and more about tracing the ghostly outline of a ship through fields of soft coral. Look closely and you’ll find sections of the hull acting as perfect apartment blocks for lobsters and grumpy moray eels. We love how the reef has just completely swallowed the wreck; it’s a living, breathing part of the ecosystem now, a testament to nature's relentless push. Our favourite time to visit is mid-morning, when the sun is high and bright, illuminating the sandy patches between the coral mounds and making the colours pop. It’s an easy dive, perfect for photographers who enjoy macro life, or anyone looking for a relaxed exploration with a real sense of history.
- Location
- Barbuda, Antigua & Barbuda, Caribbean
- Coordinates
- 17.634167, -61.732834
- Type
- wreck
- Maximum Depth
- 10m
Marine Protected Area: Two Foot Bay 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)
- CROYDON - 5m (wreck)
- ELITE - 5m (wreck)
- Goat Reef (reef)
- Palaster Reef (reef)
- Palaster Reef - 5-20m (reef)
- 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 PIERRE KUYPER
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