VICTOR - Barbuda
Victor isn't your typical Caribbean wreck dive, and that's precisely why we love it. Sunk way back in 1874, this barque lies in just five metres of water off Palaster Reef, a mere six miles southeast of Barbuda's Martello Tower. It’s an easy, shallow dive, more of a snorkel really, making it perfect for newer divers or those who prefer to stretch out their bottom time. There isn't a whole lot of intact structure left – the ocean has done its work over 150 years. What you'll find instead is a scattering of timbers, iron fastenings, and the ghostly outline of a ship, now completely encrusted. We’ve spent hours just poking around, imagining the ship's final moments. Look closely and you'll spot parrotfish nibbling on the coral-covered remains, damselfish flitting between crevices, and sometimes, a sleepy nurse shark tucked under a larger piece of wreckage. The shallow depth means fantastic natural light, making the colours pop even on an overcast day. It’s not about penetration or huge intact sections; it’s about history, easy exploration, and seeing how nature reclaims things, slowly, beautifully.
- Location
- Barbuda, Antigua & Barbuda, Caribbean
- Coordinates
- 17.525833, -61.749500
- Type
- wreck
- Maximum Depth
- 5m
Marine Protected Area: Palaster Reef
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)
- PIERRE KUYPER - 10m (wreck)
- POLROSA - 10m (wreck)
- RED JACKET - 9m (wreck)
- The Pillars of Hercules - 8-22m (cave)
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 VICTOR
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