VIOLET MITCHELL

Best months: Oct–Dec

Protected Area

South Berry Islands Marine Reserve

Why dive here

With 391+ marine species recorded in the area - including barracuda, dolphins, humpback whales, octopuses and seahorses - VIOLET MITCHELL offers some of Andros's richest wreck diving. Water ranges 24-31°C, warmest July, August, September.

Best timeOct–Dec

WetsuitA 3mm shorty or thin full wetsuit

Marine lifeBarracuda, Dolphins, Humpback Whales, Octopuses and Seahorses · 391+ species recorded

Water24-31°C · warmest July, August, September

CharacterWreck dive · max 5m

StandoutExceptional marine biodiversity

The Violet Mitchell, resting in a mere 5 metres, is our favourite kind of shipwreck dive. It’s a proper historical wreck, not some purpose-sunk playground, which gives it a real sense of character. She went down in heavy seas back in '86, and you can still feel that drama when you’re finning past her capsized hull. What we love here is the sheer accessibility. You can spend an entire hour exploring her 49-metre length, ducking into the cargo holds, or tracing the outline of the collapsed superstructure. Sunlight filters through the shallow water, illuminating schools of snapper that dart in and out of the metal framework. We often spot barracuda lurking in the deeper shadows, just watching you pass by. The wreck itself has become an artificial reef, draped in colourful sponges and soft corals, a gentle contrast to the rusty metal. It’s perfect for new wreck divers, or anyone who enjoys a long, relaxed dive where you can truly take your time to appreciate the details, perhaps even surfacing for a chat mid-dive before dropping back down.