ZEILEN - Long Island

Zeilen is a wreck that just hits differently. She’s a tanker, built in ‘61, and she’s sitting upright in a startlingly shallow four meters of water off Long Island. We love this site because it’s a living history lesson, but also just a genuinely cool dive. When you drop in, you’re looking straight down onto her deck. The superstructure is intact enough that you can still swim through parts of the bridge, imagining her final moments after hitting that reef off San Salvador. It’s an easy penetration, great for getting comfortable with overhead environments without any real risk. Sunlight streams through the openings, illuminating schools of sergeant majors that dart in and out of the nooks and crannies. Look closely and you’ll find plenty of green morays peering out from the deeper sections of the hull. Our favorite time to visit is late morning, when the sun is high, making the dappled light inside the wreck feel almost ethereal. It’s not a deep dive, obviously, so it’s perfect for photography, new divers, or just a relaxing second dive where you can truly soak it all in.

Location
Long Island, Bahamas, Caribbean
Coordinates
24.123888, -74.455560
Type
wreck
Maximum Depth
4m

Marine Protected Area: Graham's Harbour

Best Time to Dive in Long Island

The warmest water temperatures in Long Island occur in September, averaging 30.1°C. The coolest conditions are in January at 25.1°C.

Monthly Water Temperatures

  • January: 25.1°C
  • February: 25.3°C
  • March: 25.5°C
  • April: 26.9°C
  • May: 28.1°C
  • June: 29.2°C
  • July: 29.9°C
  • August: 30.0°C
  • September: 30.1°C
  • October: 29.1°C
  • November: 27.5°C
  • December: 26.0°C

Nearby Dive Sites in Long Island

Marine Life in Long Island

Home to 366 recorded species including 321 reef fish, 15 hard corals, 7 whales & dolphins, 6 sea snails & nudibranchs, 5 sharks & rays, 4 other.

Notable Species

Recommended Packing List for ZEILEN

Based on average water temperature of 27.7°C, currents 12 cm/s.

  • Shorty or Rashguard - warm 28°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

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the maximum depth for diving at the Zeelandbrug dive site?
The provided data context is for the ZEILEN dive site, a wreck located off Long Island, Bahamas, not for Zeelandbrug. For the ZEILEN wreck, the maximum depth is 4 meters. We do not have information regarding the maximum depth for diving at Zeelandbrug in the provided data.
What marine life and underwater features can divers expect to see at Zeelandbrug?
The provided data describes the ZEILEN dive site, a tanker vessel sunk in 1980, classified as a wreck showing a portion of its hull or superstructure, located near Long Island, Bahamas. This context does not provide any information about marine life or underwater features specific to Zeelandbrug. For the ZEILEN wreck, divers can expect to explore the remains of a 53.9m x 8.8m vessel.
How difficult is diving at Zeelandbrug, especially around the bridge pillars or during drift dives?
The provided information pertains to the ZEILEN dive site, an intermediate-difficulty wreck dive in the Bahamas, not Zeelandbrug. The context specifies the ZEILEN wreck has an intermediate difficulty. There is no data provided regarding bridge pillars, drift dives, or the difficulty level for Zeelandbrug.
When is the best time of year to dive Zeelandbrug for optimal conditions and marine life sightings like cuttlefish and seahorses?
The available data describes the ZEILEN wreck site, not Zeelandbrug. This context does not include information about the best time of year for diving, optimal conditions, or specific marine life sightings such as cuttlefish and seahorses for either location. For general guidance on dive planning, you might consult our When to Dive section.
What diving certifications are required to dive at Zeelandbrug, particularly for exploring deeper sections or specific areas?
The provided data is for the ZEILEN dive site, a shallow wreck at 4 meters depth in the Long Island, Bahamas area, not Zeelandbrug. The context does not specify any particular diving certifications required for ZEILEN, nor does it provide information about certifications for deeper sections or specific areas of Zeelandbrug.
What are the typical current conditions and visibility like when diving at Zeelandbrug?
The provided data pertains to the ZEILEN wreck site, a tanker vessel located near Long Island, Bahamas. This context does not include any information regarding typical current conditions or visibility for either Zeelandbrug or the ZEILEN dive site. Divers should always check local conditions before planning a dive.