FRIARS CRAIG - South Coast
Friars Craig on Barbados' south coast is a definite standout, and frankly, one of our favourite wreck dives in the Caribbean. We're talking about a purposefully scuttled motor vessel, 51.8 meters long, that settled upright at 14 meters. What we love about this wreck isn't just its intact structure, but how it feels like a living, breathing reef. You can easily spend your whole bottom time exploring the holds, swimming through the wheelhouse, and poking around the engine room. It’s got a real character, almost like you’re diving a ghost ship from a movie. Our pick for the best bit is definitely the bow, where the open deck creates a fantastic swim-through, often swarming with schools of grunts and snapper. Keep an eye out for resident barracuda lurking in the deeper shadows of the holds, and we've spotted some impressively large green morays peeking out from under metal plates. The coral growth is surprisingly robust, particularly on the upper decks, with sponges and gorgonians adding splashes of colour to the metal. This site is fantastic for photographers and anyone who enjoys a wreck they can truly get inside.
- Location
- South Coast, Barbados, Caribbean
- Coordinates
- 13.072375, -59.605865
- Type
- wreck
- Maximum Depth
- 14m
Marine Protected Area: Carslisle Bay
Best Time to Dive in South Coast
The warmest water temperatures in South Coast occur in January, averaging 28.0°C. The coolest conditions are in December at 28.0°C.
Monthly Water Temperatures
- January: 28.0°C (air: 26.1°C)
- February: 28.0°C (air: 26.1°C)
- March: 28.0°C (air: 26.4°C)
- April: 28.0°C (air: 27.0°C)
- May: 28.0°C (air: 27.7°C)
- June: 28.0°C (air: 27.8°C)
- July: 28.0°C (air: 27.6°C)
- August: 28.0°C (air: 27.8°C)
- September: 28.0°C (air: 28.1°C)
- October: 28.0°C (air: 27.9°C)
- November: 28.0°C (air: 27.2°C)
- December: 28.0°C (air: 26.6°C)
Nearby Dive Sites in South Coast
- Bow Bells Reef (reef)
- CARINTILLES - 3m (wreck)
- Carlisle Bay - 3-20m (wreck)
- Cobblers Reef (reef)
- Freights Bay (reef)
- Friars Craig Wreck - 8-18m (wreck)
- JOHN R PENROSE - 3m (wreck)
- mv Brianna H - IMO6511908 - 24m (wreck)
- MV Trident - 18m (wreck)
Nearest Dive Centres to FRIARS CRAIG
- G Fish Watersports Barbados - ["PADI"]
- West Side Scuba Centre - ["PADI"]
Marine Life in South Coast
Home to 382 recorded species including 336 reef fish, 23 hard corals, 7 other, 4 sea snails & nudibranchs, 3 octopus & squid, 2 whales & dolphins.
Notable Species
- Slippery Dick (Halichoeres bivittatus) - Reef Fish
- Dusky Damselfish (Stegastes adustus) - Reef Fish
- Devilfish (Ophioblennius atlanticus) - Reef Fish
- Barber (Acanthurus bahianus) - Reef Fish
- Horse-eye Jack (Caranx latus) - Reef Fish
- Parrotfish (Thalassoma bifasciatum) - Reef Fish
- Greater Soapfish (Rypticus saponaceus) - Reef Fish
- French grunt (Haemulon flavolineatum) - Reef Fish
- Hamlet (Gymnothorax moringa) - Reef Fish
- Molly Miller (Labrisomus nuchipinnis) - Reef Fish
- Flamefish (Apogon maculatus) - Reef Fish
- Blackfin Blenny (Paraclinus nigripinnis) - Reef Fish
- Saddled Blenny (Malacoctenus triangulatus) - Reef Fish
- Rusty Goby (Priolepis hipoliti) - Reef Fish
- Pearl Blenny (Entomacrodus nigricans) - Reef Fish
- Butterbun (Chaetodon striatus) - Reef Fish
- Sand Stargazer (Dactyloscopus tridigitatus) - Reef Fish
- Slender Mojarra (Eucinostomus jonesii) - Reef Fish
- Sergeant-major (Abudefduf saxatilis) - Reef Fish
- Mulet (Mugil curema) - Reef Fish
Recommended Packing List for FRIARS CRAIG
Based on average water temperature of 28.0°C.
- 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