FRIARS CRAIG

Best months: Jan–Apr

Protected Area

Carslisle Bay

Why dive here

With 379+ marine species recorded in the area - including barracuda, dolphins, humpback whales, octopuses and orcas - FRIARS CRAIG offers some of South Coast's richest wreck diving. Water ranges 27-30°C, warmest August, September, October.

Best timeJan–Apr

WetsuitA 3mm shorty or thin full wetsuit

Marine lifeBarracuda, Dolphins, Humpback Whales, Octopuses and Orcas · 379+ species recorded

Water27-30°C · warmest August, September, October

CharacterWreck dive · max 14m

StandoutExceptional marine biodiversity

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.