Stavronikita Wreck - West Coast
The Stavronikita is a beast of a wreck, a proper freighter sunk deliberately in '78. We love a purposeful sinking, and this one delivers, sitting upright at 42 metres on its port side, though the main deck is closer to 30. It's an intermediate dive for sure, given the depth. You drop down, and this massive silhouette just starts to emerge from the blue, growing clearer with every fin kick. What makes Stavronikita stand out for us isn't just its size, but how you can actually get *inside* it. We've spent dives just exploring the engine room, the hold, even the galley. Sunlight slanting through portholes, illuminating schools of mojarras that dart away as you approach. Keep an eye out for yellowface pikeblennies peeking from crevices and the occasional shortnose batfish doing its slow, deliberate shuffle on the deck. The mast still stands, reaching up into shallower waters around 6-10 metres, covered in fire coral, making a fantastic safety stop. It’s a site that rewards multiple visits, offering something new each time you drop in.
- Location
- West Coast, Barbados, Caribbean
- Coordinates
- 13.180000, -59.650000
- Type
- wreck
- Maximum Depth
- 6-42m
- Difficulty
- Intermediate
Marine Protected Area: Folkstone
Best Time to Dive in West Coast
The warmest water temperatures in West Coast occur in January, averaging 28.2°C. The coolest conditions are in December at 28.2°C.
Monthly Water Temperatures
- January: 28.2°C (air: 26.0°C)
- February: 28.2°C (air: 26.1°C)
- March: 28.2°C (air: 26.3°C)
- April: 28.2°C (air: 26.9°C)
- May: 28.2°C (air: 27.7°C)
- June: 28.2°C (air: 27.8°C)
- July: 28.2°C (air: 27.6°C)
- August: 28.2°C (air: 27.8°C)
- September: 28.2°C (air: 28.2°C)
- October: 28.2°C (air: 28.1°C)
- November: 28.2°C (air: 27.3°C)
- December: 28.2°C (air: 26.7°C)
Nearby Dive Sites in West Coast
- Brightledge (reef)
- Brightledge (reef)
- Bright Ledge - 25-40m (reef)
- Cement Plant (drift)
- FishPot - Shore Dive (reef)
- Harrison Reefs (reef)
- Maycocks - Sand Channels (reef)
- PAMIR - 15m (wreck)
- Pamir, wreck (reef)
- Pamir Wreck - 5-12m (wreck)
- STAVRONIKITA - 35m (wreck)
- The Zoo (wreck)
Nearest Dive Centres to Stavronikita Wreck
- BarbadoScuba
- Hightide Watersports - ["PADI"]
- Reefers & Wreckers - ["PADI"]
- Salt & Sea Scuba - ["PADI"]
Marine Life in West Coast
Home to 379 recorded species including 334 reef fish, 23 hard corals, 7 other, 4 sea snails & nudibranchs, 2 whales & dolphins, 2 octopus & squid.
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
- Bastard soldierfish (Myripristis jacobus) - Reef Fish
Recommended Packing List for Stavronikita Wreck
Based on average water temperature of 28.2°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