RITA III - Soufriere-Scotts Head Marine Reserve
The Rita III, a tugboat that ran aground in 1977, now rests upright at 20 meters, making for a straightforward dive. We found the wreck itself to be quite broken up in places, but the outline of the vessel is still clear, especially the bow. You can swim through a few open sections, peeking into what used to be the engine room, now home to schools of glassy sweepers that shimmer in the ambient light. Keep an eye out for moray eels tucked into crevices, and we’ve often spotted lobsters clinging to the hull. It’s a good spot for newer wreck divers or those looking for a relaxed second dive.
- Location
- Soufriere-Scotts Head Marine Reserve, Dominica, Caribbean
- Coordinates
- 15.331183, -61.397667
- Type
- wreck
- Maximum Depth
- 20m
Marine Protected Area: Soufriere/Scott's Head
Best Time to Dive in Soufriere-Scotts Head Marine Reserve
The warmest water temperatures in Soufriere-Scotts Head Marine Reserve occur in January, averaging 27.2°C. The coolest conditions are in December at 27.2°C.
Monthly Water Temperatures
- January: 27.2°C (air: 24.7°C)
- February: 27.2°C (air: 24.5°C)
- March: 27.2°C (air: 24.7°C)
- April: 27.2°C (air: 25.5°C)
- May: 27.2°C (air: 26.6°C)
- June: 27.2°C (air: 26.8°C)
- July: 27.2°C (air: 26.6°C)
- August: 27.2°C (air: 26.9°C)
- September: 27.2°C (air: 27.3°C)
- October: 27.2°C (air: 27.0°C)
- November: 27.2°C (air: 26.1°C)
- December: 27.2°C (air: 25.2°C)
Nearby Dive Sites in Soufriere-Scotts Head Marine Reserve
- Addie - 1m (wreck)
- Champagne (reef)
- Champagne Reef - 3-15m (reef)
- Condo (drift)
- Craters Edge (wall)
- Danglebens Pinnacles - 15-30m (pinnacle)
- Danglebens Pinnacles (reef)
- Dive Dominica
- L’Abym North
- Lost Horizon (reef)
- Missing Link
- Mountain Top (wall)
- Nature Island Dive
- Point Guirnard (reef)
- Scotts Head Drop Off (reef)
Nearest Dive Centres to RITA III
- Nature Island Dive - SSI
Marine Life in Soufriere-Scotts Head Marine Reserve
Home to 271 recorded species including 215 reef fish, 24 hard corals, 14 whales & dolphins, 3 other, 3 sea urchins, 3 sharks & rays.
Notable Species
- Sperm Whale (Physeter macrocephalus) - Whales & Dolphins
- Bridled Dolphin (Stenella attenuata) - Whales & Dolphins
- Blackfish (Globicephala macrorhynchus) - Whales & Dolphins
- Bornean Dolphin (Lagenodelphis hosei) - Whales & Dolphins
- Rusty Goby (Priolepis hipoliti) - Reef Fish
- Goldspot Goby (Gnatholepis thompsoni) - Reef Fish
- Agassiz's Thread-sail Fish (Chlorophthalmus agassizi) - Reef Fish
- Smallmouth goby (Risor ruber) - Reef Fish
- Masked Goby (Coryphopterus personatus) - Reef Fish
- Long-beaked Dolphin (Stenella longirostris) - Whales & Dolphins
- False killer whale (Pseudorca crassidens) - Whales & Dolphins
- Pallid Goby (Coryphopterus eidolon) - Reef Fish
- Flamefish (Apogon maculatus) - Reef Fish
- Parrotfish (Thalassoma bifasciatum) - Reef Fish
- Species code: Hs (Halophila stipulacea) - Seagrass & Algae
- Sharpnose Pufferfish (Canthigaster rostrata) - Reef Fish
- Slippery Dick (Halichoeres bivittatus) - Reef Fish
- Clown Wrasse (Halichoeres maculipinna) - Reef Fish
- Sand goby (Coryphopterus glaucofraenum) - Reef Fish
- Common False Moray (Kaupichthys hyoproroides) - Reef Fish
Recommended Packing List for RITA III
Based on average water temperature of 27.2°C.
- Shorty or Rashguard - warm 27°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