Bianca C Wreck - Southwest Coast

We’ve dived a few wrecks in our time, but the Bianca C still gives us a shiver. This isn't just a sunken ship; it’s a colossal, ghost-like city down there, a 600-foot luxury liner that sank in 1961. Dropping onto the bridge at 30 metres, the sheer scale hits you. You can spend an entire dive just exploring the upper decks, the swimming pool (our favourite spot, surprisingly intact), and the vast holds. The ambient light filtering through the decks creates this eerie, ethereal glow, illuminating schools of broad-striped anchovies that swirl like liquid silver. Look closely, and you’ll spot shy hamlets darting between the decaying railings, and we’ve often found mottled conger morays peering out from shadowed crevices. It’s an advanced dive, for sure, with depths reaching 50 metres, and currents can pick up, so watch that bottom time. But for divers who love big, dramatic wrecks with a real sense of history, the Bianca C is simply magnificent. We always feel a bit humbled leaving its presence.

Location
Southwest Coast, Grenada, Caribbean
Coordinates
12.020000, -61.770000
Type
wreck
Maximum Depth
30-50m
Difficulty
Advanced

Wreck History - Bianca C Wreck

Year Sunk
1961
Vessel Type
passenger ship
Cause
fire
Tonnage
18,427 GRT

The Bianca C was a 600-foot luxury liner that sailed under the flag of the Italian Costa Line, a company synonymous with elegant sea travel. She was a grand vessel, carrying passengers on glamorous transatlantic crossings between Italy and the Caribbean. Her decks, lounges, and swimming pools were the scene of countless idyllic holidays before her career was cut tragically short.

The liner's final chapter was written in the waters of Grenada in 1961. An explosion and subsequent fire broke out while she was anchored, creating a raging inferno that could not be contained. The ship was evacuated in a dramatic rescue effort by local Grenadians, an act of heroism still remembered on the island. After burning for two days, the majestic ship sank, creating what would become one of the world's most famous wreck dives.

Diving the Bianca C is an experience of immense scale. Resting in 30 to 50 meters of water, this is a dive reserved for those with advanced training. Divers descending onto the wreck are met with a colossal structure that seems to stretch endlessly across the seafloor. Exploring the intact bow section, peering into the now-empty swimming pools, and drifting along her massive hull offers a profound connection to the dramatic last moments of this Caribbean Titanic.

Marine Protected Area: Grand Anse

Best Time to Dive in Southwest Coast

The warmest water temperatures in Southwest Coast occur in January, averaging 27.4°C. The coolest conditions are in December at 27.4°C.

Monthly Water Temperatures

  • January: 27.4°C (air: 25.9°C)
  • February: 27.4°C (air: 26.0°C)
  • March: 27.4°C (air: 26.2°C)
  • April: 27.4°C (air: 26.9°C)
  • May: 27.4°C (air: 27.5°C)
  • June: 27.4°C (air: 27.3°C)
  • July: 27.4°C (air: 27.2°C)
  • August: 27.4°C (air: 27.6°C)
  • September: 27.4°C (air: 28.3°C)
  • October: 27.4°C (air: 28.0°C)
  • November: 27.4°C (air: 27.1°C)
  • December: 27.4°C (air: 26.5°C)

Nearby Dive Sites in Southwest Coast

Nearest Dive Centres to Bianca C Wreck

Marine Life in Southwest Coast

Home to 267 recorded species including 231 reef fish, 13 hard corals, 10 whales & dolphins, 3 seagrass & algae, 2 jellyfish, 2 sea snails & nudibranchs.

Notable Species

Recommended Packing List for Bianca C Wreck

Based on average water temperature of 27.4°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