VIRGINIA - Southwest Coast
The Virginia is a really interesting one, a schooner that went down in '75 after a fire. It’s sitting upright at 23 metres, and while it’s not enormous, it offers a surprisingly good rummage. You can duck into the hold easily, which we always enjoy, especially when you catch a glimmer of light through the old decking. We love how the coral has draped itself over the bow and stern, softening the edges of the old timber. She’s a fantastic spot for photographers, especially early in the morning before any other boats arrive, when the light really plays through the mast sections. Keep an eye out for resident garden eels popping their heads up from the sand nearby, and we’ve often seen big southern stingrays gliding over the seabed in the vicinity. It’s generally a gentle dive, good for newer wreck enthusiasts, and a solid choice for a second dive of the day when you’re not looking for anything too taxing but still want something engaging. The clear Caribbean water here means you often get visibility stretching right across the wreck, making for some great wide-angle shots.
- Location
- Southwest Coast, Grenada, Caribbean
- Coordinates
- 12.033333, -61.783333
- Type
- wreck
- Maximum Depth
- 23m
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
- 1 / 4 Wreck (Stern Courier) (wreck)
- 1 / 4 Wreck (Stern Courier) (reef)
- Anina (Wreck) (drift)
- Anina (Wreck) (wreck)
- BIANCA C - 48m (wreck)
- Bianca C (Wreck) (reef)
- Bianca C (Wreck) (wreck)
- Bianca C Wreck - 30-50m (wreck)
- Black Forest - Grenada (reef)
- Black Forest - Grenada (reef)
- Boss Reef (reef)
- Boss Reef (wreck)
- Boulder City - Grenada (reef)
- Boulder City - Grenada (reef)
- Buccaneer Molinere Bay (Wreck) (wreck)
Nearest Dive Centres to VIRGINIA
- Aquanauts Grenada - SSI, Diveheart
- Dive Grenada
- Sandals La Source - ["PADI"]
- Scuba West Indies - ["PADI"]
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
- Mustard hill coral (Porites astreoides) - Hard Corals
- Finger Coral (Porites porites) - Hard Corals
- Barber (Acanthurus bahianus) - Reef Fish
- Gutong (Sparisoma aurofrenatum) - Reef Fish
- Dark Green Parrotfish (Sparisoma viride) - Reef Fish
- Sheephead (Microspathodon chrysurus) - Reef Fish
- Gutong (Scarus iseri) - Reef Fish
- Sammy Johnson (Scarus taeniopterus) - Reef Fish
- Parrotfish (Thalassoma bifasciatum) - Reef Fish
- Blueman (Scarus vetula) - Reef Fish
- Blue Doctor (Acanthurus coeruleus) - Reef Fish
- Fire coral (Millepora complanata) - Jellyfish
- Hamlet (Gymnothorax moringa) - Reef Fish
- Coney (Cephalopholis fulva) - Reef Fish
- Flamefish (Apogon maculatus) - Reef Fish
- Molly Miller (Labrisomus nuchipinnis) - Reef Fish
- Slippery Dick (Halichoeres bivittatus) - Reef Fish
- Devilfish (Ophioblennius atlanticus) - Reef Fish
- Lawyer (Halichoeres radiatus) - Reef Fish
- Greenblotch Parrotfish (Sparisoma atomarium) - Reef Fish
Recommended Packing List for VIRGINIA
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