DALHIA - Saint-Pierre
DivePlnr Opinion: Dalhia, off Saint-Pierre, is one of those wrecks that really tells a story. We’re talking about a steamship sunk by the eruption of Mont Pelée in 1902, and you can still feel that history down there. She rests upright, mostly intact at 25m, and even if you don't penetrate, there's plenty to explore externally. Our favourite part is the bow, where the anchor chain still drapes dramatically. The main deck is now a highway for schooling snapper and jacks. Look into the cargo holds, and you’ll often spot massive green moray eels tucked away, their heads peering out. The structure itself, encrusted with sponge and hard corals, feels like a living reef now, a testament to time and nature reclaiming its own. We’d suggest a morning dive; the light filtering through the clear Caribbean water really illuminates the wreck's scale. It’s a dive for those who appreciate history as much as marine life, best suited for experienced wreck divers comfortable with open water. While it’s classed as dangerous, we find it’s more about respecting its age and avoiding penetration unless properly trained.
- Location
- Saint-Pierre, Martinique, Caribbean
- Coordinates
- 14.741117, -61.178600
- Type
- wreck
- Maximum Depth
- 25m
Marine Protected Area: Marine Du Prêcheur - Albert Falco
Best Time to Dive in Saint-Pierre
The warmest water temperatures in Saint-Pierre 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: 25.2°C)
- February: 27.4°C (air: 25.2°C)
- March: 27.4°C (air: 25.5°C)
- April: 27.4°C (air: 26.6°C)
- May: 27.4°C (air: 27.6°C)
- June: 27.4°C (air: 27.7°C)
- July: 27.4°C (air: 27.4°C)
- August: 27.4°C (air: 27.8°C)
- September: 27.4°C (air: 28.1°C)
- October: 27.4°C (air: 27.7°C)
- November: 27.4°C (air: 26.8°C)
- December: 27.4°C (air: 25.8°C)
Nearby Dive Sites in Saint-Pierre
- Canyons de Babodie - 15-30m (wall)
- Club de plongée de Fond Capot
- Le Dahlia - 10-30m (wreck)
- Le Roraima (wreck)
- Nahoon Wreck - 20-35m (wreck)
- Raisinier - 8-20m (reef)
- Roraima Wreck - 30-50m (wreck)
- ROSE MILLICENT - 50m (wreck)
- Site de Plongée La Perle
- TURTLE DOVE (PROBABLY) - 30m (wreck)
- WESTERN STAR - 15m (wreck)
Nearest Dive Centres to DALHIA
Marine Life in Saint-Pierre
Home to 319 recorded species including 281 reef fish, 17 whales & dolphins, 7 sharks & rays, 3 sea urchins, 2 other, 2 sea snails & nudibranchs.
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
- Porcupine (Diodon holocanthus) - Reef Fish
- Barber (Acanthurus bahianus) - Reef Fish
- Gutong (Scarus iseri) - Reef Fish
- Bastard soldierfish (Myripristis jacobus) - Reef Fish
- Atlantic Bumper (Chloroscombrus chrysurus) - Reef Fish
- Puffer (Sphoeroides spengleri) - Reef Fish
- Cuvier's Beaked Whale (Ziphius cavirostris) - Whales & Dolphins
- Kingston (Decapterus macarellus) - Reef Fish
- Graysby (Cephalopholis cruentata) - Reef Fish
- Dark Green Parrotfish (Sparisoma viride) - Reef Fish
- Balao (Hemiramphus balao) - Reef Fish
- Spotted Goatfish (Pseudupeneus maculatus) - Reef Fish
- Ballyhoo (Hemiramphus brasiliensis) - Reef Fish
- Goldspot Goby (Gnatholepis thompsoni) - Reef Fish
- Grunt (Haemulon plumierii) - Reef Fish
- Blueman (Scarus vetula) - Reef Fish
Recommended Packing List for DALHIA
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