TURTLE DOVE (PROBABLY)

Best months: Dec–Apr

Protected Area

Marine Du Prêcheur - Albert Falco

Why dive here

With 314+ marine species recorded in the area - including barracuda, dolphins, dwarf minke whales, humpback whales and nurse sharks - TURTLE DOVE (PROBABLY) offers some of Saint-Pierre's richest wreck diving. Water ranges 27-30°C, warmest August, September, October.

Best timeDec–Apr

WetsuitA 3mm shorty or thin full wetsuit

Marine lifeBarracuda, Dolphins, Dwarf Minke Whales, Humpback Whales and Nurse Sharks · 314+ species recorded

Water27-30°C · warmest August, September, October

CharacterWreck dive · max 30m

StandoutExceptional marine biodiversity

It’s a bit of a mystery, this one, hence the name ‘Turtle Dove (Probably)’. We love a wreck with a backstory, and this 30.5-meter schooner, which went down in front of Precheur back in 1970, certainly has one, even if the exact identity is debated. Dropping down to 30 meters, you hit the bow first, often with a gentle current pushing you along the deck towards the stern. What we really enjoy here is the way the light filters through the remaining structure – it’s a tangible sense of history down there. You can glide into the hold, imagining the cargo it once carried, now home to schools of glassy sweepers that shimmer in the torch beam. Look closely for the resident barracuda, often hanging motionless off the bow, and we’ve spotted plenty of French angelfish picking over the coral growth. It’s a great dive for those who appreciate the quiet dignity of a well-aged wreck, offering enough penetration for interest without being overly complex.