WAUWINET - Soufriere & The Pitons

The Wauwinet wreck holds a certain mystique for us. She’s a big girl, an 84-meter motor vessel, and she met her end in 1981 after hitting another wreck, the Witshoal II, which is quite the maritime coincidence. We love how the reef has truly reclaimed her, turning the ship into an artificial reef that’s now home to so many creatures. Dropping down, the sheer scale of the Wauwinet is impressive. Her bow section is often our favourite part to explore, with schools of jacks circling overhead and barracuda hanging motionless in the slight current. We’ve found her wheelhouse offers some intriguing swim-throughs, but always check your buoyancy – silt can be an issue inside. Keep an eye out for a grumpy moray eel we often see peeking from a pipe near the stern. The wreck bottoms out around 30 meters, so it’s a good one for advanced divers keen on getting a decent bottom time on a substantial piece of history. Visibility averages around 20 meters, but we’d suggest going in the morning before any afternoon chop stirs things up too much. It’s a dive that rewards slow exploration.

Location: Soufriere & The Pitons, St. Lucia, Caribbean
Coordinates: 13.704750, -60.948334
Type: wreck
Maximum Depth: 30m

Marine Protected Area: Moule a Chique

Best Time to Dive in Soufriere & The Pitons

The warmest water temperatures in Soufriere & The Pitons occur in January, averaging 27.7°C. The coolest conditions are in December at 27.7°C.

Monthly Water Temperatures

January: 27.7°C (air: 23.3°C)
February: 27.7°C (air: 23.4°C)
March: 27.7°C (air: 23.7°C)
April: 27.7°C (air: 24.5°C)
May: 27.7°C (air: 25.3°C)
June: 27.7°C (air: 25.3°C)
July: 27.7°C (air: 25.1°C)
August: 27.7°C (air: 25.4°C)
September: 27.7°C (air: 25.7°C)
October: 27.7°C (air: 25.4°C)
November: 27.7°C (air: 24.6°C)
December: 27.7°C (air: 23.9°C)

Nearest Dive Centres to WAUWINET

Anse Chastanet Scuba St Lucia - ["PADI"]

Marine Life in Soufriere & The Pitons

Home to 255 recorded species including 228 reef fish, 9 whales & dolphins, 6 sharks & rays, 4 seagrass & algae, 3 sea snails & nudibranchs, 1 sea urchins.

Notable Species

Greater Soapfish (Rypticus saponaceus) - Reef Fish
Barber (Acanthurus bahianus) - Reef Fish
Flamefish (Apogon maculatus) - Reef Fish
Lawyer (Halichoeres radiatus) - Reef Fish
Devilfish (Ophioblennius atlanticus) - Reef Fish
Cook (Holocentrus adscensionis) - Reef Fish
Pacific Spotted Scorpionfish (Scorpaena plumieri) - Reef Fish
Clown Wrasse (Halichoeres maculipinna) - Reef Fish
Spotted Soapfish (Rypticus subbifrenatus) - Reef Fish
Jack (Epinephelus adscensionis) - Reef Fish
Hamlet (Gymnothorax moringa) - Reef Fish
Yellowtail Parrotfish (Sparisoma rubripinne) - Reef Fish
Bastard soldierfish (Myripristis jacobus) - Reef Fish
Species code: Hs (Halophila stipulacea) - Seagrass & Algae
Angelfish (Holacanthus tricolor) - Reef Fish
French grunt (Haemulon flavolineatum) - Reef Fish
Parrotfish (Thalassoma bifasciatum) - Reef Fish
Dusky Damselfish (Stegastes adustus) - Reef Fish
Blue Doctor (Acanthurus coeruleus) - Reef Fish
Pearl Blenny (Entomacrodus nigricans) - Reef Fish

Recommended Packing List for WAUWINET

Based on average water temperature of 27.7°C.

Shorty or Rashguard - warm 28°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