New Moon - St. Vincent
The Rainbow Warrior holds a special place, not just for its history, but for the sheer volume of life it now supports. Sunk intentionally in 1987, the ex-Greenpeace flagship sits on sand at 25m, just a short boat ride from Matauri Bay. Drop down onto the wreck and you immediately notice the jewel anemones, a vibrant purple and orange carpet clinging to the metal. We’ve spent whole dives just watching the schools of two-spotted demoiselles flitting around the mast, so thick they almost obscure the sun. The visibility averages 15m, which is plenty to take in the sheer scale of the ship. We often find rig and snapper cruising the decks, and if you look closely, especially in the darker corners, you’ll spot crayfish tucked into crevices. This site really comes alive when there’s a gentle current, bringing in the plankton that attracts larger fish. It's a dive that offers a unique blend of poignant history and thriving marine ecosystems, perfect for those who appreciate both wreck penetration and abundant fish life.
- Location
- St. Vincent, St. Vincent & the Grenadines, Caribbean
- Coordinates
- 12.991600, -61.281800
- Type
- reef
Marine Protected Area: Big Cay Wildlife Reserve
Best Time to Dive in St. Vincent
The warmest water temperatures in St. Vincent occur in January, averaging 27.8°C. The coolest conditions are in December at 27.8°C.
Monthly Water Temperatures
- January: 27.8°C (air: 25.7°C)
- February: 27.8°C (air: 25.8°C)
- March: 27.8°C (air: 26.1°C)
- April: 27.8°C (air: 26.8°C)
- May: 27.8°C (air: 27.5°C)
- June: 27.8°C (air: 27.4°C)
- July: 27.8°C (air: 27.3°C)
- August: 27.8°C (air: 27.6°C)
- September: 27.8°C (air: 28.2°C)
- October: 27.8°C (air: 27.9°C)
- November: 27.8°C (air: 27.0°C)
- December: 27.8°C (air: 26.4°C)
Nearby Dive Sites in St. Vincent
- Almond Tree (cenote)
- Almond Tree (drift)
- Anchor Reef - 5-18m (reef)
- Bequia Head (drift)
- Bequia Head (drift)
- BOSCO - 18m (wreck)
- Brown’s Bay (drift)
- Brown’s Bay (reef)
- Cathedral (wall)
- Coral Nursery (reef)
- Deep Boulders (reef)
- Devil's Table + dinghy mooring - 10-25m (pinnacle)
- ELIZABETH BOYE - 15m (wreck)
- Flat Rock (cave)
- LADY ANGELA - 0m (wreck)
Nearest Dive Centres to New Moon
Marine Life in St. Vincent
Home to 271 recorded species including 237 reef fish, 10 hard corals, 7 whales & dolphins, 4 sea snails & nudibranchs, 3 seagrass & algae, 3 sharks & rays.
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
- Blue Doctor (Acanthurus coeruleus) - Reef Fish
- Coney (Cephalopholis fulva) - Reef Fish
- Blueman (Scarus vetula) - Reef Fish
- Flamefish (Apogon maculatus) - Reef Fish
- Orca (Orcinus orca) - Whales & Dolphins
- Fire coral (Millepora complanata) - Jellyfish
- Hamlet (Gymnothorax moringa) - Reef Fish
- Devilfish (Ophioblennius atlanticus) - Reef Fish
- Slippery Dick (Halichoeres bivittatus) - Reef Fish
- Molly Miller (Labrisomus nuchipinnis) - Reef Fish
- Yellowhead Wrasse (Halichoeres garnoti) - Reef Fish
Recommended Packing List for New Moon
Based on average water temperature of 27.8°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