HMS PURUNI - Tobago Cays
The HMS Puruni, sitting at a comfortable 9 meters, offers a gentle introduction to wreck diving. She was a trawler, pressed into service during WWI, and found her final resting place off Mayreau’s western point. What we love about the Puruni is her accessibility; no deep dives needed to explore her bones. You’ll find her relatively intact, especially the stern section, with a good chunk of the hull still standing proud from the sand. Swim through the open deck spaces, where schools of glassy sweepers shimmer in the shafts of sunlight. The prop is still there, too, often visited by curious trumpetfish. Look for the resident green moray eel that sometimes pokes its head from a pipe near the bow. We’d suggest going in the morning; the light plays beautifully off the structure, making for some excellent photo opportunities. There’s usually a gentle current, making for an easy drift along the wreck, but it rarely gets troublesome. This site is perfect for newer wreck divers or anyone looking for a relaxed dive with a bit of history.
- Location
- Tobago Cays, St. Vincent & the Grenadines, Caribbean
- Coordinates
- 12.639250, -61.402250
- Type
- wreck
- Maximum Depth
- 9m
Marine Protected Area: Catholic Island Wildlife Reserve
Best Time to Dive in Tobago Cays
The warmest water temperatures in Tobago Cays occur in January, averaging 27.9°C. The coolest conditions are in December at 27.9°C.
Monthly Water Temperatures
- January: 27.9°C (air: 26.2°C)
- February: 27.9°C (air: 26.1°C)
- March: 27.9°C (air: 26.1°C)
- April: 27.9°C (air: 26.7°C)
- May: 27.9°C (air: 27.4°C)
- June: 27.9°C (air: 27.5°C)
- July: 27.9°C (air: 27.6°C)
- August: 27.9°C (air: 27.9°C)
- September: 27.9°C (air: 28.4°C)
- October: 27.9°C (air: 28.3°C)
- November: 27.9°C (air: 27.5°C)
- December: 27.9°C (air: 27.0°C)
Nearby Dive Sites in Tobago Cays
- FEDERAL QUEEN - 50m (wreck)
- Horseshoe Reef - 3-15m (reef)
- Petit Tabac - 5-20m (drift)
Marine Life in Tobago Cays
Home to 256 recorded species including 223 reef fish, 12 hard corals, 8 whales & dolphins, 3 seagrass & algae, 2 sea snails & nudibranchs, 2 sharks & rays.
Notable Species
- Mustard hill coral (Porites astreoides) - Hard Corals
- Finger Coral (Porites porites) - Hard Corals
- Gutong (Sparisoma aurofrenatum) - Reef Fish
- Dark Green Parrotfish (Sparisoma viride) - Reef Fish
- Barber (Acanthurus bahianus) - Reef Fish
- Sheephead (Microspathodon chrysurus) - Reef Fish
- Gutong (Scarus iseri) - Reef Fish
- Sammy Johnson (Scarus taeniopterus) - Reef Fish
- Blue Doctor (Acanthurus coeruleus) - Reef Fish
- Parrotfish (Thalassoma bifasciatum) - Reef Fish
- Blueman (Scarus vetula) - Reef Fish
- Coney (Cephalopholis fulva) - Reef Fish
- Fire coral (Millepora complanata) - Jellyfish
- Flamefish (Apogon maculatus) - Reef Fish
- Hamlet (Gymnothorax moringa) - Reef Fish
- Devilfish (Ophioblennius atlanticus) - Reef Fish
- Greenblotch Parrotfish (Sparisoma atomarium) - Reef Fish
- Yellowhead Wrasse (Halichoeres garnoti) - Reef Fish
- French grunt (Haemulon flavolineatum) - Reef Fish
- Sperm Whale (Physeter macrocephalus) - Whales & Dolphins
Recommended Packing List for HMS PURUNI
Based on average water temperature of 27.9°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