PADEREWSKI - Tobago
The Paderewski is less a wreck dive and more a deep exploration into history. We're talking 44 metres here, so this one's for the technical crowd, those comfortable with deeper dives and the necessary decompression. Sunk by a German U-boat in 1942, this steamship met a dramatic end carrying a cargo that included rubber, mahogany, and oil. The wreck itself is largely broken up, spread across the seabed, which means you're not swimming through intact corridors, but rather navigating a debris field. That scattered nature, though, is what makes it so fascinating. You'll find huge sections of hull plating, twisted metal, and the ghostly outline of what was once a substantial vessel. It’s not about penetration; it’s about piecing together the story from the remnants. We love poking around, imagining the torpedo strike, and picturing the cargo now lost to the deep. Groupers often lurk in the larger sections, and we’ve seen barracuda hanging in the gloom above the structure. It’s a somber, impressive dive that really connects you to the wartime past of the Caribbean. Plan your gas carefully; this isn't a site to rush.
- Location
- Tobago, Trinidad & Tobago, Caribbean
- Coordinates
- 10.983334, -60.650000
- Type
- wreck
- Maximum Depth
- 44m
Marine Protected Area: Buccoo Reef
Best Time to Dive in Tobago
The warmest water temperatures in Tobago occur in January, averaging 28.1°C. The coolest conditions are in December at 28.1°C.
Monthly Water Temperatures
- January: 28.1°C (air: 24.4°C)
- February: 28.1°C (air: 24.3°C)
- March: 28.1°C (air: 24.6°C)
- April: 28.1°C (air: 25.1°C)
- May: 28.1°C (air: 25.6°C)
- June: 28.1°C (air: 25.4°C)
- July: 28.1°C (air: 25.4°C)
- August: 28.1°C (air: 25.8°C)
- September: 28.1°C (air: 26.5°C)
- October: 28.1°C (air: 26.1°C)
- November: 28.1°C (air: 25.3°C)
- December: 28.1°C (air: 24.8°C)
Nearby Dive Sites in Tobago
- ADVENTURER 1 (POSSIBLY) - 5m (wreck)
- AGHIA ANASTASIA - 36m (wreck)
- ATHELBRAE - 6m (wreck)
- BALABAC - 3m (wreck)
- BALTIC RESCUER - 7m (wreck)
- BCSL ENDEAVOUR - 26m (wreck)
- BEER CAT - 7m (wreck)
- BIRD OF PARADISE - 5m (wreck)
- Black Jack Hole (reef)
- Black Jack Hole (wall)
- BONANZA - 0m (wreck)
- CAPTAIN HOWARD - 22m (wreck)
- CITY OF CORINTH - 34m (wreck)
- COROMOTO I - 25m (wreck)
- DAMIEN - 3m (wreck)
Nearest Dive Centres to PADEREWSKI
- Dive Shop
- Tobago Dive Experience - ["PADI"]
Marine Life in Tobago
Home to 344 recorded species including 323 reef fish, 5 other, 4 whales & dolphins, 4 sharks & rays, 2 hard corals, 2 sea snails & nudibranchs.
Notable Species
- Goldspot Goby (Gnatholepis thompsoni) - Reef Fish
- Molly Miller (Labrisomus nuchipinnis) - Reef Fish
- Hamlet (Gymnothorax moringa) - Reef Fish
- Spinyhead Blenny (Acanthemblemaria spinosa) - Reef Fish
- Barber (Acanthurus bahianus) - Reef Fish
- Parrotfish (Thalassoma bifasciatum) - Reef Fish
- Saddled Blenny (Malacoctenus triangulatus) - Reef Fish
- Slippery Dick (Halichoeres bivittatus) - Reef Fish
- Harlequin Bass (Serranus tigrinus) - Reef Fish
- Flamefish (Apogon maculatus) - Reef Fish
- Cook (Holocentrus adscensionis) - Reef Fish
- Yellowhead Wrasse (Halichoeres garnoti) - Reef Fish
- French grunt (Haemulon flavolineatum) - Reef Fish
- Gutong (Sparisoma aurofrenatum) - Reef Fish
- Devilfish (Ophioblennius atlanticus) - Reef Fish
- Dusky Cardinalfish (Phaeoptyx pigmentaria) - Reef Fish
- Conklin's cardinalfish (Phaeoptyx conklini) - Reef Fish
- Rusty Goby (Priolepis hipoliti) - Reef Fish
- Colon Goby (Coryphopterus dicrus) - Reef Fish
- Clown Wrasse (Halichoeres maculipinna) - Reef Fish
Recommended Packing List for PADEREWSKI
Based on average water temperature of 28.1°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