Cartanser Sr. Wreck - St. Thomas & St. John

The Cartanser Sr. Wreck sits right in Charlotte Amalie harbour, which means it’s an easy boat ride out. We love this site for its accessibility and how much the wreck has given back to the local ecosystem. Dropping down to about 18 metres, you’ll quickly make out the freighter, broken into two main sections. What makes it a standout for us is the way the ship has transformed. The hold is open, letting you swim through and observe schools of Brown Chromis darting in and out of the shadows. Look for the resident Broom-tail Filefish, often seen camouflaged against the rust-coloured metal, or the Yellowhead Wrasse diligently picking through the crevices. We’ve spotted Spotted Trunkfish here more than once, just hanging out near the broken superstructure. It's a fantastic spot for newer divers to get a feel for wreck penetration without any serious overhead environments. The light penetration is excellent, illuminating the entire wreck and the fish life around it.

Location: St. Thomas & St. John, US Virgin Islands, Caribbean
Coordinates: 18.330000, -64.930000
Type: wreck
Maximum Depth: 10-18m
Difficulty: Beginner

Marine Protected Area: Cas Cay-Mangrove Lagoon Marine Reserve & Wildlife Sanctuary

Best Time to Dive in St. Thomas & St. John

The warmest water temperatures in St. Thomas & St. John occur in January, averaging 27.1°C. The coolest conditions are in December at 27.1°C.

Monthly Water Temperatures

January: 27.1°C (air: 25.0°C)
February: 27.1°C (air: 24.6°C)
March: 27.1°C (air: 24.7°C)
April: 27.1°C (air: 25.2°C)
May: 27.1°C (air: 26.3°C)
June: 27.1°C (air: 27.0°C)
July: 27.1°C (air: 27.3°C)
August: 27.1°C (air: 27.5°C)
September: 27.1°C (air: 27.7°C)
October: 27.1°C (air: 27.5°C)
November: 27.1°C (air: 26.6°C)
December: 27.1°C (air: 25.8°C)

Nearest Dive Centres to Cartanser Sr. Wreck

Marine Life in St. Thomas & St. John

Home to 488 recorded species including 390 reef fish, 39 hard corals, 14 sharks & rays, 11 other, 7 whales & dolphins, 6 seagrass & algae.

Notable Species

Mustard hill coral (Porites astreoides) - Hard Corals
Massive Starlet Coral (Siderastrea siderea) - Hard Corals
Gutong (Sparisoma aurofrenatum) - Reef Fish
Parrotfish (Thalassoma bifasciatum) - Reef Fish
Great star coral (Montastraea cavernosa) - Hard Corals
Yellowhead Wrasse (Halichoeres garnoti) - Reef Fish
Blue Doctor (Acanthurus coeruleus) - Reef Fish
Finger Coral (Porites porites) - Hard Corals
Gutong (Scarus iseri) - Reef Fish
Barber (Acanthurus bahianus) - Reef Fish
Lettuce Coral (Agaricia agaricites) - Hard Corals
Bicolor Damselfish (Stegastes partitus) - Reef Fish
Dark Green Parrotfish (Sparisoma viride) - Reef Fish
Sammy Johnson (Scarus taeniopterus) - Reef Fish
French grunt (Haemulon flavolineatum) - Reef Fish
Sharpnose Pufferfish (Canthigaster rostrata) - Reef Fish
Butterfly (Chaetodon capistratus) - Reef Fish
Longspine Squirrelfish (Holocentrus rufus) - Reef Fish
Cola (Ocyurus chrysurus) - Reef Fish
Barred Hamlet (Hypoplectrus puella) - Reef Fish

Recommended Packing List for Cartanser Sr. Wreck

Based on average water temperature of 27.1°C.

Shorty or Rashguard - warm 27°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