GRAINTON - St. Thomas & St. John

The *Grain Barge*, or *Grain* as it's often called, is one of those wrecks we keep coming back to. Sitting upright at 30 metres, this old cargo ship feels more like a time capsule than a typical sunken vessel. We love dropping down onto her bow, often finding a tarpon or two lurking in the shadow of the anchor chain. What really sells the *Grain* for us is the penetration. Her cargo holds are wide open, offering easy swim-throughs even for less experienced wreck divers. Inside, the light filters down, illuminating schools of silversides that dart and swirl, creating these incredible, glittering clouds. Look closely in the darker corners and you might spot a nurse shark tucked away. The superstructure has collapsed a bit, but the engine room is still largely intact. We always take a moment there, imagining the crew, and then scanning for the moray eels that often peek out from behind the machinery. It's a proper wreck dive, full of atmosphere and just enough marine life to keep things interesting. Best dived in the morning before the day boats get too busy.

Location: St. Thomas & St. John, US Virgin Islands, Caribbean
Coordinates: 18.279243, -65.002510
Type: wreck
Maximum Depth: 30m

Marine Protected Area: Saba Island

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 GRAINTON

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 GRAINTON

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