wreck

Log This Dive

TROPIC TRADER

The Tropic Trader is an old freighter, sunk way back in 1968, so it’s had plenty of time to really settle into its role as an artificial reef. You’ll find it quite close to shore on Ambergris Caye, usually a pretty mellow ride out. What we love about this wreck is how much it feels like a genuine, accidental sinking – not one of those perfectly placed, cleaned-out vessels. The bow sits up in shallower water, maybe 10 meters, so you get good light, but the stern drops down to around 20 meters, giving it a nice depth range. Cruising over the decks, we often see large schools of snapper milling about, sometimes so thick you have to swim through them. Keep an eye out for resident green morays tucked into various nooks and crannies – they’re almost always around. Our favorite part is exploring the cargo holds, which are now completely open to the sea, letting light stream in and creating cool swim-throughs where nurse sharks sometimes snooze. It’s a fantastic site for anyone who enjoys a bit of history with their reef, and it's forgiving enough for newer wreck divers while still offering plenty to poke around for the more experienced. The current can pick up a bit, especially on outgoing tides, so time it right for a more relaxed exploration.