wreck

Log This Dive

GARTHPOOL

Garthpool, that big old sailing vessel, is our pick for a unique Boa Vista dive. We love that it’s right there on the beach, its bow often poking out of the waves, a stark reminder of its 1929 demise. Submerged, the hull is now completely colonised, an artificial reef for damselfish and big schools of goatfish that swarm the structure. You’ll feel the surge here, a constant push and pull that reminds you this is an exposed site, but that movement also brings in the nutrients. We often find nurse sharks resting under the larger plates of steel, a common sight on Boa Vista wrecks. If you time it right, a calm day with minimal swell, you can spend a good chunk of your bottom time exploring the nooks and crannies of the bow section, where the light plays through the gaps and throws shadows across the sand. It’s a site that changes with the sea, always something a little different to see.