BRIDGET CAROLINE - Al Hoceima
The Bridget Caroline is one of those wrecks we keep coming back to in Al Hoceima. It’s a proper time capsule, a yacht that went down back in 1966. What’s special is how shallow it sits, just six metres, making it an ideal spot for extended dives, or even a snorkel if you’re so inclined. You can practically spend the whole dive just slowly finning around the hull, really taking in the details. We love exploring the remnants of the deck, imagining what life was like on board before she sank. Over the decades, the wreck has become a home for so much local life. You’ll find schools of damselfish flitting through the old cabin structures, and octopus often tuck themselves into the nooks and crannies. Keep an eye out for nudibranchs, too; the hull plates are a great place to spot them grazing. Our favourite tip is to hit this site around mid-morning. The light penetration at that depth is incredible, really bringing out the colours of the algae and the fish. It’s a gentle dive, perfect for newer wreck enthusiasts or anyone looking for a relaxed exploration with a bit of history.
- Location
- Al Hoceima, Morocco, Mediterranean & Europe
- Coordinates
- 36.702137, -4.427445
- Type
- wreck
- Maximum Depth
- 6m
Wreck History - BRIDGET CAROLINE
- Year Sunk
- 1966
- Vessel Type
- yacht
- Cause
- unknown
The story behind the wreck of the Bridget Caroline is a mystery. Little is known about this yacht other than the date she was lost-May 25, 1966-and her location off Al Hoceima on Morocco's Mediterranean coast. What caused her to sink remains undocumented, leaving her tale to the imagination of the divers who visit her today. Her official classification as a 'Dangerous Wreck' adds to the intrigue, suggesting she may be in a high-traffic area or possess sharp, unstable wreckage.
Lying in just 6 meters of water, the Bridget Caroline is a highly accessible dive site, perfect for novice divers, training dives, or even snorkelers on a calm day. The shallow depth ensures fantastic light and long bottom times, allowing for a thorough exploration of what remains. The wreck is broken up, but its remains have created a small but vibrant reef, attracting octopus, moray eels, and schools of colorful reef fish. It's a dive that combines the beauty of Mediterranean marine life with the quiet mystery of a forgotten vessel.
Best Time to Dive in Al Hoceima
The warmest water temperatures in Al Hoceima occur in January, averaging 16.4°C. The coolest conditions are in December at 16.4°C.
Monthly Water Temperatures
- January: 16.4°C (air: 13.6°C)
- February: 16.4°C (air: 14.8°C)
- March: 16.4°C (air: 15.7°C)
- April: 16.4°C (air: 17.3°C)
- May: 16.4°C (air: 19.9°C)
- June: 16.4°C (air: 22.5°C)
- July: 16.4°C (air: 25.8°C)
- August: 16.4°C (air: 26.3°C)
- September: 16.4°C (air: 23.9°C)
- October: 16.4°C (air: 20.9°C)
- November: 16.4°C (air: 17.6°C)
- December: 16.4°C (air: 15.2°C)
Nearby Dive Sites in Al Hoceima
- ALECOS - 10m (wreck)
- ALEX - 17m (wreck)
- ALFREDO - 6m (wreck)
- ALGIBE A3 - 30m (wreck)
- ALTONA - 2m (wreck)
- ARALAR - 3m (wreck)
- ARANDA CHICO - 2m (wreck)
- ARRAYA MENDI - 15m (wreck)
- Arrecife del Cañaveral (reef)
- ARUNDALE - 1m (wreck)
- ASTENE III - 14m (wreck)
- BADALONA - 1m (wreck)
- BLACKHEATH - 6m (wreck)
- Cala Iris - 5-20m
- Cala Iza - 12m
Nearest Dive Centres to BRIDGET CAROLINE
- Abysub - ["PADI"]
- Almunecar Dive Center - ["PADI"]
- Black Frog Divers - ["PADI"]
- BUCEO ALGECIRAS
- Buceo Almunecar - SSI
- BUCEO AQUALIA - SSI, UTD
Marine Life in Al Hoceima
Home to 143 recorded species including 96 reef fish, 11 octopus & squid, 10 sharks & rays, 9 whales & dolphins, 3 crabs & lobsters, 2 other.
Notable Species
- loggerhead turtle (Caretta caretta)
- Blue-white Dolphin (Stenella coeruleoalba) - Whales & Dolphins
- Short-beaked Common Dolphin (Delphinus delphis) - Whales & Dolphins
- Blackfish (Globicephala melas) - Whales & Dolphins
- Blackmouth catshark (Galeus melastomus) - Sharks & Rays
- Cowfish (Tursiops truncatus) - Whales & Dolphins
- Pink (Hoplostethus mediterraneus) - Reef Fish
- Velvet belly lantern shark (Etmopterus spinax) - Sharks & Rays
- Common Atlantic Grenadier (Nezumia aequalis) - Reef Fish
- Jac (Helicolenus dactylopterus) - Reef Fish
- Lanternfish (Lampanyctus crocodilus) - Reef Fish
- Boa Dragonfish (Stomias boa) - Reef Fish
- European flying squid (Todarodes sagittatus) - Octopus & Squid
- Rabbitfish (Chimaera monstrosa)
- Axefish (Argyropelecus hemigymnus) - Reef Fish
- Roughnosed Rattail (Trachyrincus scabrus) - Reef Fish
- conger (Conger conger) - Reef Fish
- Gunner (Pagellus bogaraveo) - Reef Fish
- Spotted Lanternfish (Myctophum punctatum) - Reef Fish
- Blackspot Grenadier (Coelorinchus caelorhincus) - Reef Fish
Recommended Packing List for BRIDGET CAROLINE
Based on average water temperature of 16.4°C.
- Wetsuit (5-7mm) - recommended for 16°C water
- Hood & Gloves (3-5mm) - helps retain warmth
- 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