Virgo - Fernando de Noronha

The Adolphus Busch wreck, sitting upright in around 35 metres, is our pick for a deeper wreck dive in the Keys, especially if you've already ticked off Spiegel Grove. What we really love is how the current usually gives it a good wash, often making the visibility surprising. Dropping down, the first thing you notice is how intact it still feels. You can swim through the cargo holds, poke around the wheelhouse, and imagine it underway. We’ve had some fantastic encounters here, often with goliath groupers hanging out in the darker corners, big barracuda patrolling the deck, and schools of permit swirling around the bow. It’s a great dive for someone comfortable with a bit of depth and current, looking for a proper wreck with plenty to explore and some impressive resident fish. Head out early if you can, before the crowds arrive.

Location
Fernando de Noronha, Brazil, South America
Coordinates
-8.079400, -34.668700
Type
wreck

Wreck History - Virgo

Year Sunk
1998
Vessel Type
cargo ship
Cause
scuttled

The Adolphus Busch is one of the premier artificial reef dive sites in the Florida Keys, with a fascinating history that spans multiple continents and names. The vessel began its life in 1950 as the cargo ship MV London, built in Fife, Scotland. For nearly five decades, she sailed the world's oceans under various flags and names, including London, Gale, Topsail Star, and finally, Ocean Alley. Her long career came to an abrupt end in 1998 when she was wrecked during a storm in Port-au-Prince, Haiti.

Rather than being scrapped, the ship was given a new purpose. She was purchased by August Adolphus Busch IV of the Anheuser-Busch beer dynasty and renamed in honor of his great-grandfather. In a massive undertaking, the ship was thoroughly cleaned and stripped of all potential hazards to the marine environment. On December 5, 1998, she was carefully and intentionally sunk in the clear waters off Looe Key, beginning her second life as an underwater ecosystem.

Sitting perfectly upright on the sand, the 240-foot Adolphus Busch is a spectacular dive. Her large cargo holds are open for exploration, and the intact superstructure, bridge, and engine room provide an exciting playground for certified wreck divers. In the years since her sinking, she has been colonized by a vast array of marine life, including massive goliath groupers, moray eels, and swirling schools of fish, making her a must-do dive for anyone visiting the Florida Keys.

Marine Protected Area: Área De Relevante Interesse Ecológico Orla Marítima

Best Time to Dive in Fernando de Noronha

The warmest water temperatures in Fernando de Noronha occur in April, averaging 29.1°C. The coolest conditions are in September at 26.9°C.

Monthly Water Temperatures

  • January: 28.1°C
  • February: 28.6°C
  • March: 28.9°C
  • April: 29.1°C
  • May: 28.7°C
  • June: 28.2°C
  • July: 27.4°C
  • August: 27.0°C
  • September: 26.9°C
  • October: 27.1°C
  • November: 27.6°C
  • December: 27.9°C

Nearby Dive Sites in Fernando de Noronha

Nearest Dive Centres to Virgo

Marine Life in Fernando de Noronha

Home to 45 recorded species including 42 reef fish, 1 seagrass & algae, 1 hard corals, 1 other.

Notable Species

Recommended Packing List for Virgo

Based on average water temperature of 28.0°C, currents 29 cm/s.

  • Shorty or Rashguard - warm 28°C water needs minimal exposure protection
  • Mask - essential for every dive
  • Fins (stiff blade recommended for strong currents)
  • 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