SS Stavronikita

The Stav is the most well-known wreck in Barbadian seas. She was a 365-foot Greek freighter constructed in Denmark in 1956 and named Ohio at the time. On August 26, 1976, the vessel caught fire while on its way from Ireland to the Caribbean with a load of 101,000 bags of cement, killing six crew members and wounding three more. Following the fire, an explosion damaged all of the ship's communication equipment, making it impossible for the trapped crew to contact for assistance. Twenty-four crew members drifted for four days in the open sea before being rescued. After that, the Stavronikita was towed to Barbados.

The SS Stavronikita, considered by many to be the greatest wreck dive in Barbados, has been lying upright between 35 and 9 meters (114-29ft) off Barbados' west coast since 1976. The Greek ship caught fire in the early 1970s and sank in Barbados' warm seas after being saved. The wreck is good for divers of all abilities due to the depth changes. It is also permeable, however, divers need to have specific training before attempting this.

Things to see: The wreckage is a well-established artificial reef that has been coated with coral and life after thirty years beneath the surface. Be on the lookout for giant gorgonian fans, barracuda, and turtles.