Andros · Bahamas · Artificial reef · Wall
The Barge/Coliseum
A wartime barge and a false wall on one dive
A World War 2 shipping barge lying at 18–24 m (60–80 ft) off Andros, now an artificial reef, paired with the Coliseum, a false wall just to its east. The boat anchors at the barge, and the dive follows nearby coral structures out to a sloping false wall above the Tongue of the Ocean.
Also known as The Barge, The Coliseum.
Where it is and how deep
24.7511° N, 77.7600° WApproximate position — the dashed circle shows where the site lies; your operator's briefing has the mooring.
The dive
The boat anchors at the Barge, a World War 2 shipping barge that now lies between 18 and 24 m (60 and 80 ft) as an artificial reef. Its rubble repays a slow search: nudibranchs, eels and lobsters live in it, along with schooling fish, and sharks and rays are part of the barge's resident life too.
From the barge the dive heads east, following the nearby coral structures out to the Coliseum, a false wall. It slopes gradually down to a plateau, and the plateau's edge plunges into the Tongue of the Ocean, an abyss some 1,800 m (6,000 ft) deep. Turtles, rays and sharks pass by on this dive.
Marine life and season
- Nudibranchs
- Sea turtles
- Reef fish swarms
| Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Good | Good | Good | Good | Good | Fair | Fair | Fair | Fair | Fair | Fair | Good |
Season follows Andros: Water runs 23–30 °C through the year; June to November is hurricane season, and dives are planned the night before around the weather.
Know before you go
- The plateau edge drops into the Tongue of the Ocean; divers watch their depth gauge rather than following the wall down.
Dive videos
Wreck dive in the Bahamas! And during a beautiful storm . . . · Small Hope Bay Lodge on YouTube
Sources
- The Barge/Coliseum — Scubago
- Bahamas Wall Diving | Small Hope Bay Lodge Andros Island — Small Hope Bay Lodge
Similar dives elsewhere
Claudia Comte's cactus sculptures leading to a drop-off
Fish schooling in the shade under a working salt pier
Six wrecks gathered in one sheltered bay
A sponge-covered barge, a pipe and a tug on sand at 20 m