Bimini · Bahamas · Wreck
Bimini Barge
A 60 m barge upright on sand at the Gulf Stream's edge
Area photo: mattk1979 · CC BY-SA 2.0
The Bimini Barge is a wreck of over 60 m sitting upright on a sandy bottom at 29 m, almost on the very edge of the Gulf Stream. Depths start at 23 m and currents are variable and can be strong, so advanced certification is recommended. The flow is also what brings schools of permit and African pompano, passing sharks and southern stingrays onto the hull.
Where it is and how deep
25.7361° N, 79.3328° WPublished position for this site.
The dive
The wreck lies on the edge of a drop-off, upright on a sandy bottom, with the structure starting at about 23 metres and the sand at 29. At over 60 metres long it is more than a single dive can cover properly at that depth, so plan one pass along the hull and a return over the top of it, keeping an eye on gas and no-decompression time throughout.
Current is the defining factor. It varies and can be strong, and it is also what makes the dive worth doing, drawing pelagic fish in over the wreck. Schools of permit and African pompano hang above the structure, sharks pass through, and the hull is often engulfed in fish. Nurse sharks and southern stingrays rest under or near the hull.
The wreck
- Vessel
- Bimini Barge
- Type
- Barge
- Length
- 60 m (197 ft)
- Cause
- Not recorded in published accounts of the site.
- Lies
- Upright on a sandy bottom at 29 m, almost on the very edge of the Gulf Stream.
Marine life and season
- Trevally & jacks
- Stingrays
| Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Prime | Prime | Prime | Good | Good | Fair | Fair | Fair | Fair | Fair | Good | Good |
Season follows Bimini: Great hammerheads are most consistent December–March; September–October bring peak hurricane risk to the northern Bahamas.
Know before you go
- Currents are variable and can be strong on the edge of the drop-off; get down to the wreck without hanging about and plan for the dive to finish away from it.
- Depths of 23 to 29 m leave short no-decompression limits on a wreck long enough that it is easy to run down gas before covering it.
Questions divers ask
How deep is the Bimini Barge?+
The wreck rests upright on sand at 29 metres, with the structure starting from about 23 metres. Advanced certification is recommended because of the depth and the current on the drop-off.
Sources
- Bimini Barge (Wreck) — Scubago
- Diving sites Bahamas Bimini — Dive The World
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