Curaçao · Curaçao · Wreck
Superior Producer
A 50 m freighter upright at the harbour mouth, dived from shore
Area photo: LASZLO ILYES · CC BY 2.0
A 50-metre Dutch freighter that capsized near the entrance of St. Anna Bay in 1977 and now sits upright with her seabed at 30 metres and her shallowest structure at 22. She lies a few hundred metres off the shoreline by the Willemstad harbour channel, so a 30-metre wreck is reachable without a boat.
Also known as MV Superior Producer.
Where it is and how deep
12.1044° N, 68.9418° WApproximate position — the dashed circle shows where the site lies; your operator's briefing has the mooring.
The dive
The wreck lies next to Double Reef, a few hundred metres off the shoreline by the entrance to Willemstad's harbour channel, which is what makes a 30-metre wreck dive possible from a shore entry here. Current is generally mild to moderate but can run stronger close to the wreck because of the harbour mouth, so the swim out and the descent are planned around it.
You meet the shallowest structure at about 22 metres and can work down to the seabed at 30, with the ship sitting upright the whole way. Corals and sponges have taken over the hull and deck, and the wreck holds fish in numbers: tarpon, jacks, barracuda and grunts in schools, with parrotfish, angelfish, butterflyfish and triggerfish over the plating.
Depth is the constraint on everything. Advanced Open Water or equivalent is the stated requirement because the profile sits beyond Open Water limits, and bottom time is short — one pass along the length and a look at the superstructure is a realistic plan for a single tank. Visibility is 20 to 30 metres on most days, so the shape of the ship reads from a distance.
The wreck
- Vessel
- MV Superior Producer
- Type
- Dutch cargo freighter
- Length
- 50 m (164 ft)
- Sunk
- 1977
- Cause
- Cargo shifted after leaving port, the ship listed heavily and capsized within minutes
- Lies
- Upright, seabed at 30 m and shallowest structure at about 22 m
The Superior Producer was a 50-metre Dutch freighter that sank in 1977 near the entrance of St. Anna Bay. Her cargo shifted, the ship listed heavily, and within minutes she capsized and went down, coming to rest upright beside Double Reef in front of Willemstad. DivePhotoGuide counts her among the best wreck dives in the Caribbean, with the caveat that the depth keeps her to advanced divers.
Marine life and season
- Barracuda
- Trevally & jacks
- Reef fish swarms
| Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Fair | Fair | Good | Good | Good | Good | Good | Good | Good | Fair | Fair | Fair |
Season follows Curaçao: Diving runs all year; October to February is the rainy season, and May to November brings warmer water and fewer crowds.
Know before you go
- Current is mild to moderate but strengthens near the wreck because of the harbour entrance — start the swim out against it and keep a reference on the descent.
- At 22 to 30 m the no-decompression time is short: fix a turn pressure and a bottom time before entry rather than deciding on the wreck.
- The site closes when cruise ships or other vessels are moored at Mega Pier 1 and 2; diving there anyway puts you in a working ship channel.
Dive videos
Diving Superior Producer - Curaçao | The Shore Dive Collection · TropicLens on YouTube
Superior Producer Complete Tour | Wreck Diving in Curaçao · Snapping Moray Media on YouTube
MV Superior Producer, Wreck Dive in Curacao · Sailing Soundwaves on YouTube
Questions divers ask
How deep is the Superior Producer?+
The seabed is at 30 metres and the shallowest part of the wreck at about 22, which puts the whole dive beyond Open Water limits. Advanced Open Water or equivalent is the stated requirement.
Can you dive the Superior Producer from shore?+
Yes — the wreck is a few hundred metres from the shoreline near the harbour channel. Diving is not permitted when cruise ships or other vessels are moored at Mega Pier 1 and 2.
Sources
- MV Superior Producer Dive Site — Dive Curaçao (divecuracao.info)
- An Underwater Photographer's Guide to Curaçao — DivePhotoGuide
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A freighter on her side at 30 metres, reached from the road