Martinique · Martinique · Wreck
Diamant wreck
The Fort-de-France ferry that sank fleeing the 1902 eruption
Area photo: Waielbi · CC BY-SA 3.0
The Diamant was a 26 m steam ferry that carried passengers between Fort-de-France and Saint-Pierre. On 8 May 1902 she was coming in to the Saint-Pierre pontoon when Mount Pelée erupted; she turned to flee, her boilers burst and she sank at once, and only her cabin boy survived. What is left of the ferry is visited from 20 to 25 m.
Also known as Le Diamant, Diamant steamer.
Where it is and how deep
14.7388° N, 61.1823° WPublished position for this site.
The dive
Only the wooden superstructures and frames of the little steamer remain, and they are explored between 20 and 25 m. It is the shallowest stop of the three wrecks by the pontoon, and the Dahlia lies 50 m away for divers who want a second hull on the same dive.
The wreck
- Vessel
- Diamant
- Type
- Steam ferry
- Length
- 26 m (85 ft)
- Sunk
- 1902
- Cause
- Her boilers burst as she fled the eruption of Mount Pelée
- Lies
- Off the Saint-Pierre pontoon, between 20 and 25 m
Marine life and season
The sources we used don't single out particular species here.
| Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Good | Prime | Prime | Prime | Good | Fair | Fair | Fair | Fair | Fair | Fair | Good |
Season follows Martinique: February to April is the best window; the wet season runs June to November, with cyclone risk in September and October.
Sources
- A Papa D'lo dive club — sites — A Papa D'lo
- Wrecks of Saint-Pierre harbor — Wikipedia
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