Martinique · Martinique · Wreck
Tamaya wreck
An iron barque on her side at 85 m, the grail of Saint-Pierre diving
Photo: Marc Verstraete · CC BY-SA 4.0
The Tamaya is an iron three-masted barque built in 1862 and sunk in Saint-Pierre bay in the eruption of Mount Pelée on 8 May 1902. She lies on her starboard side between 78 and 85 m beside an abyssal drop-off, far too deep for air, and divers call her the grail of Saint-Pierre diving. Only trimix divers reach her.
Also known as Le Tamaya, Tamaya, Epave Le Tamaya.
Where it is and how deep
14.7363° N, 61.1874° WPublished position for this site.
The dive
After a descent to 80 m, divers land on the mast lying across the centre of the wreck, with the frames to the left and the bow to the right; from there both ends of the 50 m hull are in view. Moving on, the port side of the hull draws close, covered in small filaments, and beyond it the edge of the drop-off runs along the wreck.
The wreck
- Vessel
- Tamaya
- Type
- Iron three-masted barque
- Length
- 50 m (164 ft)
- Built
- 1862
- Sunk
- 1902
- Cause
- Sunk in the eruption of Mount Pelée on 8 May 1902
- Lies
- On her starboard side between 78 and 85 m, beside an abyssal drop-off
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
- Tamaya (navire) — Wikipédia
Photo credits
- A broken wreck hull rests on pale sand in deep blue water, with a line running from it across the seabed by Marc Verstraete, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons
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