Cristobal Colon Wreck

The Cristóbal Colón was a Spanish transatlantic liner of around ten thousand tonnes that ran onto the northern reef in October 1936 while sailing empty, and she is the largest wreck in Bermudian waters. She broke apart over the following years, partly through use as a bombing target in wartime, and the remains are spread over a wide area in shallow water, boilers, engines and plates scattered across the reef, which makes it a dive of exploration rather than a single hull.

The landscape

• The scale - the largest shipwreck in Bermudian waters at around ten thousand tonnes.
• The scattered remains - boilers, engines and plates spread across the reef.
• The shallow depth - a wreck lying in accessible water on the reef top.
• The reef life - the coral and fish that have taken over the wreckage.

When to go

May to October is the diving season with the calmest water. The site is exposed and trips are cancelled in swell. Visibility is best in summer.

What to expect

The wreck is very broken up and scattered; anyone expecting an intact hull will be disappointed. The site is exposed and trips cancel often. It is a boat dive only.

Nearby

The northern reef surrounds it, and the Dockyard is south.