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Let’s explore the underwater world in Barbados together.

13°05'09.2"N 59°36'42.0"W

The MV “Trident”

A shipwreck in Barbados, Carlisle Bay. Coast guard, MV Trident Scuba Diving site

Certification level: Open Water/Advanced

Depth: 85ft / 26m

Type: Wreck (Penetration Possible)

We often spot: Hawksbill Turtles, Barracuda, Senate, Reef Squid, Southern Stingrays, Schoolmasters, French Angel Fish, Lobsters, Lionfish.

The Trident is one of Barbados’ newer wrecks that was intentionally sunk in Carlisle Bay back in 2016 after she’d done her duty.

Though she sits within Carlisle Bay, she’s further out, and deeper than her sisters that made the bay famous. A favourite of divers who want an accessible wreck that has been prepared for divers.

Her deck sits in about 60ft/18m of water and so Open Water divers will be asked to stay at that level. Most of the stuff worth seeing is at this level, so don’t feel like you’ll be missing out too much. The bridge and upper cabin, is full of all kinds of reef fish and it’s easy to spend most of the dive looking at all the variations it has to offer.

The deepest part her hull sits in 80ft/24m, and for Advanced+ divers we might find Lionfish, Lobsters or French Angels hanging out down there.

With her replica guns mounted at the bow she offers divers a fun opportunity for buddy pair photos.

Because of her depth we only stay on her for about 20-35 minutes air and no decompression limits willing, but we make good use of that time and explore every surface of her.

Sometimes we’ll navigate across some sand into the shallower area, and sometimes we’ll end the dive at the wreck. I quite like spending as much time on her as I can.

A Green Turtle resting on the bow of the MV Trident Shipwreck, next to the replica guns with two scuba divers behind her taking videos. This wreck can be found in Carlisle Bay, Barbados

A macro photograph of a white feather duster worm found on the MV Trident's hull.

A scuba diver swimming along the deck of the shipwreck of the MV Trident in Carlisle Bay, Barbados with the replica guns in the background.

A view inside the MV Trident Shipwreck's hull, in Carlisle Bay, Barbados

A scuba diver descending towards the shipwreck of the MV Trident on a day with perfect visibility.

Carlisle Bay Marine Park

Certification level: Open Water

Depth: 50ft / 15m

Type: Wreck & Reef

We often spot: Octopus, Seahorses, Pufferfish, Trumpet Fish, Scorpion Fish, Hawksbill Turtles, Green Turtles, Tarpon, Barracuda, Senate, Reef Squid, Southern Stingrays, Schoolmasters, French Angel Fish, Lobsters, and occasionally some Lionfish

Carlisle Bay is an underwater playground recognised by PADI Travel has as being one of the top places in the world to spot Seahorses.

It was laid out intentionally by one of Barbados’ first Scuba divers Ram Edghill with the permission of our first prime minister Errol Barrow (or so the story goes).

The wrecks range from the oldest at 100+ years old to our youngest a sailboat called “Zoom”.

The Berwyn (also known as the Berwind) which is a remnant of the 1st World War. She’s the shallowest of all the wrecks, and gets the most sunlight, so she typically has the most life on her. A favourite for both snorkellers and divers, an entire dive could be done on this wreck alone.

The Bajan Queen at her deepest is 30ft/10m is is another favourite that’s easily spotted from the surface, sunk intentionally back in 2002, she’s had plenty of time to develop her underwater character. Of particular note is all the fish that aggregate around her stern, both at deck-level, and around her propellers.

Other shipwrecks are the Ellion, Ce-Trek, Cornwallis, & “The Barge” and all 6 are accessible on a single dive, though it’s a bit of a slog.

When leading a dive, I typically divide my time between the wrecks and the nearby patch reef where we often spot reef squid, barracuda, spotted moray eels and octopus.