Caraquet

History

The ship began life in 1894 as the Guelph, built at Belfast for the Union Line's South African service and passing to Union-Castle in the 1900 merger. Around 1913 the Royal Mail Steam Packet Company bought her for its Canada - West Indies - British Guiana service and renamed her Caraquet.

On 25 June 1923, in fog and rough seas, she ran onto Bermuda's northern barrier reef. Her passengers, crew and mail were all taken off safely and much of the cargo was later salvaged, but the ship was a total loss. The Marine Board of Inquiry found that an abnormally strong current had carried her further than Captain Fernandez had calculated and cleared him of blame.

Herbie Smith salvaged her at the time and again after the Second World War, stripping most of the copper, brass and bronze.

Diving the wreck today

A shallow, spread-out wreck covering almost two acres of reef and sand in about 35-45 ft of clear water. The hull and decks are flattened, but the engine, four boilers, two big deck winches and a massive anchor with one fluke pointing straight up are easy to find. Yellow grunts gather here in spring. Fine for beginners in calm weather, but the site is exposed and winter storms can make it undiveable.