Curlew

History

The Curlew was a steamer bought by Cunard and placed on its branch mail service linking Halifax, Bermuda and St Thomas in the Danish West Indies. She left Halifax on 14 March 1856 and, after steaming through the night in heavy seas, ran onto the northern reefs about a mile and a half east of North Rock in the early hours of 18 March; her captain is said to have been asleep at the time.

The rescue was dramatic: two of her boats were smashed against the hull and a third was swept away, leaving only one usable. The three passengers and crew got away in it, while the captain and two others who stayed aboard were taken off later, with two naval vessels joining the rescue. Seven of the nine mail bags were recovered two days later and brought into St George's.

The wreck was rediscovered and identified by Teddy Tucker in 1955, and the loss was commemorated on the 10-cent stamp of Bermuda's 1986-90 shipwreck series.

Diving the wreck today

A shallow, scenic dive in 15-35 ft of very clear water on the outer northern reef. The most recognisable remains are the engine's pistons standing between two small boilers; the rest of the wreckage is scattered and grown into the reef, covered in hard and soft corals. Suitable for most levels in calm conditions; often combined with other North Rock sites.