SCUBA Diving The Gregory Wreck in Simpson Bay, Saint Maarten

Location:
Of the coast of Simpson Bay, Saint Maarten

Coordinates:
Lat 18°04.183’ N, Long 63°14.131’W

The Gregory Wreck
Lying just off the coast of Simpson Bay in Sint Maarten, is one of the island’s most intriguing dive sites—an underwater monument to history, nature, and mystery.

Once a transport Barge known as the Gregory, the vessel met its fate in the early 1990s. The exact circumstances surrounding its sinking are unclear, but local lore suggests it was deliberately scuttled after becoming too costly to maintain. Rather than letting the sturdy steel craft rust in a forgotten dockyard, it was transformed into an artificial reef—an underwater sanctuary for marine life and a new attraction for divers visiting the Caribbean.

Today, the Gregory rests upright in about 50 feet of clear, warm water, its hull now encrusted with corals, sponges, and marine algae. Over the decades, it has become a thriving ecosystem. Schools of snappers dart through the wheelhouse, sea turtles often glide silently past the bow, and moray eels slither through its crevices. Occasionally, the shadow of a passing barracuda or reef shark drifts across the site, a reminder of the ocean’s wild beauty.

Divers are drawn not only to the marine life but also to the eerie atmosphere of the wreck itself. The boat’s decaying structure gives it a ghostly character—its outlines softened by time and life. Photographers find endless fascination in its interplay of shadow and color, light filtering through rusted metal and swaying sea fans.

Though it may not have the fame of deeper or older shipwrecks, the Gregory Wreck has become a beloved part of Sint Maarten’s underwater landscape. It tells a quiet story—of industry, transformation, and the enduring power of the sea to reclaim and repurpose the man-made.