Bermuda

The Shipwreck Capital of the Mid-Atlantic 

There are at least 150 found/known shipwrecks in Bermuda's waters. No one is really sure exactly how many. Estimates put it at around 300 shipwreck sites, areas where entire ships actually came to rest, with perhaps an equal number of sites where ships did not perish but that are evidence of ships in distress.

A large part of the mission of the Custodian of Wrecks is to locate, catalogue and collate as much information as possible about these shipwrecks and sites.

Bermuda protects its shipwrecks and their associated relics that are older than 50 years through the Historic Wrecks Act

Many shipwrecks are well known to fishermen and local diving enthusiasts. The most aesthetic and accessible of these are the backbone of Bermuda's tourism diving sector and have for the most part been well photographed, studied and documented. 

However, many shipwrecks, even those that are well known, have not been well studied and documented.  It is important as we move forward and scientifically document Bermuda's shipwrecks that we are aware of the activities that have been carried out on them in the past. We have to be careful not to apply today’s standards to yesterday’s activities. 

The locations of wreck sites that have been declared marine protected areas can be found on pages 4 and 5 of the Marine Resources Guide. 

Full list of open wrecks and those closed to recreational divers.