Snorkeling the Louis J Goulet wreck

[PELLUCID]

I went out to the wreck of the drill barge SE of Man-O-War yesterday. I'd recommend it as a snorkel site for the adventerous, on a calm day.

The wreck has been cut to the high water line and the steel lies around on all sides. Growth has started, and parrrot fish are particularly abundant. The reef to the seaward was scraped to bare rock during the wreck and subsequent salvage operations. I saw several patches of elkhorn starting on the bare rock, including one colony about 2 feet x 3 feet. They are flat still, having just gotten established, but I think it's a good sign that they are colonizing the area. The whole site will make an interesting study of reef regeneration.

There is currently a mooring ball on the seaward side of the wreck, but it is only attached to a bent anchor wedged in the rocks. The seaward side is not suitable for anchoring at all, it is too rocky. There is enough sand behind the reef that one could anchor a small boat there and swim about 100 yards across the reef to the wreck.

Regardless of your approach, use caution in the surge close to the exposed steel. It's a cool snorkel spot, and I will return to it again.

[Long Look]

Very cool. Did you happen to snap any photos or have any advice on the best route to get through the reef to the wreck. Do you happen to know the coordinates for the wreck? Id love to visit it in December if the seas aren't too rough.

And a big thanks goes out to everyone who worked to first remove it from the reef, and then to those who cut it down.

[PELLUCID]

I don't have coordinates. It's pretty easy to spot from a mile of so away as a few parts still stick a bit above the high water mark.

The image on Google Maps predates the wreck, so I can't draw a diagram. The safest approach would be to follow the usual route out of South Man-O-War channel, turn right just off the reef line, and come to it from seaward side. Only problem is the lack of anchorage and the surge. Maybe leave someone on board the boat while everybody else snorkels.

It's not too hard to eyeball your way in on the lee side in good light and calm conditions. You can come in from the south side of the main channel, follow the prominent sand channel around the northernmost of Johnny's Cays, or even head around the outside of Johnny's. Whatever route you take, you should be able to get within 100 yards of the wreck on the lee side, in much calmer water and better anchoring than you will find on the seaward side.