Wrecks in and around Gibraltar

The wreck of the green beans

This wreck, a cargo vessel of approximately 130 metres in length sank in 1982. After losing its rudder in heavy weather it was forced against a rocky outcrop and sank in only 12 metres of water. This depth making this site perfect for all kinds of divers and experience levels.
The story has it that the vessel was carrying a ship load of canned green beans, upon sinking the local communities took advantage of the situation and raided the ship for its load.
The central section of the wreck currently finds itself collapsed, but the stern and bow sections proving the most interesting sections of the wreck, remain intact and penetrable. A torch is recommended as many creatures dwell within its dark holes, including turtles and groupers.

Gibraltar CAMP BAY – Five wrecks in two dives
After a minibus shuttle of about 30 minutes the dives in Camp bay/ Gibraltar will be conducted as 2-tank shore dives. Since Gibraltar belongs to the United Kingdom you will need a current ID or passport to enter the country. Sometimes you have to consider delays at the border.
As part of an incentive to attract marine life to the area, several wrecks were scuttled around the Camp Bay area, beginning at 9 metres down to 17 metres. This makes Camp Bay an attraction for wreck divers. PADI specialty courses like “Wreck diver”, “U/ W Navigation” or the NATIONAL GEOGRAPHIC Diver are ideal to do here in an interesting manner.
„The Batty“ und „The 482“
By the end of its working life in 1990, the “Batty” and the “482”, both cable laying barges used in the naval dockyard, was scuttled in 17 metres of water in Camp Bay. The idea being to create an artificial reef to attract marine life to the area. Almost two decades later, we see an incredible amount of life in and around the wreck. Jacks, cods, morays, congers, lobsters, spider crabs, blennies the list goes on...
Due to its location, the Batty and the 482 are ideal for all experience levels, penetration is also possible, and a torch is a must on this dive, where hole dwelling creatures can be encountered especially beneath the bow and stern of the wreck.

The three barges

In Camp Bay there are 3 more wrecks waiting to be explored; “the three barges”. They are old cargo vessels which were scuttled at a max. depth of 10 m, as artificial reefs at about the same time then the cable layer; the 482. Life here is abundant and the site an El Dorado for nudibranches.

The Norwegian wreck
A little outside Camp bay lays the „Norwegian wreck“ which still can be dived at coming from the shore. She is the biggest of the Camp bay wrecks, messures about 50 meters of length and it is laying on its side – all over covered with marine life. As soon as you reach the wreck at 23 meters of depth a massive wall of about 10 meters is building up in front of you – sometimes you can hear out of diver`s mouth “wow”. Because the “Norwegian wreck” is laying on its side the deck of the ship is right in front of the diver and invites him to discover it.
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