Wrecks on Vauxhall Reef

Drafting…

I have viewed 3 wrecks on the Fringing Reef, or just seaward of the Fringing Reef I call Vuaxhall Reef (Reef #34 in the MPA)

Fig. 1. Location of the 3 wrecks on a Google Earth Image. Wrecks W1 and W2 can be recognized by the distinct linear outlines in some GE images (as above). Wreck W3 does not present the same way in GE images; it’s location us based on a site visit and GPS-tagged photos.
Click on image for a larger version

Fig. 2. Approaching Wreck W1 on Mar 7,  2015

Wreck W1 is the best known and most commonly visited by boat-based snorkelling ventures; on some days there may be up to a dozen boats moored in the area (there are fixed moorings). The photo at left illustrates typical aggregation of fish by the wreck, with abundant Chub,  Sargeant Majors and, near the surfacem  Balyhoo.

Both W1 and W2 are described and pictured in the Reef Smart Guide: Barbados Scuba Dive, Snorkel Surf by Ian Popple, Otto Wagner & Peter McDougall, 2017, Distributed in Barbados by Miller Publishing Co., Edgehill, St. Thomas. (View Sample Page from the Guide).

Some text extracts from the Reef Smart Barbados Guide, pp 84-91 (Dive and Snorkel Sites: Holetown Wrecks):

Access
Many local operators, including catamarans and glass bottom boats, visit the whole town wrecks. The catamarans commonly from the shallow draft harbour in Bridgetown. The glass bottom boats often leave from the beach adjacent to surfside restaurant and bar. This site can also be accessed directly by swimming from the beach. The safest way to do this is to swim on the north side of the fringing reef to avoid being caught in the breaking waves that sometimes occur around the shallow reef Crest. A line of buoys helps to protect swimmers from boat traffic.

Description
The Holetown wrecks are two large barges within the swimming distance of each other. The structures are relatively flat and less interesting to explore than some of the more complex wrecks Rex in Carlisle Bay, but they support enough marine life to make a visit worthwhile. Bermuda chubs and sergeant majors are particularly common here. At its seaward edge, the reef develops into a section of spurs and grooves. Schooling fish, such as grunts and surgeonfish, can be found on the reef spurs, as well as parrotfish and the occasional grouper. Goatfish, conch and even the odd Stingray are too frequent a sandy grooves between the reef spurs.

ECO TIP
Some tour operators that visit this site have been known to feed the fish in order to bring them closer to snorkelers. This practice is generally discouraged by most biologists and marine park managers. Firstly, fish have been known to become more aggressive where feeding occurs, even to where they might accidentally bite snorkelers. Secondly, the food released at feeding sites is often unnatural and unhealthy for fish. Finally, habituating wild animals to humans by feeding them may put them at greater risk of being caught in the future dash a healthy fear of humans is a positive thing for most wild animals.

Route
The shallowness of the site allows both divers and snorkelers to explore the area. Most visitors explore the north wreck first and then head south, often swimming along the seaward edge of the fringing reef in order to reach the second wreck. There is plenty to explore on both wrecks and on the reef between.

SAFETY TIP
The current and wave action is usually mild at this site but divers and snorkelers should be careful to avoid touching or standing on the reef dash doing so can damage the fragile corals that make up the wreath and can also result in serious injury. Fire corals produce painful burns and sea urchins have spines that can easily puncture skin, even when only lightly touched… if you must stand while snorkeling do so in a sandy area. Protect yourself in the coral reef by observing without touching.

‘Lot’s more info in this guide about this site including Species Commonly Observed  in the categories  Turtles, Dangerous Species, Fish & Invertebrates. ‘Highly recommended as a guide to places to snorkel and dive in Barbados, conditions, species etc.

Wrecks 1 and 2: Monitoring coral health over time

I don’t have a particular interest in wrecks per se, but W1 and W2 have served as sites I   have revisited over time  and could readily re-locate individual coral colonies to assess changes over time, e.g. in relation to development of SCTLD (Stony Coral Tissue Loss Dusease), and to extreme warming, examples below.

Example 1. Progression of disease on corals on Wreck-1 illustrated by photos in 2015, 2023 2024.

Fig. 3

Example 2: Deterioration of Acropora cervicornis on Wreck 2 between 2023 and 2024

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Fig. 4.

Fig. 5.

Fig. 6.

Wreck W3

Fig 6. Porites porites and Acropora cervicornis on Wreck 3

 

Wreck W3, and adjacent bottom and to a limited extent, Wreck W2 were evidently sites of coral propagation/outplanting in the past, Acropora cervicornis and Porites porites the most common species.

Approximate lengths, widths and depths of the Wrecks
Lengths and widths estimated from Google Earth Images
Depths – These are as I remember them, I do have some depth gauge measurements in my photos, but I can’t locate them at the moment.

Also cited below are the values for lengths, widths and depths given in the Reef Smart Barbados Guide; they differ substantially from my estimates. I plan to get some proper measurements in Feb/Mar 2027 if all goes according to plan.

Method or Source/. Google Earth Reef Smart Memory
Variable

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