Dive· Conception Island· Bahamas — Eleuthera, Andros & the Out Islands
Southampton Reef
23° 54.2′ N · 75° 7.3′ W
The reef bank north of Conception where the British frigate HMS Southampton (32 guns) and the captured American brig Vixen were lost together on 27 November 1812 - a historic wreck site in open ocean.
Practical
Position: OSM reef 'Desi's Spot' with alt_name Southampton Reef, taken from the NGA GeoNames gazetteer (GNS id 1544240). Heritage Charts notes the exact wreck location has been a closely guarded secret and that old chart coordinates are of doubtful accuracy. About 3 nm north of West Bay on the open bank edge, exposed to ocean swell from every direction; a navigational hazard as much as a dive. Inside the national park: historic wrecks are protected, take nothing. Only in flat calm with good light.
Best for
History-minded divers on a flat-calm day
Nearby
- West Bay Beach (Conception)2.8 NM away
- Conception Island reefs2.9 NM away
- Conception Island hiking trails3 NM away
- Conception Island moorings (West Bay)3 NM away
- Conception Island West Bay Anchorage3.1 NM away
- Winter cold fronts at Conception3.1 NM away
- Conception Island East Bay Anchorage3.4 NM away
- Conception Island settlement ruins3.8 NM away