Snorkel· St Kitts· Leeward Islands
White House Bay Wrecks Snorkel
17° 15.0′ N · 62° 39.5′ W · approximate
Long called the best snorkelling on St Kitts: off the rocky beach below Salt Plage lie a 20th-century tug wreck in very shallow water and, farther out, a British troop ship from the 1740s with several cannons still showing.
Practical
Position is approximate - the southern end of White House Bay where the tug lies, offset from the ActiveCaptain anchorage position; the anchorage entry notes the tug is only a few feet down and charted as exposed, so keep keels and dinghy props clear. Flee Winter describes both wrecks as buoyed and five of the troop ship's cannons as clearly visible (re-exposed in 1999). Enter from the rocks near Salt Plage - volcanic rubble, so wear water shoes; the bay is sheltered from the prevailing easterly and visibility is typically 15-20 m on calm days (The Trip Verdict). Expect soft and fire coral, sponges, sergeant majors and the odd barracuda. Note: one online guide calls the tug the 'River Taw', but Pro Divers lists the M/V River Taw as a separate 40 ft dive off Basseterre - treat the name as unconfirmed. Leave the historic wreck undisturbed.
Best for
An easy wreck snorkel straight off the anchorage
Season
Best Dec-Apr for clarity; avoid in north swell
Nearby
- Salt Plage0.1 NM away
- White House Bay Anchorage0.1 NM away
- Christophe Harbour Customs & Immigration0.3 NM away
- Christophe Harbour Marina (Safe Harbor St Kitts)0.3 NM away
- Rocks between Ballast Bay and White House Bay0.4 NM away
- Vervet Monkeys (St Kitts)0.5 NM away
- Ballast Bay Anchorage0.6 NM away
- Great Salt Pond (Southeast Peninsula)0.7 NM away