Top 10 wreck dives safe to explore with kids

My Top 10 Favorite wreck dives to dive with kids at Kids Sea Camp

By Mago Peyton 

As a PADI instructor and scuba mom, I’ve had the pleasure of exploring countless underwater wonders with my kids. One type of diving that consistently sparks their curiosity and excitement is wreck diving. The allure of mystery, the thrill of discovery, and the chance to explore history firsthand make wreck diving an unforgettable family adventure.

While wreck diving might seem intimidating at first, there are many safe and accessible wrecks worldwide that are perfect for introducing kids to this fascinating aspect of scuba diving. It’s crucial to respect your children’s dive limitations, profile mandates, and comfort levels. Remember, wreck penetration should only be attempted by trained and experienced wreck divers.

Here are 10 of my favorite family-friendly wrecks to dive with kids, ranging from 35′ to 90′ in depth, all relatively easy to navigate, and situated on sandy bottoms or near shallow reefs close to shore.

1. Grand Cayman Kittiwake (Grand Cayman): This 251-foot former submarine rescue vessel rests in calm, clear water. The ship’s wheel and guns make for fantastic photo ops!

  • Operator: Divetech
  • Depth: 60ft max, deck at 25ft
  • Suitable for: Ages 12+
  • Highlights: Snorkeling and diving, abundant marine life (groupers, eagle rays, turtles, garden eels, stingrays).

2. La Machaca (Bonaire):A small fishing vessel teeming with life, just 90 feet from shore. Ideal for beginners aged 10+, this shallow wreck is bursting with corals, sponges, fish, and turtles.

  • Operator: Kids Sea Camp  Buddy Dive Resort
  • Depth: 30ft
  • Suitable for: Ages 10+
  • Highlights: Ideal for first-time wreck divers, teeming with marine life (brain corals, sponges, grouper, tarpon, eels, turtles, schooling fish).

3. Jake’s Seaplane (Palau):This WWII reconnaissance plane sits in 30 feet of water. Kids 10+ will love posing for photos with this fascinating piece of history.

  • Operator: Sam’s Tours
  • Depth: 30ft
  • Suitable for: Ages 10+
  • Highlights: Fun for photo ops, perfect for afternoon or dusk dives.

4. Captain Keith Tibbetts (Cayman Brac):A 330-foot Russian frigate transformed into an artificial reef. Explore this coral-encrusted home to groupers, scorpionfish, and eels

  • Operator: Cayman Brac Beach Resort with Reef Divers
  • Depth: 30-100ft
  • Suitable for: Ages 12+
  • Highlights: Coral-crusted Russian frigate, abundant marine life (groupers, scorpionfish, moray eels), easy to navigate.

5. Lesleen M (St. Lucia) This picturesque 165-foot cargo vessel in 60 feet of water is a haven for marine life. Kids 12+ can marvel at the colorful corals and sponges while spotting tuna, turtles, and lobster.

  • Operator: Kids Sea Camp Anse Chastanet and Scuba St. Lucia
  • Depth: 60ft
  • Suitable for: Ages 12+
  • Highlights: Picturesque wreck teeming with marine life (fish, tuna, turtles, lobster, macro life, colorful sponges, soft corals).

6. Vicky B (St. Lucia):A massive 286-foot cargo ship perfect for advanced divers 15+. Explore the open hull and encounter turtles, rays, and various fish species.

  • Operator: Anse Chastanet and Scuba St. Lucia
  • Depth: 70ft
  • Suitable for: Ages 15+ with Advanced Open Water certification
  • Highlights: Immense wreck with a large open hull and forklift, perfect for experienced divers.

7. Roatan Odyssey: Mayan Divers as Well as Subway provide guided dives and training for families here. A deeper wreck for sure at 110 feet under the surface off Roatan’s shore sits the Odyssey wreck. At 300 feet long, 50 feet wide, and 85 feet tall, this freighter is Roatan’s largest wreck dive, as well as one of the largest in the Caribbean. Intentionally sunk for divers in 2002. This wreck is for kids age 15 or older as well preferably with their advanced open water certification, giving them a max depth of 120′.  I like to keep them between 70′ and 80′ keeping in mind that this wreck is 85ft tall so there is really so much to see far above the bottom.  Its a spectacular wreck to dive and shoot. I prefer to circle the outside and enjoy, the many big grouper, reef sharks, rays and schooling fish for approximately 10 to 15 minutes and then head over to the shallow reef for another 30 minutes to enjoy the midnight Parotfish and more interactions with the black grouper. The kids have found two years in a row a frogfish and a seahorse on this wreck.

  • Operator: Mayan Divers or Subway
  • Depth: 110ft
  • Suitable for: Ages 15+ with Advanced Open Water certification
  • Highlights: Roatan’s largest wreck, abundant marine life (grouper, reef sharks, rays, schooling fish).

8. El Aguila (Roatan) This 110-foot freighter, she was purchased and is owned by AKR and was sunk in 1997 to create an artificial reef.  She was torn apart by Hurricane Mitch and currently rests in 3 separate pieces between 60′ – 104′.  She has a plethora of macro life around her top deck, I have found baby boxfish, seahorses, frogfish, juvenile trumpet fish, and eels.  The bow is a perfect place to pose for family photos as well as to see large grouper. These 2 wrecks are recommended for families with Kids age 15+ and AOW certifications. It’s important to be more mindful of depth, time, and currents. I’ve been taking families diving on these two wrecks for the past 7 years with Mayan Princess and Turquoise Bay. The big turtles, rays, grouper and schooling fish are so much fun to experience with kids on days with perfect conditions and expert guides.  Penetration is only for trained and experienced wreck divers.

  • Operator: Kids Sea Camp, Subway Divers and Mayan Divers
  • Depth: 60-104ft
  • Suitable for: Ages 15+ with Advanced Open Water certification
  • Highlights: Three separate sections to explore, abundant macro life (baby boxfish, seahorses, frogfish, juvenile trumpetfish, eels).

9. Hilma Hooker (Bonaire): The Hilma Hooker is a very famous wreck, this wreck was once a cargo ship, used for drug smuggling, it was sunk just a 5 min swim offshore. The Hooker sits at a max depth of 80’ on her side, her hull rises to just above 60 ft at her shallowest point. She is 236 ft long and fully intact. She sank during her passage from Holland in 1984. Local dive operators made the wreck safe for recreational divers. The water surrounding the hooker is generally crystal clear and easy to navigate around her. Kids age 12+ with a Jr. Advanced or Advanced diver certification can easily dive this wreck staying between 60’ and 70’ft. They can enjoy schools of large Tarpon, Barracuda, eagle rays, turtles and green moray eels.  There are several species of shrimps and seahorses around her hull.   Kids aged 15 or older can drop down and explore her exterior more thoroughly. Penetration is only for trained and experienced wreck divers.

  • Operator: Buddy Dive Operation
  • Depth: 80ft max, hull rises to 60ft
  • Suitable for: Ages 12+ with Jr. Advanced or Advanced Open Water certification
  • Highlights: Famous drug smuggling cargo ship, abundant marine life (tarpon, barracuda, eagle rays, turtles, green moray eels).

10. Belize: Blackbird Caye: fun for kids age 15+ The Witconcrete Wreck: Once a sugar transport ship built around 1942, now Beliz’s first artificial reef. The Wit is one of the largest wreck dives in the Caribbean, just 1 minute east of the Blackbird Caye Resort in the Turneffe Atoll Marine Reserve, she was sunk on a dive site called Oasis.  The Wit is 375’ in length, width 56’, and height 38’ minimum depth is 50’. The Wit was moved from The US Virgin Islands after 35 years she was gifted to Belize and moved in May of 2021. Much of the corals and sponges were preserved on her hull.

  • Operator: Blackbird Caye Resort
  • Depth: 50ft minimum
  • Suitable for: Ages 12+ with Jr. Advanced or Advanced Open Water certification
  • Highlights: One of the largest wreck dives in the Caribbean, abundant marine life (fish, turtles, sharks).

Important Note: Wreck penetration should only be attempted by trained and experienced certified wreck divers.

I hope this list inspires your family’s next underwater adventure! Each of these dive operators including Kids Sea Camp offers the PADI Wreck Diver specialty course for those 15 and older, a fantastic way to learn safe and responsible wreck diving techniques.

Remember to always check conditions like current and visibility before diving, and teach your kids about the history and marine life of the wreck you choose. With proper planning and guidance, wreck diving can be a safe and enriching experience for the whole family.

Additional Tips for Wreck Diving with Kids:

  • Choose the right wreck: Consider the depth, complexity, and marine life of the wreck before diving with your kids.
  • Prepare your kids: Always dive with a trained professional when diving wrecks. To be better prepared, take the PADI wreck diving course with your kids ages 15 or older. This course will teach you about wreck diving safety and etiquette. Make sure to always dive within your children’s depth limits and training level as well as their comfort level.
  • Dive with a reputable operator: Choose an operator with experience in diving with kids and a great safety record. Make sure the operator you choose is familiar with and has experience with the wreck you are choosing to dive.
  • Have fun! Wreck diving is an amazing adventure that can create lasting memories for the whole family.