South Bimini, Bimini, Bahamas

Sapona

The Sapona is a half-submerged concrete-hulled steamship that ran aground south of Bimini during the 1926 Miami hurricane and has been a fixture of the local seascape ever since. The wreck sits in just 3 to 5 meters of water with portions of the hull and superstructure rising above the surface, making it equally accessible to snorkelers, free divers, and scuba divers. The shallow interior is open and easily navigated, with light streaming through holes in the hull creating dramatic photographic opportunities. Resident marine life includes large schools of grunts, snappers, and sergeant majors, with barracuda hovering near the surface and the occasional moray eel and southern stingray inside the holds. The vessel was previously used as a Prohibition-era liquor warehouse and as US Navy bombing practice during World War II — the cosmetic scars from the bombing remain visible. Built in 1911 in North Carolina as part of an experimental concrete-hull program during a wartime steel shortage, the ship is now a unique combination of maritime, Prohibition, and military history. The wreck is the most iconic landmark off South Bimini and a regular stop for local boat tours. A unique above-and-below-water dive that suits any level of experience.