SS Antilla Shipwreck

The SS Antilla is one of the largest shipwrecks in the Caribbean. This ship began her maiden voyage from Germany in July 1939 and was in the Caribbean when the events of World War II began. The crew aboard the Antilla sabotaged the ship rather than surrender to the enemy. After the SS Antilla sank, larvae of coral, sponges and other marine organisms attached themselves to this new structure. Over time, the shipwreck has become encrusted in corals and sponges, transforming into a habitat for numerous marine creatures. The SS Antilla is now an artificial reef, a manmade structure found underwater that mimics the characteristics of a natural reef. Submerged shipwrecks like the SS Antilla are the most common form of artificial reefs.