Jane C

Launched on the 30^th of December 1959, the 57 mtr/190 ft ship was initially called the “Blackthorn”. After being sold twice over the years, her new owner S&D Shipping Ltd. renamed her “Jane Sea”. She was a cement freighter transporting cement between South America and Aruba. The story goes that one day, upon arrival in Barcadera Harbor, Aruban customs agents found several tons of cocaine hidden between the cement. After several years of nobody admitting to be the owner of the ship, local dive operators came together and prepared to sink her as an artificial reef. The name of the ship was changed to “Jane C”, the “C” standing for the unexpected find made onboard, and she was sunk to the waves in 1988.

Another story is the owners were just not very good at paying their crews, and when the ship got technical difficulties while in Barcadera Harbor, the unpaid crew abandoned it. After not receiving due’s and auctioning the ship off didn’t work, authorities agreed with dive operators to sink her as an artificial reef.

Whatever the truth, the beautifully sponge-overgrown bow sits at 18 mtr/60 ft of water and is the first thing divers see when coming upon the wreck. It’s tipping over slightly to starboard and expected to one day tip over completely as the metal deteriorates. The top of the stern superstructure sits upright at the same depth, with the propeller being the deepest point at 27 mtr/90 ft. This wreck is full of life. Great Barracuda’s are often hanging around the stern section, accompanied by a giant cloud of silversides and other predators preying on them. Cobia’s and Spotted Eagle Rays are not uncommon encounters when diving this must-see wreck.

Marine life: Hawksbill Turtles, Green Turtles, Moray Eels, Jacks, Silversides, Octopus, Coral Crabs, Trumpetfish and sometimes a Cobia or a sleeping Nurse Shark.