About Revisions The Wreck of The Kate Bermuda Max Depth: 36-40ft/11-12m Average Viz: 36-40ft/11-12m Entry Type: Boat Bottom Composition: Sand Aquatic Life: Plenty To See 1/05/2009 11:03 PM

32 19’.40N 64 41’.70W
1878 - English Barkantine Rig
The Kate, was a 200 foot English Barkantine Rig with an iron propeller, heading to Le Harve, France from Galveston, Texas, USA. There are two contrasting stories as to the events leading up to the eventual sinking of The Kate. One story says that she ran aground west of Bermuda, and was being towed to safely when she began taking on water and was deliberately run onto the reef to enable salvage or possible repair. The other story, from The Captain, is that she hit some form of flotsam and began to take on water. After a disagreement with The Captain of the salvage vessel, The Kate ended up on the reef near Tucker’s Town Beach. The Kate’s Captain, insisted that if his instructions had been followed, The Kate would have made it safely to St. George’s Harbour.

All the crew were saved, as was her cargo of 3,500 bales of cotton. The Captain was eventually found at fault and had his licence revoked. The wreck lies in 45 feet of water. On top of the reef at around 20 feet, you can find the unusually shaped propeller if you follow the shaft toward the west. On the top of the reef to the south of the main wreckage is the huge anchor which lies slightly upright. The wreck is fairly well together following the shaft you will easily find the her massive expansion boilers and engine which lie at the deepest part of the site close to the sand at about 40 feet..

The reef on the shore side of the wreck is excellent for exploring. Massive boiler reefs come closely together creating swim-through’s, tunnels and overhangs. Follow the boilers to the east for a few yards and you’ll stumble across the aptly named "Washing Machine". A huge cavern with many openings. The water movement through these openings creates the illusion of the inside of a washing machine, not having ever been inside an operational washing machine, it would be difficult to dispute this claim.

Many Coney’s and Wrasse can be seen here as well as a superb variety of healthy coral. The fish are exceptionally friendly and are more than happy to pose for photographs.
REMEMBER.... THE REEF IS FRAGILE! PLEASE DO NOT TOUCH OR TREAD ON LIVING CORAL.