Ray of Hope

The Ray of Hope is a working ship turned film set turned shark theater. A roughly 60-meter freighter of the kind that shuttles freight through the Bahamas, she was acquired, cleaned and scuttled in 2003 on the sand flats along southwest New Providence's drop-off, joining a cluster of wrecks placed over the years for divers and for Hollywood. This stretch of coast has doubled for open ocean in Bond films and countless productions. She landed upright, bow toward the wall, and would be a pleasant if unremarkable reef dive except for her neighbors: the site sits beside one of the Caribbean's longest-running shark feeds, and Caribbean reef sharks treat the wreck as part of their patrol route. Even on unbaited dives it is normal to descend through a loose spiral of sharks and find more resting in the sand lee of the hull. The holds are open and bright, grouper and horse-eye jacks crowd the superstructure, and the short swim to the wall lets one dive combine wreck, reef edge and big animals.

How she sank: Deliberately scuttled as an artificial reef off southwest New Providence, 2003.

Condition: Upright and intact, colonization young but spreading; structure sound

Penetration: Limited. Cargo holds and the wheelhouse are open with multiple exits; genuine enclosed penetration is limited and should stay with trained divers. Entering any overhead environment requires specific training: a wreck certification at minimum, technical wreck training for full penetration.

Recommended certification: Open Water

Current: Mild · Visibility: 15–30 m

Marine life: Caribbean reef sharks are the constant (circling, resting on sand, shadowing divers), joined by grouper, horse-eye jacks, southern stingrays and a resident green moray.

Hazards: Sharks conditioned by nearby feeds approach closely; keep hands in and follow briefings