Tempestuous storms, unforgiving reefs, pirates and a rumour about a mysterious triangle - they've all played a part in creating Bermuda's claim to be the 'Shipwreck Capital of the Atlantic'.
But now another force is at work and it's about to add to the island's impressive tally of over 300 shipwrecks.
The Bermuda Intact Wreck Initiative (BIWI) has been given an ex-Government ferry, the Sea Venture, in order to sink as a scuba-diving attraction for both locals and tourists, and work is already well underway on getting the vessel shipshape for sinking.
A group of around 25 volunteers under the co-ordination of Michael Burke, who is also the owner of Blue Water Divers, have almost finished cleaning the boat of any hazardous waste ahead of a proposed sinking date in April. That will mean the vessel should be ready in time for tourists to dive this summer.
As a fully intact ship, it's hoped that the Sea Venture will become a favourite for divers and dive-operators alike, and pending the approval of the Department of Tourism and Sport Diver magazine, it looks set to become a part of the 'Shipwreck certificate' programme currently marketed at visiting divers.
"What's exciting about the Sea Venture is that while it's only 75ft long it's got four levels and lots of interesting areas, cabins and stairs for divers to penetrate and explore, more than the Hermes for example," said Mr. Burke.
"It's also fully intact. Everyone likes to see a Hollywood set style wreck when they go diving, but people don't always understand that shipwrecks are called wrecks for a reason - usually because they've been smashed to pieces!"
If all goes to plan, he said, the vessel will be sunk in a sandhole near Eastern Blue cut on the inside of the fringing reef, which will protect it from ocean swell and also mean it's divable during strong winds.
"That would be the only wreck in the area," Mr. Burke continued, "so it could be visited as part of a two-dive package on a wreck and a reef.
"The top of the wreck, which is completely flat, would be in around 30ft of water which is better for novices and as the deck is flat it would even offer a perfect training platform. The bottom would be in about 60ft.
"Having an extra destination will also take the pressure off some of the more historical wrecks."
Mr. Burke estimates that the cleaning of the engine room should be completed over the next few days, at which time BIWI will need to have Environment Protection officers inspect it to check it's free of hazardous waste and poses no danger to diver safety. They will also have to agree that the area chosen to sink the Sea Venture is appropriate.
After that calm weather and "the luck of the draw" will be needed to help make sure the boat retains its upright position when it reaches the seabed.
It will be the third major vessel BIWI have sunk, after the Hermes and the Xing-Da, and Mr. Burke said that if all goes well there's "the possibility this will open up the avenue for further sinkings."
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