Fifteen
miles off the northern tip of Cape Breton, lies a small uninhabited place
called Saint Paul Island. Remote St. Paul (photo at right) is approximately 3
miles long and 1 mile wide and is surrounded by a coastline of treacherous rocky
reefs.
St. Paul Island is located at the entrance to the Gulf of Saint Lawrence, in the path of major shipping lanes. It also is a place known for its bad weather. Storms, rough seas, ice and fog are common conditions around Saint Paul. Over the past few centuries, this combination of factors has resulted in the loss of hundreds of ships on the reefs around the island. Because of its many shipwrecks, St. Paul Island is commonly known as "The Graveyard of the Gulf."
It's
hard to know how many wrecks there are around St. Paul, but historians have
documented over 350. And they estimate that several thousand
shipwreck victims are buried on the island. In one incident alone, the wreck
of the Irish immigrant ship Sibylle in 1834, over 300 victims were buried
in mass graves. Thanks to modern
navigation tools, fewer wrecks occur around St. Paul these days, but
it's still a dangerous place and most mariners steer clear of it.
The long list of shipwreck tragedies is the thing that piques people's interest in Saint Paul Island. Wreck divers in particular are fascinated by the place. And although very few divers ever go there, it is possible to do so. And if you go, we guarantee you it will be a fun and memorable experience.
Below is a gallery of St. Paul Island photos and maps, and a list of St. Paul websites. These sites provide information on the island's history, shipwrecks and dive charter options. Please check them out at your leisure and learn more about this fascinating place.
Click
here to go to our
St. Paul Island Wreck Chart
