The Cartanser Senior is a 190 foot long steel hulled freighter that has an interesting story.  During World War II, she was used to transport goods. After the war, she was used to carry various cargoes between the islands. She was brought to St. Thomas in 1970 and was abandoned by her captain and crew.  By this time, the vessel had definitely seen better days and was eventually towed into a cove where she was moored. Over time, the unattended vessel began to take on water and was soon on the bottom. Unfortunately, her location for divers was horrible as she was sitting in silt, and poor visibility was inevitable.

At one point in 1975, the Army Corp. of Engineers was going to blow the wreck up as they considered the ship a hazard to navigation. Around the same time, St. Thomas noticed the amount of interest their neighboring British Virgin Islands were getting since the movie "The Deep" was being filmed on the wreck of the Rhone. St. Thomas decided that they too should have a clear water wreck, and started the wheels moving to raise the Cartanser and move her to a spot more accessible for divers.  Local divers, led by the St. Thomas Diving Club, banded together in the campaign, "Save the Cartanser."  They raised the funds by selling t-shirts stating their slogan.  This effort was a huge success that will be enjoyed by diver for many years to come. 

On July 16, 1979, with the help of a super crane paid for by the "Save the Cartanser" fund, the Cartanser Senior was raised, moved five miles to a cove on the west side of Buck Island, and re-sunk. She is now resting in approximately 50 feet of water, leaning on her port side.  The forces of nature have taken their toll on on the ship, leaving it in three distinct pieces. 

Everything from her engine room to her bow has been photographed hundreds of times. Her remains attract not only yellow tails, tang, grouper, and angelfish, but dive boats from all over the island that bring divers to explore the wreckage.  Look carefully on the wreck and you will see lots of purples patches of sergeant major eggs.