05-24-07 02 Oro Verde and Paradise Reef

The "Oro Verde" was a freighter that was originally known by another name and traded Bananas all over the Caribbean. After more places started producing Bananas, the ship had very little use and the story is they tried to make one last big run with a boat full of Green Gold (or Ganja as the locals call it). When the Cayman Port Authority discovered the shippment, the men were arrested and the cargo was burnt on the north east side of the island. Only problem there is that the prevaling winds blow in off the Atlantic across the island back towards George Town, so the heavy smoke made it to town! The ship sat unused in the bay for a while and was eventually auctioned off. The only and winning bid was for $1 from a local dive operator that stripped and sank the ship for diving. The wreck sat in one piece in about 80 feet of water until Hurricane Ivan tore it apart and moved it inland about 350 yards. Now the deepest part of the boat sits in 52'. We did the dive to 52' for 56 minutes and saw a really cool Spotted Drum, a Tiger Grouper, a Peacock Flounder, and a Southern Ray.