Montana

(name has been changed several times)

Historical Data

An elusive ship of multiple identities, often operating under the name of Nola, Gloria, Paramount, and Montana, she was a Civil War blockade runner that made trips between England, Bermuda, and North Carolina. Built in Glasgow, Scotland, this state of the art sleek 236-foot side paddlewheel steamer could run at 15 knots.

However, the shallow reefs of Bermuda accomplished what no Union gunboat could do, and she sank in December 1863. She now lies in 30 feet of water, still partially intact. The wreck is marked by two steam boilers and two paddlewheel frames lying on their sides. She is adorned with beautiful soft and hard corals.

The wreck was never lost and was always known as a fishing site.

The Montana sits alongside the Constellation and with her dramatic paddlewheels is the center point for the many glass bottom boat, snorkeling and diving tours that visit the area.

Field schools and researchers hosted by The Bermuda Maritime Museum carried out several surveys and created maps of the site many times between 1985 and 2000.

This wreck is part of the Bermuda Shipwreck Certificate Program instituted by the Department of Tourism (see attached). It is also buoyed under the Bermuda Dive Sites program established by the Marine Environmental Committee of the Bermuda National Trust in association with the Ministry of the Environment and is a protected site with a 500m no fishing limitation.