Curtiss C-46A-45-CU Commando

A remarkably intact twin-engine cargo aircraft resting in the shallows off Norman’s Cay — one of the Bahamas’ most unusual wreck dives, with a documented history connected to the island’s notorious 1980s drug-trafficking era.

Overview

The Curtiss C-46A Commando (civil registration N355BY, operated by BWI Leasing) crashed off Norman’s Cay on 15 November 1980 and came to rest in shallow water just off the airstrip; N355BY’s registration was cancelled the same date. There were no fatalities. Aviation-accident-database accounts (Aviation Safety Network, Bureau of Aircraft Accidents Archives) describe a touch-and-go training accident: the aircraft touched down short, the pilot attempted a go-around, clipped an earthen berm tearing the left landing gear loose, and the aircraft came down in the sea just off the runway. Several Bahamas tourism and charter sites (Out Island Life Bahamas, YachtCharterFleet) give a more colorful, less formally sourced account — that the pilot (“British Andy”) was intoxicated, was flying with a Colombian passenger, and that the aircraft was carrying cocaine when it came down short. These two versions of events have not been reconciled in the sources found; the aviation-accident-database version is the more rigorously documented one, but the drug-cargo/intoxication detail recurs across multiple independent Bahamas tourism sources. Norman’s Cay was, between approximately 1978 and 1982, the base of operations for Carlos Lehder’s cocaine trafficking network, so the wreck is historically associated with that period regardless of which account of the crash itself is accurate. The twin-engine C-46 Commando design dates to the 1940s and was widely used postwar for Caribbean freight operations.

Multiple independent sources (Bahamas Air Tours, Out Island Life Bahamas, YachtCharterFleet) describe the wreck as sitting in very shallow water — roughly 3 meters (about 10 feet), with tidal variation — and partially visible above the surface, having been “slightly repositioned by passing hurricanes” over the decades. This is markedly shallower than earlier internal site data suggested; the depth and difficulty rating for this site should be revisited (see audit notes). The wreck is popular with snorkelers as well as divers because of its shallow depth. Norman’s Cay’s crystalline water delivers excellent visibility. Water temperature is 25–28°C seasonally.

Site Information

Detail	Value
Depth Range	~2–4 m (tide-dependent; part of the airframe breaks the surface)
Difficulty	Beginner (shallow, snorkel-accessible); see audit note on prior “Intermediate” rating
Entry Type	Boat
Site Type	Wreck
Visibility	25–35 m
Current	Light
Water Temp	25–28°C

Marine Life

No source found during this audit names specific fish or invertebrate species observed at this particular wreck. General accounts describe the site as colonised by “a rainbow of different fish and marine life” and functioning as an artificial reef, and note that the surrounding Exuma reef habitat supports parrotfish, angelfish, and grouper along with lobsters and small reef fish — but these are regional descriptions, not confirmed site-specific sightings at the aircraft itself. Divers should expect typical shallow Exuma Cays reef fish and invertebrate life on and around the airframe, but no species list here should be treated as verified for this specific site.

Dive Profile

Given the shallow, tide-dependent depth (roughly 2–4 m, with part of the fuselage sometimes breaking the surface), this is a short, leisurely dive or snorkel rather than a deep excursion. The cockpit, fuselage, and wing sections can each be examined in sequence at a relaxed pace. A complete circuit of the compact airframe takes 20–30 minutes; total time in the water, including multiple passes and photography, is typically 30–45 minutes.

Entry and Exit

Boat dive accessed via Norman’s Cay or Exuma-based operators, or liveaboard. Norman’s Cay is remote — this site requires either an overnight stay or a liveaboard. Entry by giant stride. The sandy surroundings mean easy navigation for exit. DSMB recommended.

Tips and Recommendations

A torch helps illuminate the interior of the fuselage and engine nacelles, where the encrusted surfaces reveal the most marine life. The aircraft’s wings provide an excellent wide-angle composition element — approach from the nose end for the classic front-of-aircraft shot. This is a unique subject among Bahamas dive sites — the aircraft wreck is a very different experience from the ship wrecks available elsewhere in the archipelago.

Safety Considerations

The aircraft interior should not be penetrated further than arm’s length without wreck diving training. The fuselage interior is narrow and silt disturbance can rapidly reduce visibility. Because the wreck sits in very shallow, tide-dependent water with sections sometimes breaking the surface, be alert to surface chop, boat traffic, and reduced clearance above the structure. The remote Exuma location means emergency support is further away than Nassau sites. Dive or snorkel conservatively.

Photography

An aircraft wreck in crystal-clear Bahamas water is an exceptional photography subject. Wide-angle captures the full aircraft silhouette against the sandy bottom and blue water above. Close-focus wide-angle on the cockpit nose section is a classic image. The encrusted propellers and engine nacelles are excellent macro and close-up subjects.

Additional Resources

• Norman’s Cay and Exuma liveaboard operators provide access to this site
• Bahamas liveaboard vessels frequently include Norman’s Cay in Exuma Cays itineraries

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Sources: Aviation Safety Network - N355BY accident record, Bureau of Aircraft Accidents Archives - Norman’s Cay crash, Wikipedia - List of accidents and incidents involving the Curtiss C-46 Commando, Bahamas Air Tours - Norman’s Cay Plane Wreck, Out Island Life Bahamas - The Plane Wreck of Norman’s Cay, YachtCharterFleet - Pablo Escobar’s Plane Wreck Dive Site. Last updated 2026-07-17.