The DI low-temperature photoluminescence center is a well-known defect stable up to 1700°C annealing in SiC, still its structure is not known after decades of study. Combining experimental and theoretical studies in this paper we will show that the properties of an anti-site pair can reproduce the measured one-electron level position and local vibration modes of the D I center and the model is consistent with other experimental findings as well. We give theoretical values of the hyperfine constants of the anti-site pair in its paramagnetic state as a means to confirm our model. © 2003 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.