BVI
BVI
In a word, the diving is exceptional. There is such a variety of dive sites that every day
you'll be able to explore yet another aspect of the BVI's unique topography. From remote
offshore pinnacles to lush coral gardens and fantastic shipwrecks; no two dives are alike and
each of the over 70 established sites has its own special attractions.
Most of the diving is done on the islands and rocks that line the Sir Francis Drake Channel. Their
outlying location assures superior visibility and healthy coral. No matter what the weather, there are
alwavs calm, protected places to dive. Because there are so many dive sites and so few dive boats, many of
the sites are rarely visited.
BVI dives tend to last a while -one of the benefits of the
rate (20 to 80 feet) depths and a customer-comes-first
approach to diving. The Indians is one of those special
sites that is perfect for both scuba divers and
snorkelers. Its calm protected waters and easy
navigation make it ideal for either following a
guided tour or exploring solo with your dive buddy.
You'll find the slower you go, the more you'll see
cleaning stations galore, jewfish excavating their
burrows, glassy sweepers dancing in unison in a
small cave. More of Nature's Little Secrets revealed.
The Chimney, on Great Dog near Virgin Gorda, is a similarly
rated dive. These sites, and scores of others, are ideal for
divers of all experience levels.
Some of the more spectacular dives are on remote sea mounts laced with dramatic ledges and undercuts.
Blonde Rock, Santa Monica Rock and the Invisibles are teeming with schools of fish and offer the likely
possibility of encounters with larger pelagies such as tarpon, amberjack, sharks and turtles.
The best wreck dive in the Caribbean lies in the calm waters of the BVI.
The RMS Rhone was a 310-foot iron-hulled steam sailor that sank
off Salt Island in the grat Hurricane of 1867. More than a century's
worth of marine growth has transformed its remains into an object of sublime beauty. Evocative of a
sunken Atlantis, five sets of "Greek columns," as well as two huge masts and a massive propeller await your
descent. At 75 feet, the intact bow section invites safe penetration. Legions of friendlv fish round out the attraction.
Over the centuries, Anegada's treacherous Horseshoe Reef has claimed hundreds of wooden ships,
though today little remains to be seen. Other more modern and more conveniently located wrecks include
the Fearless, the Marie L, the Pat and the recently sunk 146-foot Inganess Bay, as well as the remains of
an airplane off Great Dog.
Seven miles out in the open Atlantic, halfway to Anegada, lies the exciting wreck of the Chikuzen. Sunk
in August of 1981, it has become a fertile oasis-attracting marine life from miles around.
