Cuan Law Itinerary

There are dozens of anchorages and over one hundred dive sites, so the itinerary varies from week to week and season to season. Some sites are not accessible during the winter months. This is just a sample itinerary to give you some idea of what we do.

Start at noon at CSY Dock, Road Town, Tortola.

1st night: Little Harbor, Peter Island, checkout and night dive

2nd day: Sail to White Bay, Peter Island for diving on Carrot Rock, Carrot Shoal, Painted Walls or Brown Pants Point.

3rd day: Ginger Island, South Bay, offers numerous varied dive sites.

4th day: Cooper Island diving "Wreck Alley" site of various wrecks, the latest being a tug boat 'Beata' sunk by the BVI Dive Operators in November 2001.

Or, if the weather is calm, a early morning sail to wreck of the Chikuzen seven miles out on north side for two dives and then return to Guana Island and dive Times Square or Grand Central.

5th day: Early dive /afternoon and night dive on the H.M.S. Rhone, Salt Island.

6th day: Long Bay, Virgin Gorda, diving sites on western side Virgin Gorda and the Dog Islands. Then on to Baths at Virgin Gorda for BBQ. More diving for those not flying out on within 24 hours at the Blinders or Round Rock. exploring, shopping and beaching for others.

7th morning: Sail to Road Town for drop off.

Three dives are planned each day, including a morning dive after breakfast, an afternoon dive after lunch and a night dive. In between there is time for kayaking, Hobie Cat sailing, snorkeling or even more diving if you wish. When the dive bell rings to announce the next dive interested divers gather at the aft deck for a briefing.

Dive briefings are very thorough using maps we have of each site.  After the briefing you have the choice to follow a dive guide or venture off on your own.

Guests aboard Cuan Law handle their tanks as little as possible. Hand your BC and regulator to the dive crew before the first dive and they handle it from there. You simply step up to the waist-high tank deck, where a crew member has your tank waiting for you to slip into your BC. From there you either giant stride off the aft deck or board the inflatable. After the dive you step up to the tank deck and your tank is taken by the crew to be filled for the next dive and stored out of the way. Almost like checking your coat at a restaurant. Tanks with BCs and regulators in place are stored on the back aft deck out of view of the canopied aft deck. Masks, snorkels and dive accessories are stored conveniently in dive bins located under the seating area which keeps the dive deck from becoming cluttered.

You'll always get a full tank aboard Cuan Law. Below deck, there are two air compressors and a nitrox plant efficiently pumping the 3,000 psi aluminum 100's, 80's, and 63's.

A plush skin is about perfect for the water temperature in the BVI in summer but in winter you'll need a light wet suit. Cuan Law does carry skins for rent, but for wet suits we can arrange shore side rental. The water temperature is between 78 degrees in winter and 82 degrees in summer. If you plan to night dive, make sure you bring your own light. Lights are also available for sale in the "Boatique".

Two equipment rinse tanks and fresh water shower hoses are located at the back of the deck.

Most of the dives are made from the two 21-foot, 115-hp, four cycle custom rigid hull inflatable boats. A wide stairway with sturdy handrails leads down to a large platform where the tender wedges between the platform and the main hull. This is the safest and most stable system in the liveaboard world.

All the tubes, the steps and the flat floor are carpeted for a sure grip for the feet. Fins, masks and cameras are handed down separately to avoid any slips.

At the dive site divers simply back roll into the water from the normal sitting position. Getting back into the boat is almost as simple. A sturdy angled stainless steel ladder with wooden steps swings down from the transom, extending about four feet below the surface, and there are several convenient grab handles so your water exit is safe and easy. The inflatables are manned continuously during dives so you are always assured of a quick pickup, no matter where you surface. With both of the dinghies in the water and Cuan Law moored over a dive site, three different locations can be dived simultaneously, ensuring you won't have to dive with a crowd.

The tenders are also used for shore expeditions and water skiing.

Diving in the BVI

Most of the dives are not deep or demanding, though for the experienced we have a selection of challenging dives. There are some deep sites in the BVI but most of the diving is shallower than 80 feet. Surface conditions are normally quite calm. The 8 to 10 inch tidal range normally doesn't generate swift currents. Another advantage of diving aboard Cuan Law is that Captain won't hesitate to crisscross the islands to put you into the best conditions each day. You can be certain of enjoyable diving any time of the year.

You'll see a year's worth of critters and coral no matter where you go. Although large animals such as Caribbean reef sharks, manta rays, and spotted eagle rays are not uncommon, the British Virgin Islands are known for the incredible diversity of reef fish. Pick up a fish ID book for the Caribbean and you can find almost everything in it here. You will likely see huge Jewish and Cubera snapper, green and spotted morays, various sharks, turtles and rays, all the jacks, pompano, spade fish, permits, tarpon and virtually every reef fish.

All of the waters of the British Virgin Islands are protected under the National Parks Trust who works in association with the BVI Dive Operators to protect the natural abundance of the reefs. Several special areas, such as the wreck of the Rhone, receive extra protection as marine parks. As a result, divers enjoy healthy reefs with an enormous variety of fish. Mooring buoys minimize anchor damage and regulations prohibit damaging or removing any plant or animal, keeping the reefs packed with life. Spear fishing is forbidden and the use of gloves discouraged.

Visibility is normally in the 60 to 100 foot range, with occasional days of 120 feet or more at some dive sites. The water temperature stays between 78 and 82'F most of the year. Plush skins are the favorite apparel aboard Cuan Law but a light wet suit will probably be needed in winter, particularly if you are easily chilled.

There are literally scores of dive sites in the British Virgin Islands, many only visited by Cuan Law. With his thirty five years of diving in the BVI, Duncan has discovered a lot of the established sites and he has a number of spots which only the Cuan Law visits.

Photo & Video Services

Underwater photographers will love the many photo ops a Cuan Law trip allows. Your option to dive at your leisure gives you the chance to capture some of the scenes just not possible when diving with a big group.

The crew members are experienced in handling photo gear. When you hand your camera up after a dive, they will place it carefully in a special rinse barrel. The rinse water is renewed frequently and an extra towel is available for drying your photo equipment. Camera rinse tanks are kept separate from gear rinse tanks. There are six dive deck tables to use for camera gear and set up.

There is ample space in the cabins for storing and reloading cameras. Each cabin has a double 110 volt outlet for convenient battery charging.

Video Services, and camera rental are available in conjunction with Jim Scheiner of Rainbow Visions, Tortola.
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For more information and reservations please contact:

Trimarine c/o Charterport
P.0. Box 8309 PMB 613
Cruz Bay, VI 00831

Phone: 284-494-2490
Fax: 284-494-5774

Email For Availability And Reservations

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