This British overseas territory is part of a volcanic archipelago comprising of 60-odd islands from which only four are of a significant size: Virgin Gorda, Tortola, Anegada, and Jost Van Dyke. The rest are small islands and some are no more than a few rocks sticking out of the sea. This is what this Caribbean gem stands out the most because that's where the secrets lie below the surface, waiting to be explored.
Photo: © Mickael Taillier
Some of the best diving can be found around Dead Chest Island, an uninhabited National Park. Not only this is a perfect dive site for novice divers but series of canyons and colorful reef is also what draw divers all around the world here. If you are after some of rarely dived sites, exposed to the ocean, then Seal Dog Rocks is just the job. A very exciting dive especially at night. We won't spoil the surprise but shrimps are what you should look for here.
Photo: © Mickael Taillier
Photo: © Mickael Taillier
There are many great sites in this Caribbien paradise that would take a good deal of text to describe such us the Chikuzen or the Marie L and Pat but one of them stands out of them all the most: the majestic RMS Rhone. Situated within a protected National Marine Park, stretching from Lee Bay on Salt Island westward to include Dead Chest Island, the RMS Rhone a British Royal Mail Steamer, which sunk during the hurricane of 1867 with 125 people on board is to be found. At 310 feet long and 40 feet wide, the wreck lies in two main parts in waters between 30 and 90 feet deep. Much of it is still intact and visible, including decking, parts of the rigging, the steam engine, and propeller.
The RMS Rhone; Photo: © Mickael Taillier
Vanishing Rock, located near the RMS Rhone, is a shallow coral reef that is home to some colorful and interesting wildlife; Photo: © Mickael Taillier
The ship's anchor broke away outside Great Harbour, Peter Island, and this site forms the second portion of the park. The park is used by several commercial dive operators daily. Other dive sites in the park include Rhone Reef, Blonde Rock, and Painted Walls. Anchoring is strictly prohibited in the area in and around the Rhone. Apart from what many voted as one of the ten best wreck dives in the world, the Salt Island boast also a great array of fringing reef habitat and sea grass beds.
Tortola's centre
Cooper Island's branch
Norman Island's shop
Based at the Hodges Creek Marina, East End, Mariner Inn and Marina in Road Town Tortola and with satellite locations on Cooper Island in Manchioneel Bay and on Norman Island in the Bight, Sail Caribbean Divers is the premier diving centre in the BVI. Owned by Mike and Melisande Rowe, who have combined their thirty-five years of expertise in the dive industry to cater to every level of diving experience, you might want to check those guys out. Sail Caribbean Divers opened its doors in 1999 as the scuba diving branch of Sail Caribbean, which has been doing business in the BVI for over 30 years.
Step aboard Endeavour, the Queen of the fleet, a 46 foot custom-built dive boat or Discovery, a 36 foot custom-built dive boat. Other Sail Caribbean Divers dive vessels include two custom built 26 foot Newton dive boats.
meet the team
Their professional dive guides will deliver thorough pre-dive briefings to include historical points of interest, marine life and a complete description of underwater sights and topography. You can even join them for a day of “Wreckreation” diving the RMS Rhone, the Chikuzen or the Marie L and Pat, provided wreck diving is your thing. But even if it doesn't, we recommend to dive at least one of them and discover the history and traditions of the seafarers that navigated these waters over the centuries.
Photos: © SCD/Mickael Taillier
Source: http://www.sailcaribbeandivers.com
