Diving in the British Virgin Islands
Dive Sites of the British Virgin Islands
The British Virgin Islands have many of the best dive sites in the world. 
Divers from all over the world visit these islands, vacation aboard a yacht, enjoying the sailing, weather, food and drink, and especially enjoying the beautiful underwater world.
Sunken ships, coral reefs, underwater pinnacles, sea mounts, boulder and rocky ledges, provide haven for all kinds of sea life, from neon tropicals to cruising pelagics, each encounter is truly enchanting.
The dive sites below are rated by most dive experts as the "Top 10 Dive Sites of the BVI's". Take a tour of the sites and plan which sites you want to dive on your next jolly mon sailing yacht charter!
The R.M.S. Rhone,
Angel Reef,
Painted Walls,
Alice's Wonderland,
The Indians,
Blonde Rock,
Bronco Billy's,
Rhone Reef,
The Marie L and Blue Chromis Reef, and
The Rhocus.
"Top 10 Dive Sites of the BVI's"
The R.M.S. Rhone lays off Salt Island in three distinct sections. A 310 twin-masted steamer, the Rhone is regarded by as a classic by wreck divers. She lays in 30'-90' of water. Marine life is abundant, particularly inside the hollow bow structure. The bow structure is a cavelike area that transforms day into night when you are inside, but a safe exit is always visible.
At night, the Rhone comes to life when the polyps in the coral growth that envelops her hull open up. Octopus, eels, shrimp, rays, and squid are all common visitors as well as permanent residents.
Angel Reef off Norman Island has shallow canyons rising to the surface, and has a rock and coral bottom with a grassy bed bordering the reef. This site is a crossroads for species from different habitats. Nudibranchs, blennies, jawfish, soldier fish, and an assortment of angelfish are common sights.
Pained Walls at Dead Chest Island is a five fingered canyon covered in colorful sponges and soft corals. This shallow site is a visual joy, as the light plays through it's arches and crevices. Well camouflaged frogfish live here, and squid patrol the area daily.
Alice's Wonderland off of Ginger Island has some of the best coral formations in the BVI's. Just offshore in depths of 30'-60' Staghorn coral is piled in layers creating a fairy tale landscape of coral stacks up to 20' feet high!
A heathy grouper population abounds here. This site is still a virtually untouched dive site, and is a great site for night dives.
The Indians located just off of Norman Island, these three cone-shaped rock formations rise from 36' feet of water to 30' out of the water. This is a great site for macro photography! Shallow pools on the rocks eastern side fill with silversides during the summer, inviting a feeding frenzy of rays, barracudas, groupers, boobies, and pelicans.
Blonde Rock at Salt Island Passage is the shallow reef that the Rhone tried to miss, and did only to hit Black Rock during the hurricane of 1867. Blonde Rock is a coral ledge with many caves, crevices, and deep holes. Lobster can be seen here during the late afternoon and early evening. Remember there is no lobstering allowed in the BVI's!
Bronco Billy's at the Dogs was named by Jacque Cousteau. It was his favorite dive site in the BVI's. High arches, and deep cutting canyons create a maze for exploration. The elusive clingfish can be spotted here.
Rhone Rock about 125' south of Black Rock near the wreck, this site is one of the most beautiful locations for macro and close-up wide angle photography. Hundreds of fish specimen congregate at this site.
The Marie L and Blue Chromis Reef at Cooper Island is a scuttled 90' freighter laying on the edge of a sand bar where small sharks patrol a mass of iridescent blue chromis. Visibility exceeds 90' here, and grass eel colonies blanket the sandy bottom surrounding the wreck.
The Rhocus located off Anegada, this wreck went down in the shallow waters of the horseshoe reef while carrying cattle bone destined to become fertilizer. There is an eerie feeling to this site scattered with large cattle bones and populated by large fish. It is a very isolated site, far from shore, and is affected by heavy surf.
jolly mon sailing
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