An easy trip to make from the EU or the US, and a relatively short distance from other places as well, the British Virgin Islands are deserving of their popularity, as the opportunities for fun and relaxation never seem to end. With clear blue water and countless species of marine life, it is not surprising that divers from all over the world seek solace from everyday cares here. While there are reefs galore, and plenty of fantastic scenery to take in, some of the best diving you will find at the British Virgin Islands can be had on the many wrecks that surround them. Here are three favorites not to miss.
The Chikuzen
Lying 75 feet beneath the water, the wreck of the Chikuzen can only be visited when conditions are calm. This wreck is somewhat remote and requires an effort to reach, but once the ship’s 246 foot silhouette is seen as you descend, you will forget all about the travel time.
Built in Shimizu Japan, this refrigeration vessel used to ply the waters of St. Maarten in search of some of the very fish that now live and hunt in and around her decaying remains. Intentionally scuttled here after a fire, this wreck is the only place for marine life to congregate for miles. Here, you will find horse eye jacks, Atlantic spadefish, pompano, reef sharks and sleepy nurse sharks, stingrays and eagle rays, and swirling shoals of snapper and smaller baitfish too numerous to count. Eels and goliath groupers sometimes poke their heads out to greet divers, and colorful growth coats the entire structure.
Subject to currents and swells, the wreck is somewhat unstable and cannot be penetrated, however you can see inside from the outer reaches, and the structure is large enough that it requires more than one dive to fully explore.
RMS Rhone
Commissioned almost 150 years ago, in 1865, the Royal Mail Steamship Rhone was tasked with carrying mail and passengers to the Caribbean from London. With over 300 passenger cabins, both steam and sail power, and splendid riggings, this ship was 310 feet long and had one of the first steam-driven cast propellers.
The Rhone was only two years old, when on October 29th, 1867, a hurricane caused her demise. When the captain tried to make it to open water to avoid capsizing, he was washed overboard. The passengers had all been tied to the ship’s structure by the crew, as they could not swim, and when the ship sank, no one survived.
Split into two main sections just off Salt Island, the ghostly remains of the Rhone can be seen from the surface. The stern is in 35 feet of water and the bow section is in 80 feet, with lifeboat davits and the prow still intact. Considered to be one of the world’s best wreck dives, the old ship is easy to penetrate and is inhabited by schooling snappers and jacks, big barracuda, and shoals of sennets. The entire hull is covered in orange cup corals, and colorful sponges hold many tiny creatures. The propeller is still here, as are many personal effects and other artifacts. Night dives are commonly available on this wreck, where calm conditions and clear water create a fitting resting place for the ship and a paradise for divers.
Inganess Bay
Deployed as an artificial reef in 1996, the Inganess Bay is a 136 foot island freighter which sits just to the south of Cooper Island. Upright and completely intact, the wreck’s keel is at 95 feet and her masts can be accessed at 45 feet.
Built in Holland in 1950, the ship was first used in Scotland, and then traveled the Caribbean trade routes between Trinidad and Puerto Rico. Today, she is slowly gaining a colorful coating of coral and sponge growth, and a variety of marine life has discovered that the wreck is a great place to call home. Carefully prepped for divers prior to being sunk, the Inganess Bay wreck is easy to penetrate, and can be seen from the moment you enter the water. Watch for lizardfish and snappers, grunts and barracuda, and plenty of colorful invertebrates and crustaceans, and keep an eye out for the occasional shark as well.
Whether you are new to diving or have been logging bottom time for longer than you can remember, you’re certain to love these wrecks and the many others which await in the British Virgin Islands. Be sure to choose your dive operator and book in advance, since trips can fill up quickly!