The
British Virgin Islands are volcanic outcrops
of a vast underwater plateau that stretches
for more than 70 miles where the Caribbean
meets the Atlantic. Tortola, Virgin Gorda,
Jost Van Dyke, Anegada, and more than
60 other smaller islands form a protective
ring around the crystal-clear aquamarine
water known as the Sir Francis Drake Channel.
They create a sheltered paradise of secluded
coves, calm shores and sweeping beaches.
This extraordinary setting provides outstanding
underwater visibility, healthy coral and
a wide variety of exotic dive sites, with
air temperatures between 80 and 90 degrees
Fahrenheit year-round. Countless reefs,
towering coral pinnacles, underwater caves,
lava tunnels, canyons, massive boulders
and grottoes are strewn across this vast
submerged shelf, creating a choice of
dive sites that range from shallows for
the novice snorkeller to dramatic sea
caverns and extraordinary shipwrecks for
the experienced scuba diver.
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Diving
in BVI waters where visibility may reach more
than 100 feet is always a thrill, and many beginning
divers choose to get certified here. Dive shops
make it simple for students to take an entire
course during their holiday. Or, if you've already
begun your certification process, you can complete
your open water daytime or nighttime dives in
calm, warm seas protected from high wind and
waves.
A
marine park system and mooring buoy programme
administered by the National Parks Trust and
the Ministry of Natural Resources are dedicated
to the preservation of reefs and marine life.
These conservation efforts have resulted in
vibrant reefs and abundant fish populations.
Tiny invertebrates, drum fish, octopus, grouper,
crab, starfish, spiny lobster, golden moray
eels, yellowtail and barracuda provide visitors
to the British Virgin Islands with superb opportunities
for underwater exploration and photography.
Accessing
this extraordinary undersea realm is easy. Land-based
divers can lodge at world-class resorts, quiet
villas or campgrounds. No matter which island
you choose, there are professional dive operators
to help you with snorkelling, dives in sheltered
coves off secluded beaches, or moonlit dives
in protected marine parks. For those who wish
to make diving and boating the focus of their
holiday, the options range from adventurous
to luxurious. Guided tours of Smuggler's Cove
on Tortola, Great Dog Island, Blonde Rock, or
dozens of other sites are one possibility. Boating
aficionados can charter their own yacht, hire
a professional who knows these waters and set
their personal diving itinerary. For the ultimate
luxury experience, hire a crew to do all the
work – perhaps even on one of the world's
largest trimarans.
A
tank and a regulator will allow for a closer
look at the region's numerous coral gardens,
many in less than 30 feet of warm aquamarine
waters. The Caves at Norman Island are rumoured
to have been the inspiration for Robert Louis
Stevenson's classic adventure tale Treasure
Island. At Joe's Cave, an underwater cavern
on West Dog Island, divers can swim alongside
giant grouper, eagle rays or flowing schools
of glassy sweepers. The Chimney at Great Dog
Island near Virgin Gorda reveals a coral archway
and canyon covered with a wide variety of sponges
and coral, including the rare white variety.
Swarms
of schooling jacks circle the tops of submerged
sea-mounts that rise from the depths to within
a few feet of the surface. Divers can explore
crevices and undercut ledges as they spiral
down to depths approaching 100 feet, perhaps
catching a glimpse of a tarpon, amberjack, turtle,
or shark, and listening for the songs of migrating
whales.
For
adventure-seekers, many fascinating shipwrecks
lie scattered across the ocean floor. If you're
a novice, choose from sheltered wrecks like
the Rokus off the southeast tip of Anegada,
or the Chikuzen off Tortola's East End, a 268-foot
steel-hulled refrigerator ship blessed with
visibility so good you can stand on the bow
and see all the way to the stern. More advanced
divers can explore the Rhone off Salt Island,
a British mail ship sunk in a storm in 1867,
generally recognised as the best dive site in
the Caribbean.
In
the British Virgin Islands, there is much to
explore with just a snorkel and mask at one
of the many incomparable dive sites around 60
islands and cays. Spring Bay in Virgin Gorda
has a gorgeous sandy beach perfect for snorkelling.
Nearby at The Baths, an extraordinary natural
landscape awaits, with partially submerged grottoes
created by huge boulders that were scattered
by ancient volcanic activity. Snorkellers can
tour giant boulder fields or immerse themselves
in coral-encrusted shallows. Brewer's Bay on
Tortola holds schools of trumpet fish, barracuda,
octopus, stingrays and sergeant majors, and
Smuggler's Cove at the northwest end of the
island, offers two reefs, just 100 feet offshore,
which are the playground of grunts, squirrel
fish and parrot fish. Off Anegada, the wreck
of the Parmatta, which ran aground in 1853 on
her maiden voyage, provides an opportunity to
see butterfly fish, turtles and huge groupers.
| Scuba
Diving Schools in The Virgin Islands |
Aqua
Venture
Address:
Phone: (1-284) 494-4320 |
Aquaventure's
Scuba
Address: Road Town, Inner Harbour Marina
Mailing Address: P.O. Box 837
Phone: (1-284) 494-4320
Fax: (1-284) 494-5608 |
Baskin
In The Sun
Address: Prospec Reef Resort, Road Town
Mailing Address: P.O. Box 108
Phone: (1-284) 494-2858 / (1-888) 451-2275
Fax: (1-284) 494-4304 |
Blue
Water Divers
Address: Nanny Call Marina, Road Town
Mailing Address: P.O. Box 846
Phone: (1-284) 494-2847
Fax: (1-284) 494-0198 |
Dive
BVI, Ltd.
Address: Leverick Bay, The Valley
Phone: (1-284) 495-5513 / (1-800) 848-7078
Fax: (1-284) 495-5347 |
Dive
Tortola
Address: Road Town, (Prospect Reef Resort)
Phone: (1-284) 494-9200 |
High
Sea Adventures, Ltd.
Address: East End, Penn's Landing Marina
Mailing Address: P.O. Box 500
Phone: (1-284) 495-1300
Fax: (1-284) 495-1301 |
Kilbrides
Sunchaser Scuba
Address: Bitter End, The Valley
Mailing Address: P.O. Box 46
Phone: (1-284) 495-9638
Fax: (1-284) 495-7549 |
Sail
Caribbean Divers
Address: Hodges Creek Marina
Phone: (1-284) 495-1675 |
Sail
Caribbean Sail / Dive School
Address: Hodge's Creek Marina
Phone: (1-800) 321-0094 |
Sail
Caribbean Sail / Dive School
Address: Hodges Creek Marina
Phone: (1-631) 754-2202 / (1-800) 321-0994
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Underwater
Safaris ( VHF Ch. 16)
Address: Wickhams Cay ll, Road Town
Mailing Address: P.O. Box 139
Phone: (1-284) 494-3235
Fax: (1-284) 494-5322 |
Links
& Sources:
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