Am going to BVI in March using Moorings. Planning to scuba. Any comments on dive sites? Our plan is to bring gear on boat and make a couple of dives - dependent on where we are able to dock for the day. Assume shorty wet suit is adequate for dives to 40-50 feet? What about equipment rental? Last Stop Sports is located on the Moorings dock. Any experience with using them?Any other general comments on diving in the BVI appreciated.
Scuba in BVI
- Thread starter Pat T
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Scuba not really necessary in BVI
We hauled our gear there last year and loaded it on our Moorings charter boat. The only place you really need it is on the wreck of the Rhone. The most beautiful underwater sights were all accessible by snorkeling. "The Indians" are a great site. We had friends who used the service on the Moorings dock and they were pleased. We all said when we returned that we weren't sure it was worth the trouble since the snorkeling was so great.
Enjoy your trip to paradise!
Agaliha
We hauled our gear there last year and loaded it on our Moorings charter boat. The only place you really need it is on the wreck of the Rhone. The most beautiful underwater sights were all accessible by snorkeling. "The Indians" are a great site. We had friends who used the service on the Moorings dock and they were pleased. We all said when we returned that we weren't sure it was worth the trouble since the snorkeling was so great.
Enjoy your trip to paradise!
Agaliha
If you’re only planning on a couple of dives I’d be sure to dive the wreck of the Rhone on the West side of Salt Island, it’s world class. It’s too much to do in a single dive, plan on two. The bow section is at 70 feet, the stern is much shallower.
The Wreck of the Rhone, bow section on its stbd side
Another excellent wreck is the Inganess Bay, a tramp freighter sitting upright in 80 feet of water between Salt Island and Cooper Island. The deck and superstructure are considerably shallower.
Inganess Bay windlass on the bow
Inganess Bay forward mast
We made other reef dives, Alice’s Backside (Northwest side of Ginger Island), Diamond Reef at Marina Cay and the Caves (West side of Norman Island). We made a night dive at Diamond Reef, excellent macro photography. We never made it out to the Chikuzen wreck, half way to Anegada. Maybe next time.
From the night dive, a brittle star makes its home in tube coral (about 1" diameter)
Also from the night dive, a usually shy featherduster
Most sites are well marked with mooring buoys so with a little bit of research you’ll be able to find your way around. Our trip was in late May and none of us ever wore a wet suit. Keeps you sharp on buoyancy control to avoid abrasion. If you’re pretty fit, it also means no weight belt. We brought our own gear, rented tanks and weights locally.
The Wreck of the Rhone, bow section on its stbd side
Another excellent wreck is the Inganess Bay, a tramp freighter sitting upright in 80 feet of water between Salt Island and Cooper Island. The deck and superstructure are considerably shallower.
Inganess Bay windlass on the bow
Inganess Bay forward mast
We made other reef dives, Alice’s Backside (Northwest side of Ginger Island), Diamond Reef at Marina Cay and the Caves (West side of Norman Island). We made a night dive at Diamond Reef, excellent macro photography. We never made it out to the Chikuzen wreck, half way to Anegada. Maybe next time.
From the night dive, a brittle star makes its home in tube coral (about 1" diameter)
Also from the night dive, a usually shy featherduster
Most sites are well marked with mooring buoys so with a little bit of research you’ll be able to find your way around. Our trip was in late May and none of us ever wore a wet suit. Keeps you sharp on buoyancy control to avoid abrasion. If you’re pretty fit, it also means no weight belt. We brought our own gear, rented tanks and weights locally.
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We went in May, last year. No diving, just snorkel. Indians is a must. Lots of moorings available in May. Snorkeled over the Rhone, only place I wished to dive. The caves were neat, look very closely at the walls. All sorts of life in the holes that others missed. The Baths were pretty good too, we were the first to moor as we stay in the Bitter End and got up early, head north around the rocks, less touristas. We saw turtles between Salt and Cooper. I'm a coral junkie, snorkeled Cozemel, Most of Fla, Tulum,Bahamas, Jamica(blaaa) but BVI had the best reefs except I saw a lot of people breaking off live coral heads :[
BVI Diving
We were there in April 2008. And dove on the Rhone there is a dive shop on Cooper Island you can book with them the day before. We also dove at the west end of Jost Van Dyke there is also a dive shop there. We dove on about a 50ft sailboat that was found there a few years ago it is in about 90ft of water and fully intack it is just like someone pulled the plug and sank it. But I agree with the previous posts, the snorkeling is great.
Trunk Bay
Wife and I took a Princess Cruise there two years ago so we only had one day on the island. We took a boat over to Trunk Bay. I don't know about the rest of the spots but that place has got to be one of the most beautiful in the world. Took a snorkel around the small island. It is a reserve and I think the fish know it, they re fearless. I saw a large school of fish. Each was only about 5'' long but together, moving in unison they looked like one 29' giant fish. I was able to swim right through them, it was amazing. While taking this picture, I vowed to anchor there someday.
Wife and I took a Princess Cruise there two years ago so we only had one day on the island. We took a boat over to Trunk Bay. I don't know about the rest of the spots but that place has got to be one of the most beautiful in the world. Took a snorkel around the small island. It is a reserve and I think the fish know it, they re fearless. I saw a large school of fish. Each was only about 5'' long but together, moving in unison they looked like one 29' giant fish. I was able to swim right through them, it was amazing. While taking this picture, I vowed to anchor there someday.
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Dive Parks in BVI
We bareboated in bvi's a few yrs ago. Our charter TMM, arranged for tanks to be delivered on board. We used their equipment. They have "dive parks" there. Look on-line. We bought a book. Some of the dive areas have temp/2-3 hour moorings and the guide book maps the dive. Check w/moorings, i am sure they can arrange this. Or you can call a local dive shop.
Have fun. Bob
We bareboated in bvi's a few yrs ago. Our charter TMM, arranged for tanks to be delivered on board. We used their equipment. They have "dive parks" there. Look on-line. We bought a book. Some of the dive areas have temp/2-3 hour moorings and the guide book maps the dive. Check w/moorings, i am sure they can arrange this. Or you can call a local dive shop.
Have fun. Bob
One more thing.....
having our own tanks, that the dive shop would replenish (for a fee), we could also just take the dink out and dive the local reef in the am before heading out for the next stop. With 100-150' vis and 80 F water, diving is good. Depending on time of year watch for jellyfish, i think box jellies are down there. My son got hit by something. So dont hang too long on the surface.
Bob
having our own tanks, that the dive shop would replenish (for a fee), we could also just take the dink out and dive the local reef in the am before heading out for the next stop. With 100-150' vis and 80 F water, diving is good. Depending on time of year watch for jellyfish, i think box jellies are down there. My son got hit by something. So dont hang too long on the surface.
Bob
Box jelly fish in the Carribbean are small but a sting can cause breathing failure. You'll need to get to a hospital ASAP if stung.
http://library.thinkquest.org/C007974/2_1box.htm
http://library.thinkquest.org/C007974/2_1box.htm
The box jelly fish is probably the most lethal marine animal in the world. The toxins from its sting attack the heart and skin. The toxin travels rapidly through the blood stream and can kill before the victim reaches shore. To remove the tentacles they first have to made inactive by applying white vinegar. Attempting to pull them off without de-actifying will only lead to more serious injury. If the victim survives the first day the excruciating pain can last for several weeks and leave sever scaring.
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