BVI WRECK WEEK

Aimed at encouraging more people to discover the magic of the underwater world, the BVI Wreck Week (May 17-24) was a great success. The week included a treasure hunt, PADI Project Aware Reef and Beach Clean Up Day, and several wreck diving certification courses. Open to all divers of all ages, the event concluded with a big party on Cooper Island that included a pumpkin carving contest and a beach BBQ. There are more than 100 dive sites in the BVI, and the underwater vistas are among the world’s most breathtaking. Dives off the Sir Frances Drake Channel includes ledges, caves, canyons, wrecks and sponge-encrusted walls. Although there are many wrecks to dive, two of the more popular sites include The Chikuzen and The Rhone. The Chikuzen lies at a depth of 75’ six miles north of Beef Island. The ship was sunk in 1981. The full 246’ length of this once-refrigerated vessel is teeming with fish of every description, including big rays, horse-eyed jacks, barracudas and more. The wreck of the RMS Rhone is a royal mail steam packet that sunk off of Salt Island during a hurricane. It lies well-preserved in two halves on a sandy bottom. Her steel wreckage is home to many species of fish and encrusting corals. The bow section, laying in about 80’ of water, reveals the coral encrusted cargo hold and other interior chambers. The wreckage field reveals the ship’s foremast complete with crow’s nest and the bow spirit lying in the sand. The stern section contains the ship’s engine, prop shaft and enormous propellers. Part of the BVI National Parks Trust, this is the perfect two tank dive. Click iff you would like to learn more diving in the Caribbean, including arranging rendezvous diving on your charter.
– Donna

Click for more information on a Caribbean Sailing Vacation.