Virgin Islands Liveaboard Diving

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Dive Sites and Areas of Virgin Islands

Wreck of the Rhone Probably the greatest dive tour option on a Virgin Islands itinerary. RMS Rhone has been a dive spot since 1975. Lots of parts of this ship are still surprisingly intact including a 15 ft propellor. You get a feel for the sheer size of the ship as you descend towards it. A favourite for many not just wreck enthusiasts.

Wreck of the Chikuzen This Korean refrigerator vessel was based in St. Maarten and is 246 foot. It used to service Japanese fishing fleets. In 1981 when warned to remove the ship before a hurricane the owners decided a great way to solve the problem was set it alight and send it adrift. This caused chaos and the Marina Cay area was under threat so tugboats tried to remove the ship eventuating in the attempt causing huge problems. Finally it sunk and now is an artificial reef for divers to enjoy.

Round Rock A lack of current on the British Virgin Islands means comfort on simple drift dives like this. Round Rock Drift is an underwater swim in the gap between two sets of exposed rocks. Large boulders here are covered in encrusted corals, soft corals and sponges. Schools of Bar Jacks, Brown Chromis and Creole Wrasse make their homes here.

The Blinders This dive tour takes you round gigantic boulders at 35 feet deep. They are heaped everywhere you look on this dive, covered in soft and fire corals and on the bottom sponges and orange cup corals. Many swim throughs on this dive and interesting overhangs offer you up snappers and squirrelfish. If you're lucky watch a Nurse shark swim by, or a Hawksbill Turtle.

When To Go

Enjoy your liveaboard boats in the Virgin Islands year round. Here you can expect surface temperatures of 24-32 degrees celsius and water temperatures at around 24 - 27 degrees celsius. You will enjoy 18- 30 meters visibility. All in all making for great dive safari conditions. Check the conditions carefully to plan your wetsuit choices, whilst most should be good in a shorty others may need a 5mm full suit in these waters.

Tips For Travellers

The currency at the Virgin Islands is the US dollar. You will need to remember your travel adapters for American plug types (110V) if you wish to charge the all important camera so you can take your memories away with you. Visa requirements will differ for different passport holders please check with your government's website for updates on this. Sun cream is all important when BVI diving, the temperatures may not feel too hot but when on deck you will need to keep yourself protected.

How To Get There & Ports Of Departure

Liveaboard boats in the Virgin Islands depart from Tortula. This port can be reached by flights through San Juan, Puerto Rico. Direct flights to San Juan are available from many U.S. cities. A less expensive option is to fly to St Thomas and take the short ferry (1 hour) across to Tortula.

Considerations

Luxury liveaboard options here cost in the region of $400 per person per day including marine park fees, port taxes and fuel charges. Dive equipment, Nitox, travel insurance and gratuities are not included. It is a place to visit as a beginner diver as well as some sites for the more experienced divers needing a challenge. You can customise your trip to include enhancing your skills with tailor made teaching packages available onboard. When visiting British Virgin Islands you will need passports with at least 6 months validity on entry, a spare page for a stamp and you must check with your home country's government website about visa requirements.