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1)
Santa Monica Rock - Off Norman Island (weather permitting)
A
truly spectacular dive site and one of our favourites! The
site ranges in depth from 20 to 100 feet. The underwater
topography is made up of a series of rocky pinnacles, some
rising to just 10 feet below the surface. At Santa Monica
Rock, you may have the opportunity to see reef sharks, sea
turtles and eagle rays among others.
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2)
Angelfish Reef - Norman Island
Angelfish
reef runs from 30 to 80 foot depths and is exposed to the
open, Caribbean Sea. As a result, it is frequented by several
large and impressive, deep water species such as eagle rays
and southern stingrays. The sparkling white, sandy bottom
at The reef is host to many bottom dwellers including snake
eels and Moray eels.
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3)
The Indians - Off Norman Island
Whether
scuba diving or snorkeling, the Indians are a favourite
for all ages and abilities! This marvelously unique rock
formation, looms out of the water from a depth of approximately
10ft to 50ft and features a tunnel which divers (with scuba
equipment) may pass through to the other side. There is
a spectacular variety of corals at the Indians as well as
an abundance of reef fish.
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4)
Rainbow Canyons - Pelican Island
This
is an ideal dive site for beginner and advanced scuba divers
and has a spectacular array of coral formations. Rainbow
Canyons ranges in depth from 20 to 60 feet and is home to
several colonies of garden eels, a huge variety of reef
fish and several nurse sharks as well! Don't miss the Rainbow
Canyons when you dive the BVI!!!
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5)
Carrot Shoal - Between Peter & Norman Island (weather
permitting)
Probably
one of the more amazing night dive sites to be found anywhere,
this oval-shaped reef formation is 20 to 60 feet deep and
boasts resident sea turtles, beautiful French angelfish,
nurse sharks and more!
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7)
Painted Walls - Deadchest Island (weather permitting)
It
would seem as though an artist of the impressionist era
had plied their skills at Painted Walls! The walls where
two, underwater valleys converge are teaming in colourful
sponges as well as soft and hard corals, looking remarkably
similar to an artist's pallet! The main inhabitants at Painted
Walls are nurse sharks, barracuda and lobsters. This BVI
dive site with depths of 30 to 50 feet is a great for beginner
and advanced divers.
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8)
Blonde Rock - Between Salt Island and Peter Island (weather
permitting)
This
spectacular, underwater amphitheater, which lies between
20 and 60 feet deep, features both large and small overhangs.
There is a wide and colourful variety of coral formations
and you may occasionally glimpse some sea turtles, sharks
and rays of various species along with lobsters, crabs and
conch.
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9)
The Wreck of the R.M.S. Rhone - Salt Island
Certainly the most popular and well known of all BVI
dive sites, the Royal Mail Steamer "Rhone" was the setting for
the hit movie "The Deep", starring Nick Nolte and Jacqueline
Bissett. The wreck itself is fascinating to explore with parts of her
still in tact. The Rhone foundered during a hurricane and is lying in
depths from 20 to 80 feet. She is colourfully decorated by a wide
variety of corals and is home to several resident barracuda, sea
turtles, stingrays, angelfish, yellowtail snappers and many other
varieties of fish life visit the Rhone. This is a "must see"
for all levels of scuba divers!
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10)
Wreck Alley - Cooper Island
Wreck
diving enthusiasts will be thrilled to explore three wrecks
in a row lying in 50 to 80 feet of water, on a sandy bottom
and right next to a mini wall! Plenty of stingrays and a
great opportunity for spectacular, underwater photography!
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11)
Thumb Rock - Off Cooper Island
Off
Cooper Island is this intriguing rock formation which, oddly
enough resembles its name, attracts a wide variety of fish
life including; tarpon, queen angelfish, French angelfish
and the odd sea horse has been spotted here from time to
time! Depth
ranges from 40ft to 70ft.
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12)
Alice in Wonderland
This
beautiful dive site is located in South Bay on Ginger island
it ranges in depth from 40ft to 100ft, there are amazing
Êmushroom shaped coral formations throughout this dive thus
the name.It is often frequented by spotted eagle rays, spade
fish and stingrays. We have also seen the occassional caribbean
reef shark swimming along the reefs edge.
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13)
Ginger Patches
Ginger
Patches is located on the north side of Ginger island, it
starts off in about 20 ft of water and slowly descends down
to a depth of 70ft, it is a good alternate dive for Alice
in Wonderland if the weather is rough.It has a spectacular
array of coral in the shallow depths, lots of nooks and
crannys for crabs and lobsters.
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14)
Coral Garden
As the name suggests, Coral Gardens boasts large beautiful coral formations. These consist primarily of mounds of boulder star coral and
great star coral, well embellished with brain corals, tube sponges, sea fans and
gorgonians. A recent addition to the dive site is the remains of Atlantic Air BVI's Shorts
360 airplane. The plane, without wings or tail, sits in the sand patch in about 40 feet of water.
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15)
The Chimney
The Chimney is really two sites in one. Directly below the moorings, in 30 to 40 feet
, are several massive coral heads rising up from a sand and rubble bottom. This is the
Fish Bowl, so named because of the many friendly fishes abiding here.
To find the Chimney pass through the Fish Bowl heading towards the northern
shore of the bay. Take the time to explore the several canyons and ridges that
run parallel to shore. Work your way around the point. At a depth of around 45
feet or so, cut back and follow a canyon back towards shore. This should lead
you under a large beautifully encrusted archway encrusted with cup corals and
brightly colored sponges. Once through the arch you'll enter a steep-walled
narrow corridor which ends with two huge rocks almost touching. The narrow slot
between these two boulders is the Chimney, so named because of its resemblance
to a rock-climbing formation of the same name.
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16)
Mountain Point
Large coral heads, overhangs and sand patches are the basic reef structure here.
Grunts, parrot fishes are common. Look for lizard fishes in and around the sand patches. In the summertime large tarpon can be seen sweeping
through the huge schools of tiny fry. There are some caves and large bowls or
grottos in the bedrock. Be careful of surge in the shallows. Experienced divers
can venture through the "cow's mouth," exploring the narrow cut between the rock
formations. Once on the other side head down the steep slope. There is generally
more action here. Large jacks, barracudas and maybe a ray are possible
passersby. There is a colony of garden eels in the sand here.
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