BVI Scuba

The complete British Virgin Islands Scuba Directory

Find a complete source of information on travel to and scuba diving in the British Virgin Islands.

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Board of Tourism for the Bahamas and Caribbean
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BRITISH VIRGIN ISLANDS Hotel Guide Waterfront Hotel Guide
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BRITISH VIRGIN ISLANDS

		Diving British Virgin Islands By Jim and Odile Scheiner, 128 pages, 7x10 inches, paperback, Color photos, Maps, Index, Appendices Revised November 2002 Price: $18.95 This guide, the newest and most complete to the British Virgin Islands, covers over 50 dive sites in detail. All the major islands are represented-Virgin Gorda, Tortola, Anegada, Salt, Cooper, etc. Included are special sections on beach diving, shipwrecks (such as the famous Rhone), remote dive sites for those who charter their own boats, topside attractions as well as maps of individual dive sites locating major points of interest. The area history as well as places to stay and dine are also included. The Past The Present Diving Tortola: Includes Offshore Islands The RMS Rhone Virgin Gorda Anegada Jost Van Dyke About the Authors Jim and Odile Scheiner have lived in the British Virgin Islands since 1979. Jim a well-known photojournalist, has been a scuba instructor for over 20 years. Odile, originally from Ireland, made her first trip to the Caribbean by crossing the Atlantic in a 40-foot sailboat. Together they own and operate the Rainbow Visions Photo Center & Gallery on Tortola. They teach photo/video seminars in the BVI and on their worldwide dive expeditions. Their work appears regularly in books and magazines. Jointly, they have over 10,000 dives in these waters.

		The Best of the British Virgin Islands is aptly named, and in the hands of a traveler bound for these islands is a near-guarantee of a great trip."--This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title. From From the opening chapter, all the way through the index, it's obvious that this is a travel book written by a local, and not a visiting travel writer; found here are inside secrets, tips and just plain chatter no short-term visitor could hope to learn. If you want to see the real Virgin Islands, and not just the picture postcard, this book is for you. However, it does not contain photographs or detailed maps, so might be best used as a companion guide, along with other materials. Author Pamela Acheson shares such quaint insights as why one might encounter goats in boats (their owners frequently move them from island to island), how to maneuver through a roundabout (slowly and carefully, despite what other drivers are doing) and where to get the best cinnamon rolls (Christine's on Jost Van Dyke). A "Best of" list at the end of the book is quite valuable, as are the author's insights into each of the listed resorts, cabins, campgrounds and rental houses. The "Great Things to Do" sections, however, frequently state the obvious: "Float - just lie on one of those floats on the warm Carribean and do nothing." The Best of the British Virgin Islands is aptly named, and in the hands of a traveler bound for these islands offers a near-guarantee of a great trip

		http://www.britishvirginislands.com/wtd_diving.htm The British Virgin Islands are best known for perfect sailing conditions, but they also have more than 100 dive sites well worth an underwater visit. While the BVI may not have walls or drift diving, The British Virgin Islands have a wide variety of exotic dive sites with countless reefs, towering coral pinnacles, underwater caves, lava tunnels, canyons, massive boulders and grottoes. The BVI have a choice of dive sites that range from the novice snorkeler the experienced scuba diver. Not only does the dive sites boast dramatic sea caverns and extraordinary shipwrecks and ir temperatures between 80 and 90 degrees Fahrenheit year-round but visibility may reach more than 100 feet. A marine park system and mooring buoy program administered by the National Parks Trust and the Ministry of Natural Resources are dedicated to the preservation of reefs and marine life. Exploring the BVI underwater havens is in itself extraordinary. Land-based divers can lodge at world-class resorts, quiet villas or campgrounds. . 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. 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. 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 recognized as the best dive site in the Caribbean. VIRGIN GORDA - Spring Bay in Virgin Gorda has a gorgeous sandy beach perfect for snorkeling. Nearby at The Baths, an extraordinary natural landscape awaits, with partially submerged grottoes created by huge boulders that were scattered by ancient volcanic activity. Snorkelers can tour giant boulder fields or immerse themselves in coral-encrusted shallows. TORTOLA - 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. ANEGADA - 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. OTHER ISLANDS - 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 rumored 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. If you want to "try" to see the whale migration (whales permitting!), go between late December and early April, stay in the North Sound area, and do advanced dives in open waters north of Virgin Gorda at the Chikuzen and Invisibles. The most likely months to see whales is during February and March when they have babies and must travel on or near the surface.

		www.odysseyexpeditions.org The British Virgin Islands offer some of the best sailing areas and dive training sites in the world. No other Caribbean destination has the steady tradewinds and smooth seas that are so ideal for great sailing and diving. Island passages provide for exciting sailing while secluded tranquil bays give us a relaxed base to explore the marine kingdom, carve deep-arcs waterskiing and drift asleep under the stars. Dramatic scenery, friendly people, and a wealth of biological diversity await us. Underwater terrain ranges from gently sloping reefs, sheer walls, and pinnacles to spectacular shipwrecks that are engulfed by schools of Spanish mackerel, blackbar soldierfish, and French angelfish. The large underwater national parks and marine reserves help to keep the environment healthy and diving outstanding. With reefs teeming with large fishes and healthy coral, the British Virgin Islands are the ideal place to learn to scuba dive or to continue your dive training and to learn about marine biology. There are many shipwrecks to explore including the HMS Rhone and the Chikuzen. The water is crystal clear and most dive sites are protected from the waves providing for comfortable entry and exit from the water. Renown as the sailing capital of the world, with smooth waters and steady trade winds providing exciting inter-island passages your sailing skills will develop quickly. The islands are close together so its easy to visit them all and the calm protected anchorages provide endless opportunities for adventures hiking, kayaking, and trekking. Odyssey has been exploring the BVI’s for more than 14 years and will be able to show you dive sites not on any dive chart. Odyssey Expeditions Adventure Programs offer the broadest range of adventure, sail and scuba training, and marine biology discoveries aboard fast, safe, and comfortable catamarans. We have programs for teens and college students grouped together on separate catamarans so that everyone is with their own peers. No experience is necessary for the Discovery programs, or advance your sailing and scuba skills on an Advanced Adventure. For those ready to become dive professionals, go Adventure Pro and earn the PADI Divemaster rating. All programs include exciting specialty scuba training like Night Diver and Wreck Diver. Join us on our 14th year of exploring the BVI’s!

British Virgin Islands Tourist Board

How to SHIPWRECK DIVING Guide By Capt Dan Berg

The Shipwreck Diving E-Book Instant Downloadable E-Book

Shipwreck Diving, by Capt. Dan Berg is a complete how to book about the sport of wreck diving. This book is packed with information and heavily illustrated with over 80 sensational color photographs.