Best Diving Sites and Snorkelling in the BVI

July 12, 2016 5 min

When thinking about vacationing in the British Virgin Islands (BVI), many people immediately think about sailing and boating getaways. After all, the BVI is considered to be one of the best yacht chartering destinations in the world. But, if you’re a scuba diver, there are even more reasons to consider the British Virgin Islands for your next escape.

In recent years, the BVI has come into its own as an outstanding Caribbean destination for divers of all levels. In addition to beautiful beaches, first-rate resorts, and charming culture, the BVI also offers infinite diving possibilities—whether you enjoy diving reefs or wrecks.

With the limitless dive sites scattered throughout the British Virgin Islands it would be nearly impossible to learn them all, so we’ve done the legwork for you. When you make your way to the BVI for the diving trip of a lifetime, here are eight must-see spots:

Chikuzen

The Chikuzen is a 246ft Japanese refrigeration vessel belonging to the fishing fleet in St Maarten – after becoming impaired, she was set ablaze and eventually sunk, now making for one of the best dive sites in BVI for wreck divers.

This site is remotely located 12 miles north of the island of Virgin Gorda, and 75ft deep. As such, this site is best for advanced divers. Divers should not enter the vessel, but there is no shortage of marine life to enjoy. A majority of the surrounding area is sand, so marine life thrives at Chikuzen. Be on the lookout for barracuda, eagle rays, nurse and reef sharks, snapper, stingrays, and the infamous 600-pound Goliath Grouper.

Wreck Alley

Located just off Cooper Island, this site certainly lives up to its name. Wreck Alley came to be after four separate wrecks occurred there, the most recent being in 2009. Where else can you find four tugboats in a row? This is a completely one-of-a-kind wreck diving experience, making for some of the best diving in BVI.

All four of these wrecked ships can be explored during your Wreck Alley dive, and don’t be surprised if you spot a large garden eel and green moray eel population down there. There may be conch crawling around the sea bed, and an occasional southern stingray passing by. Lying at 90ft, this dive is also better for experienced divers, and makes for a unique opportunity to see what a sunken ship looks like when broken in half. Consider adding this one to your BVI sailing itinerary.

Flinstones

On the west side of West Dog, the name alone makes this one of the best dive sites in BVI, and absolutely worth a visit. When exploring the depths of Flintstones, expect to see boulders and rocky outcroppings that look just like Fred Flintstone and Barney Rubble’s Bedrock homes.

This might be your best opportunity to experience the sheer breadth of marine life species in the BVI, so explore these waters thoroughly to identify as many species as possible. Corals, tube sponges, sea fans and underwater plants adorn the rocks, and you’re likely to find snappers, gold-spotted eels, cobias and lobsters congregating under the many rocky ledges and overhangs.

Alice in Wonderland

Situated to the south west of Ginger Island, Alice in Wonderland is just as wondrous as it sounds. An absolute feast for the eyes, Alice in Wonderland provides beginner and intermediate divers with some of the best scuba diving in the BVI.

The coral sightings in Alice in Wonderland are incredible – the rocky landscape is rich with healthy pillar, star and brain corals, and diverse plant life. This colorful garden offers shelter to many different types of fish – expect to see parrotfish, squirrelfish, angelfish and schools of snappers. The occasional pufferfish has also been spotted here, as well as hawksbill turtles and reef sharks. Over overlooked, Alice in Wonderland is one of the best-kept secrets of the BVI.

RMS Rhone

The RMS Rhone was a UK Royal Mail ship that was wrecked off the coast of the BVI in a hurricane – it has now found new life as one of the most popular and best dive sites in the BVI (and in the Caribbean) that wreck divers definitely don’t want to miss out on.

The RMS Rhone is rich in history and home to a significant number of artifacts from 1867. There’s just so much to see and take in down there, including a kaleidoscope of colorful corals and sponges, schools of snappers and jacks, and the occasional turtle sighting. And if you happen to spy an octopus floating nearby during your dive, that’s considered good luck. Although preferred as a dive site, this is also a great site for BVI snorkeling, as much of the RMS Rhone’s decking, rigging, steam engine and propeller are close to the shore.

Painted Walls

Named for the naturally-formed canyons “painted” with an array of corals, this visually stunning site is both popular and perfect for beginners looking for the best dive sites in BVI.

Painted Walls is fun to explore because the colorful canyons create unique passageways for swimming. The depth here is only about 10- 40ft, and dappled sunlight keeps the visibility high all the way to the ocean floor. Here, you can experience a wide variety of aquatic wildlife, from soft coral bouquets in every color, to hawksbill turtles, barracudas, nurse sharks and green moray eels. .

Twin Towers

In accordance with its title, two huge coral-covered boulders are what make Twin Towers so special. Located off the north side of Little Jost Van Dyke, this is one of the best dive sites in BVI for advanced scuba divers.

The unique topography offers several points of interest. The sloping shoreline eases you down, and the towers themselves span 90ft, colossal and awe-inspiring yet rich with tiny details, like mini grottos and caves filled with sheltering fish. Look out for schools of reef squid and marvel at this incredible formation.

The Indian’s

Situated just off the coast of Little Harbour (just a hop, skip and jump away from Pelican Island and Norman Island), The Indian’s is a site made up of four protruding rocks that somewhat resemble an “Indian” headdress. As we have said before in our Local’s Guide to Sailing in the BVI, this is our top recommendation for the best snorkeling and diving in the BVI.

This site offers BVI snorkeling and diving opportunities for people of all ages and abilities, as the unique rock formation sits from depths of 10-50ft, resulting in shallower and deeper areas. Those who prefer snorkeling and easier dives can enjoy the corals, reef fish, glassy sweepers and gorgonians (and that just scratches the surface). Advanced divers, meanwhile, can swim deep and explore the natural tunnels through the rocks.

What else can I do in the BVI?

Aside from scuba diving and snorkeling, the BVI has so much to offer sailors on a bareboat, skippered (available in the BVI only) or crewed charter. With warm cerulean waters, fantastic sailing conditions, and an array of islands, coves and cays to explore, the BVI is the perfect destination for a relaxing sailing vacation. Start building your quote today.

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