Updated September 4, 2022
This is the twenty-eighth in a series that introduces and describes the various dive services and sites for worldwide liveaboard dive safaris. This one will focus on the British Virgin Islands liveaboards.
In addition to this series on liveaboards, the best worldwide scuba diving destinations are reviewed in their own series. To check them out, or others in this series, click on Liveaboards/Resorts on the menu at the top and choose a title from the list.
Have you ever been diving in the British Virgin Islands? If so, I’d love to know about your experience. What dive shop or liveaboard did you use? Which dive spots are the best and what are the conditions there regarding the visibility, current, water temperature, sealife attractions, etc.? Please post your response in the comments section at the bottom and we’ll all learn something we can use.
Scuba Diving in the British Virgin Islands Liveaboard
The British Virgin Islands are a British overseas protectorate of 60 islands with a population of 28,000 full-time residents located a little east of Puerto Rico. 23,500 live in Tortola and the rest are spread around 14 other islands. The remaining islands are uninhabited.
The diving is suitable for all levels of divers with most sites at relatively shallow depths. although some sites do have significant current. There are several famous shipwrecks amid seamounts, coral gardens, and sandy bottoms. Local dive shops operate on Tortola, Virgin Gorda, Jost Van Dyke, Norman Island, and Cooper Island, but have a limited range and can cover only relatively nearby dive sites. A liveaboard provides the opportunity to visit more than 100 dive sites of great variety and differences in difficulty in an environment of convenience and comfort.
Notable wrecks include the RMS Rhone, a Royal Mail Steamship, sunk in a hurricane in 1867. It sits in two pieces in 10-80 feet (3-24 meters) of water off of Salt Island. Penetration is possible and lots of artifacts remain. Another is the Chikuzan, a Korean refrigerator vessel, that was scuttled in 1981 in a crazy episode where after being damaged in a hurricane was set on fire. It drifted dangerously out of control toward Marina Cay until captured and towed a distance before breaking loose and coming to rest on the sea bottom in a very unplanned location about 7 miles to the northwest of Tortola. Today it sits in 40-75 feet (12-23 meters) of water far from any reef. It has its resident fish, attracts lots of pelagics, and provides good penetration opportunities.
This Chikuzan wreck is considered a more advanced dive, as is the diving at Virgin Gorda and The Invisibles (underwater pinnacles), which has a strong current.
The BVI has a rich Caribbean coral reef and a great variety of small and large sea life. Highlights are nurse sharks, southern stingrays, eagle rays, turtles, dolphins, barracuda, goliath groupers, tarpon, spiny lobster, and a variety of macro critters.
Temperatures are in a tight range between 80- 90°F (27-32°C) and diving is possible year-round. Water temps are from 78- 83°F (25-28°C) with visibility from 60-100 feet (18-30 meters).
British Virgin Islands Liveaboard Dive Boats
The only liveaboard vessel serving the British Virgin Islands is the 30-meter trimaran, the Cuan Law. Its mast is also 30 meters high and when under sail the boat can travel at a speed of 8-10 knots. Under power, it zips along at up to 14 knots.
The skipper has an itinerary that covers most of the major dive sites and is flexible enough to make adjustments based on the abilities and interests of the divers and the conditions at sea. Stops are made at locations like Virgin Gorda, where there is excellent snorkeling, and Jost Van Dyke and its beautiful sandy beaches affording kayaking and sailing a Hobie Cat.
- 7-day cruises from Tortola around the British Virgin Islands
- Potential itinerary (not locked in): Cooper Island, Salt Island, RMS Rhone Wreck, Ginger Island, Long Bay, Virgin Gorda Island, Chikuzen Wreck, Muskmelon Bay, Guana Island, Atlantic Site, Dog Islands, The Baths, Round Rock, The Blinders, Peter Island
- Air-conditioned saloon, aircon cabins, indoor saloon, warm water showers, audio & video entertainment, library, en-suite bathrooms
- Free internet
- Sun deck, leisure deck
- Western and local food, outdoor dining
- Photography station, separate rinse for u/w camera
- English speaking crew
- Onboard kayaks, non-diver (snorkeler) friendly
- Nitrox available
- Dive deck
- Tenders for diving: 2 x 21-foot 115-hp tenders
- Emergency rafts
British Virgin Islands Liveaboard Dive Boat Summary
| All Star Cuan Law | |
|---|---|
 |
|
| Length | 30 m |
| Guests | 20 |
| Equipment | $15/day |
| Nitrox | $10/day |
| Snorkel Friendly | Yes |
| Price/Day | $469 |
For more detailed information regarding land-based diving on the British Virgin Islands, please check out this review:
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British Virgin Islands Photo Opportunities
With the macro life, beautiful, diverse coral reef, and lots of fish, there are many excellent photo opportunities. For information and reviews of diving cameras, click here:
Scuba Diving Trip Insurance
A cushion for emergencies provides peace of mind when on vacation. I recommend this diving insurance as they have worldwide coverage and provide scuba divers quality insurance and medical assistance service.
Feedback and Comments
I hope you found this post on the British Virgin Islands scuba diving interesting and useful. If you have any questions or ideas, please feel free to share them in the comments section. I’d love to know of any experience you have diving there. If there is no comments section directly below, click here: >>comments<<
These trips look very inviting indeed! I am curious. Are there any diving trips that explore ancient ruins? Or would they be considered too dangerous to look at or only for very experienced divers? There seem to be more and more of these ancient ruins being discovered these days so I wonder if anyone has made a business out of it for curious divers?
Hi Liz,
Thanks a lot for your interest and comments.
There is a lot of exploration and public diving on shipwrecks, which is covered extensively in my reviews.
As far as ancient ruins, it is possible to dive on many of them, but the exploitation in recreational diving is not nearly as great. Here is an article to get you started: http://www.divereport.com/foru…
Are you interested in doing some diving yourself? If you would like to become a certified diver, the basic open water diver class takes about 4 days and includes some study, 5 shallow water classes to learn the skills and 4 open water dives to practice the skills and have a supervised introduction to the undersea world. You can take a class like this in many places including the resorts and a great many of the liveaboards that I review here on my site. Near where you live there also could well be a suitable place. I suggest you browse the different locations and see if there are any that attract you. If you would like some help to find a good spot for you to do it, please let me know.
If you have any other questions or comments, please let me know.
Best regards,
Joe
That will be so nice to dive and see the wrecks. Do you need a license to dive? If so do they provide lessons and can you get the license on the spot? I did something similar to that in Thailand, where they sank the royal boat for diver enthusiasts to visit and it was really cool. I wonder if my license works there. Maybe not it is all in Thai lol. Thanks for the details. I would like to explore the stunning natural world. Time to save money, though!
Hi Nuttanee,
Thanks a lot for you comments and interest.
To dive on wrecks it is most likely necessary to have a license. I suspect you may have done a discovery dive only, if you spent less than a day. If you would like to become a licensed diver, the basic open water diver class takes about 4 days and includes some study, 5 shallow water classes to learn the skills and 4 open water dives to practice the skills and have a supervised dive in an ocean or lake.
In the British Virgin Islands liveaboard on the Cuan Law, that course is not available. Many resorts and even liveaboards can offer it, though. I suggest you browse the locations and liveaboards that I review based on an area you would like to go. Otherwise, get back in touch with your questions and I’ll be glad to give some advice on the best spot to do it and help organize the logistics.
I hope to see that you get a chance to do some more diving somewhere.
Best regards,
Joe