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Sea
Chateau offers the ideal setup for diving. The huge stern platform is the
perfect place for divers to suit up and enter the water. The "sugar scoops"
offer extremely easy access to re-board the boat after a fulfilling and
invigorating dive.
Although the water
temperature averages
83 degrees year round, Dive skins
 offer added protection against the coral.
A good mask fit makes
for a happy diver.
Dive
Sites
Not all sites are available through
out the year
The following is
extracted from "Diving British Virgin Islands" and offers a sample of the
numerous dive sites.
THE AQUARIUM
DEPTH: 15-30 FEET (5-9 M)
LEVEL: NOVICE
Just between Spanish Town and the Baths is a shallow shoal of a reef with pillar
coral formations, shy schools of French grunts and moray eels tucked under
ledges. It's not a large site, but a slow circumnavigation and thorough
exploration of the reef should use up a tank. The Aquarium is rather densely
textured with lots of rocks and boulders piled up on one another creating a
network of small grottos and dens filled with fishes. Sergeant majors, blue tang
and chromis fill the mid-water region. Sponges, fire coral and various crawling
invertebrates cover the rocks. Nurse sharks can be found napping under the
larger ledges.
Text extracted from Diving British Virgin Islands
BLONDE ROCK
DEPTH: 10-65 FEET (3-1 8 M)
LEVEL: ADVANCED
Located between Dead Chest and Salt Islands, Blonde Rock offers good visibility,
lots of big fishes, fascinating topography, a taste of adventure, and photo
opportunities galore. Blonde Rock is a set of two pinnacles, out in the middle
of nowhere, that rise from 60 feet to within 15 feet of the surface.
Occasionally current-swept and the only topographic feature of any significance
in the Salt Island Passage, Blonde Rock is a natural magnet attracting all kinds
of marine life including turtles, schools of jacks, cobia, barracuda and even
the occasional shark. The twin fire coral-encrusted peaks (hence the "blonde"
designation) rise from a gorgonian-covered plateau at 35 to 40 feet. All the way
around this sheer-walled plateau is an amazing system of undercuts, ledges,
canyons, tunnels and companion rocks. With a flashlight, the brilliant colors of
the sponges, coralline algae and cup coral will leap out at you. The craggy
upper lip of the wall is adorned with sea fans, deep-water gorgonians and a
strange green-stalked colonial hydroid. After fully exploring the extensive
undercut and the bowl itself, with its school of brilliant yellow French grunts,
climb out of the back of the bowl and stop at the pit right at the edge. A small
cave in the back of the pit hosts a perpetually spiraling school of glassy
sweepers.
Seen here: blackbar soldierfish, schools of chub, horse-eye and bar jacks,
creole wrasse, tomtates, coneys, parrotfishes, angelfishes, triggerfishes,
pelagics, glasseye snapper, graysby, large crabs
Text extracted from Diving British Virgin Islands
BREWERS BAY PINNACLES
DEPTH: 25-1 10 FEET (8-33 M)
LEVEL: ADVANCED
An enjoyable summer dive when there's no north swell, Brewers Bay Pinnacles is
located just off the western tip of the bay. It's too far from the beach to be
dived as a shore dive. The massive pinnacles are of varying height and bulk.
They rise steeply from the ocean floor, some of them come within 30 feet of the
surface. The gaps between the sheer granite structures comprise a confusing maze
of alleyways, dead ends and narrow passages. The rocks are covered with
deep-water gorgonians, sea fans and fire coral. Large jacks, eagle rays and
turtles are often spotted by the observant diver. Amid the rocks and reef look
for lobsters, skittish queen angelfish and whitespotted filefish.
Text extracted from Diving British Virgin Islands
 BRONCHO BILLY'S
DEPTH: 15-50 FEET (5-15 M)
LEVEL: NOVICE TO ADVANCED
Situated at the northwestern
tip of George Dog, Bronco Billy offers a meandering course of coral ridges and
corresponding canyons. Two coral archways lead into the canyons. Follow the
canyons and the bottom topography around the tip of George Dog into a large
steep-walled box canyon and boulder field. Swing a little wider around the tip
of the island on your return trip, and you should find the other coral canyon
that will lead you back to the second archway. Large pillar coral formations
grace the site, but the highlight is the arches. When lit with a diver's
flashlight or a photographer's strobe the colors just explode. The brilliant
reds of the encrusting sponges and the oranges of the cup corals, combining with
the lavender of other sponges and the lacy frill of hydroids, makes for a
Technicolor extravaganza. However, without a light or strobe there is nothing
there but shadow and muted colors.
Text extracted from Diving British Virgin Islands
BROWN PANTS
DEPTH: 10-40 FEET (3-12 M)
LEVEL: ADVANCED
The south shore of Norman Island is compelling in its primitive beauty: rugged
cliffs descend into the breaking surf, long tortured fingers of rock reach out
just beneath the surface of the sea, and nowhere can the hand of man been seen.
It's a world away from the yachting lifestyle found on the other side of the
island.
Many years ago, when Annie and Duncan Muirhead were running Misty Law, the first
live-aboard in the BVI, they were exploring this point as a possible dive site.
Several large bull sharks rounded a corner and chased them back to their boat,
and the site was named.
The point rises abruptly from the flat, almost barren sea floor. The water is
usually clear here. When you first descend, look out into the blue for turtles
and eagle rays. Then move up shallower, toward the underwater cliffs. Small
gangs of curious barracuda loiter outside the rocks. The dive consists of
exploring the numerous canyons and grottos that are defined by the network of
ridges extending from shore. There is a large open cave in one of the canyons. A
dive light will reveal all the glorious brilliant colors of the encrusting
sponges that grow in the shadows.
Seen here: large whitespotted filefish, Black durgon, schools of palmetto, queen
angelfish, turtles, eagle rays, barracuda
Text extracted from Diving British Virgin Islands
CARROT SHOAL
DEPTH: 15-60 FEET (5-21 M)
LEVEL: INTERMEDIATE
Carrot Shoal, off the southwest tip of Peter Island, is another open water site
with all the adventure, superior visibility and big fish encounters this
promises. Carrot Shoal is shaped like a railroad train parked on an underwater
platform. The platform rises abruptly from a 60 to 70-foot bottom and levels off
at 40 feet; then the shoal itself rises straight up to scratch at the surface.
It's quite narrow and extends for several hundred feet. It is cut through in
several places, which gives it the appearance of separate railway cars. Spend
the time to fully investigate the abundance of creatures living under the ledge
on the edge of the platform: large green moray eels, tiny fairy basslets and
reclusive lobsters. Toward the far end of the formation a large overhang rears
up. Beneath it look for the uncommon longsnout butterflyfish, as well as
colorful Spanish and spotted lobsters. Past the end of the "train" there is a
lovely low archway worthy of the side trip.
Text extracted from Diving British Virgin Islands
CARVAL ROCK
DEPTH: 15-90 FEET (5-27 M)
LEVEL: ADVANCED
Sitting outside the gap
between Cooper and Ginger Islands, Carval Rock looks a little like a Caravel
sailing ship of days past. Look for green morays and lobsters along the ledges
that fall away from the rock. Closer to Carval is a jumble of huge boulders.
Schools of fishes loiter in the shadows. Large whitespotted filefish, groupers,
queen triggerfish and durgon move about the openings to the recesses between the
boulders. Lots of fire coral and attendant jewelfish, redlip gobies and
damselfishes cover the tops of the boulders. Barracudas and occasional mackerels
and kingfish are in mid-water. Sponge-covered boulders, schools of French grunts
and blue tang, as well as large trumpetfish hiding in the waving gorgonians, are
to be found. Spotted drums and highhats lurk in the shadows beneath the
boulders.
Text extracted from Diving British Virgin Islands
THE CHIMNEY
DEPTH: 15-45 FEET (5-14 M)
LEVEL: NOVICE (WITH GUIDE)
Tucked into the northern corner of the bay on the western side of Great Dog, the
Chimney is really two sites in one.
Directly below the moorings, in 30 to 40 feet of calm protected water, 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. The
yellowtails, sergeant majors, parrotfishes and other fishes have been fed by so
many divers that, just like Pavlov's dogs, they are conditioned to the sound of
Velcro. Open a BC pocket, and zoom, you'll be surrounded by a mass of finny
mouths all looking for a handout.
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. Before exiting through the slot
take the time to look around at all the marine life on the walls. A dive light
will reveal all the brilliant hues and hidden creatures-little shrimp, spotted
rock lobster, anemones and a rainbow of sponges. The unusual white sponges
adorning the walls resemble wads of chewing gum. If the Chimney slot looks too
narrow for you, it is possible to swim out over the top of it. Once through the
Chimney there are a couple of canyons along the cliff face worth exploring as
you work your way back through the Fish Bowl to your mooring.
There are lots of less visited canyons and rock formations hidden here. You can
also explore the base of the cliff further back into the bay. The bottom is
covered with stones rubbed round and smooth from years of rolling in the winter
surge. Among these stones is a wealth of tiny marine creatures such as brittle
stars, baby flame scallops and an occasional scorpionfish. This is also an
excellent place to snorkel.
Text extracted from Diving British Virgin Islands
CISTERN POINT
DEPTH: 10-40 FEET (3-12 M)
LEVEL: NOVICE
On the southern end of
postcard-perfect Manchioneel Bay, a rocky point carpeted with life projects out
to sea. Cistern Point is a fabulous shallow dive as well as one of the better
snorkeling spots. Swim leisurely around to the other side looking for the
plentiful queen angelfish, thick schools of sergeant majors and chromis, as well
as jacks and a traveling band of gray snappers. There is a series of shallow
craters on the far side that are interesting to explore. On top of the ridge
there are schools of blue tang, goatfishes, beautiful anemones and active
cleaning stations. During the late spring and early summer mo nths, schools of
tiny silvery fry congregate in the shallows and massive shiny tarpon cut through
the schools, grabbing mouthfuls of the little fish.
CORAL GARDENS (AIRPLANE
WRECK)
DEPTH: 20-50 FEET (6-15 M)
LEVEL: NOVICE
Coral Gardens is a nice quiet dive site tucked into the eastern tip of the south
side of Great Dog. 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. Under the overhangs look for lobsters, spotted drums and assorted
grunts and snappers. Out on the sand stingrays, schools of sennet, occasional
turtles and blacktip sharks, as well as the very unusual flying gurnard have
been seen. Otherwise, count on goatfish, lizardfishes and sand filefish.
A recent addition to the dive site is the remains of Atlantic Air BVI's Shorts
360 airplane. In 1993, after making an abortive take off, their one and only
aircraft landed in the water about 200 feet off the end of the runway. No one
was hurt, but after the airplane was refloated from 30 feet of water it
languished hidden in a hangar for many months before being used as a movie prop
in a BBC film. It eventually found its way out to Great Dog where it was sunk as
part of the BVI's continual artificial reef program. The plane, without wings or
tail, sits in the sand patch in about 40 feet of water.
Text extracted from Diving British Virgin Islands
DEADCHEST NORTH (CORAL
GARDENS)
DEPTH: 15-35 FEET (5-1 1 M)
LEVEL: NOVICE
Coral Gardens is a friendly site on the northeast side of Dead Chest Island.
There are scores of large coral mounds capped with beautiful and healthy
formations of brain, star and sheet corals. Filefishes, chub, large snappers and
barracuda patrol the mid-water realm, while goatfishes, grunts, damselfishes and
squirrelfishes inhabit the reef structure along with large sea fans and
beautiful gorgonians. Numerous overhangs host brightly colored encrusting
sponges and jawfish live in
 burrows in the sand. Closer to shore there is a long
overhang.
Text extracted from Diving British Virgin Islands
DEADCHEST WEST
DEPTH: 15-55 FEET (5-17 M)
LEVEL: INTERMEDIATE
This is a fun knock-about dive on the west side of Dead Chest Island. While a
tour will guarantee you see all the highlights, Dead Chest West is a good place
to follow your own nose and make your own discoveries. Just be sure you explore
the shallows at the end of the dive.
Directly behind the boat, along an unobtrusive spur-and-groove formation, is a
low ridge with an archway. Schools of brightly colored grunts inhabit the arch
and shy mahogany snappers will drift off as you approach. Under the overhang,
look for beautiful encrusting sponges, fairy basslets swimming upside down, and
the antenna of small spotted lobsters. A light will help. There are several
other overhangs in the vicinity. Following the next sand groove towards the
shallows, you'll encounter some high rocks with lobster dens at their bases.
Nearby is a spectacular mushroom-shaped coral head that sprouts up from the
bottom. Redspotted hawkfish, wrasses, gobies and chromis all buzz around its
top. Juvenile Spanish hogfish operate an active cleaning station here; sit back
and watch the patrons come in and take their turn.
The dramatic topside cliff face continues underwater and a slow cruise along it
will reveal a fascinating topography with a few surprises. There are two caves.
One has a triangular opening and is filled with glassy sweepers and banded coral
shrimp, as well as a few spiny urchins. The other, at the far end of a large
bowl, cuts into the back of a mammoth monolith. A large, green moray eel is
often resident. For divers who enjoy shallow water exploration, there is a
fascinating maze of alleys, arches and ravines just past the second cave.
Text extracted from Diving British Virgin Islands
DIAMOND REEF
DEPTH: 10-35 FEET (3-11 M)
LEVEL: NOVICE
Diamond Reef is a friendly
little reef just right for brand new divers or snorkelers, and perfect for a
quiet afternoon spent puttering around underwater. It is an exquisite night
dive. Out in the sand, adjacent to the reef, is a colony of garden eels. These
often over looked residents of the sand flats look like a field of sea grass
waving in the breeze. just the head and upper body of these pencil-thin eels
protrudes from a permanent burrow. Approach too closely and they will, almost
imperceptibly, slip back into their burrows and disappear. Stretch out on the
sand and crawl right up to the coral for an intimate and prolonged observation
of all the tiny creatures inhabiting a single coral head. You can get within
inches of the coral without touching or damaging it by coming in slowly on the
sand. After you've ambled down the reef for a while return to your boat along
the top of the reef, looking for blue chromis, tiny wrasses and parrotfishes.
Text extracted from Diving British Virgin Islands
DRY ROCKS EAST
DEPTH: 25-85 FEET (8-27 M)
LEVEL: ADVANCED
A barely breaking ridge just east of Cooper Island, Dry Rocks East juts out into
the channel between Cooper and Ginger Islands, and acts as a natural focal point
for piscine activity. It is an open water site with generally good visibility
and the promise of large pelagic fish. The trade off is rougher conditions and
occasionally strong currents. Looking out into deep blue water watching schools
of large jacks or permit sweep by, you'll know that you're at a major underwater
crossroads.
At the bottom of the mooring line there is a car-sized boulder and under it a
large collection of highhats. Looking up the craggy rock face to the breaking
surf on the surface you'll spot barracuda, schools of jacks, whitespotted
filefish, pufferfishes and black durgons. In the scattered rock debris on the
bottom, look for various small groupers such as hinds and coneys, and
parrotfishes and trunkfishes. There are a few huge boulders scattered around as
if they rolled down off the ridge. Under the first one, in addition to beautiful
encrusting sponges and fans, a mixed school of goatfishes and grunts resides.
The sea floor slopes down away from the ridge and if you follow the schools of
Atlantic spadefish or the big French angelfish, you'll be in 80-90 feet of water
before you know it.
Text extracted from Diving British Virgin Islands
TWIN TOWERS - LITTLE JOST
VAN DYKE
DEPTH: 40-90 FEET (12-27 M)
LEVEL: ADVANCED
Tucked away behind a small
point on the north side of Little Jost Van Dyke is another site boasting unusual
topography. The "Twin Towers" of this site are two large monolithic rock
formations rising from 90 feet (27 m). From a sloping rocky shoreline, smaller
rock formations offer an abundance of tiny fish-filled grottos, mini-canyons and
caves. Schools of reef squid are commonly seen here. Spotted eagle rays are also
regular visitors, but divers are often too busy looking down at the reef and
miss them as they silently soar by. At 90 feet (27 m) your bottom time is
limited, but take advantage of your brief allotment to explore the base of the
Twin Towers, especially the convoluted rock and rubble area between the two.
Their sides are not overly covered with corals, but their colossal stature is
impressive.
Text extracted from Diving British Virgin Islands
MARKOE POINT
DEPTH: 30-60 FEET (9-18 M)
LEVEL: ADVANCED
Markoe Point lies on the
lonely southeastern tip of Cooper Island, jutting out into the open Caribbean.
A delightful gully runs along the point, with a sheer cliff on one side and an
exquisitely undercut coral ridge on the other. Look for lobsters deep in the
crevices, and schools of black durgon and snapper out in the open. Swim around
the point and cruise along the base of the cliff. It bottoms out abruptly on a
sand and rock-strewn plain. Looking up the precipitous rock face you'll see
thick clouds of swirling white foam as the waves break against the cliff. Along
the bottom of the cliff, big solitary snappers and groupers patrol. A good
turnaround point is the tall fissure that cleaves vertically through the wall.
Inside lots of smaller grunts, snappers and blackbar soldierfish hide from
predators. On the way back there is a shallow saddle that cuts through the tip
of the point.
Text extracted from Diving British Virgin Islands
MOUNTAIN POINT
DEPTH: 20-70 FEET (6-21 M)
LEVEL: NOVICE
Large coral heads, overhangs and sand patches are the basic reef structure here.
Grunts, parrotfishes and butterflyfishes are common. Look for lizardfishes 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.
Text extracted from Diving British Virgin Islands
PLAYGROUND
DEPTH: 15-70 FEET (5-21 M)
LEVEL: INTERMEDIATE
From the calm sandy anchorages on the south side of Green Cay and nearby
tranquil Sandy Spit, the sea floor is completely covered with hard corals and
gorgonians. Parrotfishes, squirrelfishes and occasional reef squid enjoy the
calm here. Look for a large formation of pillar coral and a series of huge
boulder/pinnacles on the exposed north side. They are covered with marine
growth: hard and soft corals, delicate branching hydroid fans, and brightly
colored sponges. Overhangs are filled with fishes - sweepers, juvenile
angelfishes, glassy minnows and fairy basslets. Lots of marine life live in the
protected areas at the base of some of the boulders are little hollows and
depressions formed between the boulder and the bedrock.
Schools of barracudas patrol the outskirts. Black margates and other grunts and
snappers occupy the spaces between the rocks and skittishly slink away upon your
bubbling approach. Turtles are often seen paddling between the pinnacles. Large
dog snapper and individual jacks scour the reef searching for unwary prey. A
school of horse-eye jacks hovers in the water column along with a stately eagle
ray. Creole wrasse and bright porkfish add a splash of color.
Text extracted from Diving British Virgin Islands
RED BLUFF POINT (Thumb
Rock)
DEPTH: 20-60 FEET (8-18 M)
LEVEL: INTERMEDIATE
Thumb Rock is named for the large rock that stands out from Red Bluff Point,
jutting from the water like a giant thumb, and the corresponding "thumb" that
rises from the sea floor to just below the surface. There are ledges that
undercut the shoreline as it drops away from the surface, and coral-encrusted
boulders and patch reefs separated by sand areas. Large whitespotted filefish
and parrotfishes cruise this area. Scrawled filefish can be found nibbling on
the delicate tips of fire coral. Shy queen angelfish and more brazen French
angelfish swim about in pairs, sometimes in trios.
Text extracted from Diving British Virgin Islands
RINGDOVE ROCK
DEPTH: 15-70 FEET (5-21 M)
LEVEL: NOVICE TO INTERMEDIATE
Ring Dove Rock is a fertile garden of a sea mount hidden in a sandy area in 55
feet of water. Spiraling up and around the formation you'll swim over a sloping
bottom well covered by gorgonians and healthy sea fans. There are many rocky
coral heads that stand up off the bottom, whose bases and sides are undercut and
honeycombed. Lurking in these coral condos are lobsters, shy juvenile
angelfishes, and small moray eels.
Coming around the far side of the pinnacle you'll see the thick cloud of
sergeant majors always feeding in the current over the top of the rock. Two sand
canyons cut through the summit. Crinoids, beautiful encrusting sponges, and lacy
gorgonians line their walls. The sandy bottom is pockmarked by the dens of
yellowhead jawfish, as well as furrowed by the slow meandering paths of
burrowing red heart urchins, upon whose bellies can be found the tiny white
heart urchin crab.
Overall this is a very busy reef, with clouds of plankton-eaters foraging in the
water column above the rock, parrotfishes and trumpetfish roaming through the
velvety gorgonians, and the bottom lit with splashes of color from iridescent
purple tunicates and bright golden zoanthids on red rope sponge. Gangs of
butterflyfishes often follow divers around, waiting for them to inadvertently
chase sergeant majors away from the purple egg patches they were guarding. The
butterflyfishes then charge in as a group and feast on sergeant major caviar.
The butterflyfishes are so fearless while they gorge that photographers can
place the extension tube framers of their Nikonos cameras right into the melee
and get great close-up shots of the fish. Rock beauties, slender filefishes and
well-fed lizardfishes round out the population.
Text extracted from Diving British Virgin Islands
SANTA MONICA ROCK
DEPTH: 20-70 FEET (6-21 M)
LEVEL: INTERMEDIATE TO ADVANCED
Located in open water, Santa Monica Rock is an underwater pinnacle rising from
the depths to within 20 feet of the surface. It is named after the Santa Monica,
a 19th century wooden schooner whose belly was torn open by the submerged rock,
but which managed to extricate itself, only to sink in shallow water near St.
John.
From the south of the summit of the pinnacle a slow circumnavigation of the rock
formation will reveal many different habitats: protected crevices,
current-caressed points and long rocky ridges. The top is craggy and covered
with delicate fire coral. There is a fascinating round "sink hole" that drops
down 25 feet to a sandy bottom and is great fun to explore. The southern side of
the pinnacle is a gorgonian and sea fan-covered wall. The clarity of the water,
the intriguing topography, and plentiful marine life encounters make this a
great dive and a photographer's dream.
Seen here: pelagics, Atlantic spadefish, horse-eye jacks, mackerels, kingfish,
barracuda, queen angelfish, black durgons, filefishes, fairy basslets, groupers,
turtle, nurse shark.
Text extracted from Diving British Virgin Islands
SEAL DOG ISLANDS
DEPTH: 20-8O FEET (6-18 M)
LEVEL: ADVANCED
The bottom beneath the mooring is around 25 feet, and slopes down to about 70
feet. Pause here to look around for large pelagic fish passing through from the
open Atlantic. Jacks, mackerel, kingfish and perhaps an eagle ray or two might
promenade by. Along the bottom of the cliff off the northwest side of the island
are fantastic rock formations made up of monster boulders and the convoluted
bedrock of the island itself. Take the time to explore the myriad of canyons,
swim-throughs, ledges and tiny caves.
There is a breaking rock just to the northeast of the two Seal Dog Islands,
called Seal Dog Rock. The dive is a circumnavigation of the rock exploring the
steep walls and looking out into the blue for passing pelagics. It is an
exciting place to be, perched on a pinnacle situated on the edge of the Virgin
Islands.
Text extracted from Diving British Virgin Islands
SHARK POINT
DEPTH: 25-8O FEET (8-24 M)
LEVEL: ADVANCED
The rocky southern tip of Peter Island continues underwater as a ridge rising
above a fairly nondescript bottom. The area is an undersea crossroads with
schools of pelagics sweeping through, mingling with the schools of residents,
and then zooming off again. Visibility can be exception at over 100 feet due to
the site's location in the open ocean.
The mooring places the boat over a shallow, fire coral-blanketed saddle on the
ridge. There is a small cave just to your left as you come over the saddle. As
you turn right and follow the ridge away from shore, a condo-sized rock abuts a
matching-sized dog leg dent in the ridge. Here you can find shelter from the
current and if it is particularly strong, this is a great vantage point to watch
the schools of black durgon, horse-eye jacks and the occasional marauding
barracuda cavorting above the current-swept craggy edge of the ridge. Continuing
out along the base of the ridge there is a small tunnel that cuts through it and
into a canyon formed by a second parallel ridge. Queen angelfish, whitespotted
filefish, groupers and all the different species of butterflyfishes frequent
this area.
Deeper, there is a series of mini-ridges. We once spotted a large jewfish and a
sizable nurse shark resting on top of one another in a low archway here. This is
an exciting place to scan the blue water horizon as you never know what may pass
by; turtles, large jacks and even the odd shark have been sighted here. Head
back to the boat, hugging the lee side of the ridge to avoid any current.
Virtually a second separate dive site is the maze-like system of alleyways and
caves that pockmark the shoreline in less than 20 feet (6 m) of water. There is
one cave with five separate entrances. But diving here requires flat calm
conditions and advanced buoyancy skills.
Caution. This is an advanced dive because it is exposed to the prevailing swells
and sometimes has strong current. Snorkeling should only be attempted in the
shallows on calm days by experienced snorkelers.
Text extracted from Diving British Virgin Islands
SPYGLASS WALL
DEPTH: 10-60 FEET (6-18 M)
LEVEL: NOVICE
This is a friendly mini-wall on the north shore of Norman that parallels the
shoreline and drops steeply from 20 feet on the top to a fine sand bottom at 60
feet. It is named after Spy Glass Hill on Norman Island where pirates once kept
lookout for laden merchant ships. The wall is festooned with large sea fans and
beautiful purple tube sponges. Many little fishes, such as damselfishes,
wrasses, and tobaccofish can be found along the bottom of the wall and tucked
into little holes in the reef. Don't forget to look out into the blue water on
your left where you might catch a glimpse of an eagle ray, turtle, tarpon,
spadefishes or at least a stingray foraging in the soft bottom. Returning to the
mooring along the top of the wall where there is good snorkeling, you're likely
to see schools of blue tang converging on the bottom to graze on algae, as well
as squid in mid-water and houndfish near the surface. In the shallows are
colossal coral heads capped by magnificent sea fans.
Seen here: schools of small grunts, gobie cleaning stations, houndfish,
damselfishes, wrasses, tobaccofish, eagle ray, turtle, tarpon, spadefishes,
stingray, schools of blue tang
Text extracted from Diving British Virgin Islands
GINGER STEPS
DEPTH: 35-100 FEET (11-30 M)
LEVEL: INTERMEDIATE
Ginger Steps is composed of a series of huge ledges cascading down from the
shallows to 100 feet. The visibility here is normally very good. Beautiful tube
sponges and sea fans grace the leading edges of the tops of the ledges. Below,
look for squirrelfishes, small grunts and damselfishes. The sand between the
drop-offs is so brilliantly white that the whole site seems to glow. Down
deeper, schools of pale snapper and grunts congregate in the hollows between the
corals. Barracudas and juvenile angelfishes loiter around the tiny coral heads
scattered in the sand beneath the mooring.
Text extracted from Diving British Virgin Islands
VANISHING ROCK
DEPTH: 15-45 FEET (5-14 M)
LEVEL: INTERMEDIATE
Vanishing Rocks is a very healthy shallow reef due to the currents that sweep
through the passage between Cooper and Salt Islands. These currents, which when
strong can make the site undivable, nurture its many species of corals and
support a large population of reef fishes. The underwater ridge extends off to
either side of the breaking pinnacle and is surrounded by lesser formations
pockmarked with overhangs, ledges and undercuts. Descending from the boat will
place you on a slope covered with gorgonians and small barrel sponges. Closer to
the pinnacle there is a sandy area, surrounded by rocks and ledges. This is a
great place to lie down on your belly, get your face in close and leisurely
observe the inhabitants such as anemones and shrimp, jawfishes, and blennies.
Thick delicate coral growth, lobsters, and occasional sleeping nurse sharks can
be found here. Along the deeper water a little further out and you'll reach
Sergeant Major City, a large multispired formation of pillar coral that is
positively overflowing with fish life. Sergeant majors of course, but also
squirrelfishes, grunts and bigeye snappers reside here. A little further along
is an outlying pillar coral formation called, you guessed it, Sergeant Major
Suburbs. Hugging the edge of the rock will bring you to a series of overhangs
where a large green moray eel is often spotted.
Text extracted from Diving British Virgin Islands
VISIBLES
DEPTH: 10-80 FEET (3-24 M)
LEVEL: ADVANCED
Off the southwestern tip of
Cockroach Island a pinnacle comes within a dozen feet of the surface. A large
barracuda has staked out the top of the pinnacle. This slope down is thick with
huge deep-water gorgonians, luxuriant -sea fans and lots of fish life. Look out
into open water for eagle rays, turtles, sharks and large pelagic fishes. At
about 80 feet, there is a series of ledges and then large overhangs and little
caves as you come around the corner and head shallower. This area is just
overflowing with fish life. There is a huge school of ghostlike bigeyes that
drifts out among the boulders (similar to the glasseye snappers that hide under
ledges). Highhats, angelfishes and large snappers loiter in this area. Up in the
shallows next to the island, there is a fantastic maze of alleyways, tunnels,
arches and monster boulders all covered with encrusting sponges, corals,
hydroids and lots of fire coral.
WALL TO WALL
DEPTH: I 5-65 FEET 15-20 M)
LEVEL: ADVANCED
Wall to Wall, on the southwest corner of West Dog, was so named because the
marine life there can be so abundant that sometimes it's just "wall to wall"
with fish. Underneath the mooring is a sand patch surrounded by ledges and
overhangs. Take the time at the beginning or end of the dive to thoroughly
examine this area. Stretch out on the sand and peer deeply back into the coral
and rock recesses looking for spotted rock lobster, juvenile angelfishes and
lacy crinoids. There may even be a sleeping nurse shark tucked in, with just its
tail sticking out or perhaps an octopus changing colors as it scurries along the
reef. The corals here are healthy because they are spared the onslaught of the
wintertime north swell. To find the schools of fish, head out southwest,
descending down the slope. There's a canyon that cuts through the slope, and a I
little deeper at 45 feet (14 m) or so, there are some boulders and more undercut
ledges. This is where the "tons o' fish" are. Porkfish, blue striped grunts,
squirrelfishes, bigeyes and even sergeant majors mill about this area. At times
though, the schools aren't so plentiful and it's not quite "wall to wall," but
only "wall ......
Grand Central
One of the more unusual dives in the BVI is a tunnel called Grand Central
Station and only Cuan Law makes the trip here. Originally discovered by Duncan,
this dive enters a broad tunnel at about 55 feet. From that point, the tunnel
climbs, turns and descends again as it cuts through a point of the island. The
tunnel passes completely through a narrow point of the island.
Times Square
Two caves cut in toward land at Times Square, angling upward from 30 feet to
about 7. The caves are long enough to require a dive light and have been known,
on occasion, to host a large Nurse Shark. A school of Silversides resides in one
of them.
The Blinders
The Blinders, just around the corner from the famous Baths, is like diving the
Baths' gigantic boulders in 35 feet of water. Huge boulders are heaped
everywhere, covered on the tops with soft corals and Fire Coral and on the
bottom with sponges and Orange Cup Corals. There are lots of swimthroughs and
interesting overhangs harboring snappers and squirrelfish. Several of us enjoyed
another Nurse Shark encounter but we were most fascinated by a Hawksbill Turtle
that nonchalantly munched sponges right in front of us.
Text extracted from Diving British Virgin Islands
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