Diving in the BVI's?

[MichaelinDallas]

We are doing a bareboat charter in the BVI's in March. Any suggested dives for the novice diver?

[azdiver]

I'm guessing that most of the places the'll take you to will be fine for a new diver.

[Airborne!]

To Clarify...this will be a bareboat rental where you crew the yacht, right?

[chinacat46]

I thought he meant barefoot instead bareboat. I've heard of barefoot cruises and I know they travel in the BVI's.

When you say a novice diver does that mean you are un-certified?

[diversteve]

Bareboat charters in the BVI's mean you charter the boat and sail it yourself - or provide your own crew.

OP,

Here are some dives we did 2 yrs. ago. All were fairly easy low-current dives. The viz can be kind of hit or miss, sometimes it was 60+, other times more like 30'. At sites like Seal Dog Rock it's the Atlantic on one side and the Caribbean on the other so it makes for some interesting big fish encounters occasionally. I was filming in a school of baitfish there when a Barracuda joined me for lunch...Not much current - at least the day we were there.

Aquarium Rocks is a really shallow dive with lots of fish and it's close to The Baths on Virgin Gorda, so after the dive definitely moor there and snorkel in. No diving there though, it's too shallow. But a great spot for a picnic. You can also walk up the path to the bars/restaurants on top.

Another thing that might be useful is that DiveBVI on Virgin Gorda or Blue Island Divers and Dive Tortola on Tortola do Rendezvous Diving, you set it up in advance and then call them on VHF when you're nearby and they'll bring tanks/gear/DM out to you, and escort the dive(s). DiveBVI also rents tanks by the week. They're good people and probably one of the best, most conscientious diveops I've used in recent years.

At dives like Thumb Rock or the Chimney, you might not find the features by yourself, both were kind of a long swim from the mooring. And Thumb Rock was suprisingly small. So consider a guide if you do those.

Divesite - Island - depth

Coral Gardens - Great Dog - 50' - look for the plane wreck
The Indians - Norman Island - 60'
Carrot Shoals - Peter Island - 65'
Thumb Rock - Cooper Island - 60'
Chimney - Great Dog - 45'
Aquarium Rocks - Virgin Gorda - 30'
Rhone - Salt Island - 75' - do a mooring change between sections, they're too far apart to swim between.

There's also a great buffet at the Leverick Bay Yacht club on VG most every Friday night. Great food, a band and it's right on the beach/harbor.

And don't miss the Willy T...

[MichaelinDallas]

Thanks DiverSteve. I appreciate your input. As regards to the bareboat charter, yes four of us are chartering and crewing a 40' sailboat out of Tortola. As for my dive experience, I am in the doing my open water dives this weekend in San Marcos to complete my certification. My fiance is a avid diver and I have always wanted to dive. I am not looking forward to diving this weekend due to the weather forecast.

Michael

[CamaroChick]

You will love the BVIs! I was there last year, and I absolutely loved the diving. The Rhone dive was the best - there are 2 parts you can swim through, even as a novice - very open and you can always see the way out. The vis was excellent the day we were there, although there was a bit of a current at the stern section. We did the whole ship in 1 tank on an afternoon dive. The Chimney was also very cool - you swim through a tight crevice and into a small swim-through cave. We saw 2 reef sharks up close at The Dogs (West Dog I think). No current to speak of (except for the Rhone), great vis, and max depths of about 70 ft, although we spend most time at 50 ft or above.

I highly, highly recommend Dive BVI - they are based in Virgin Gorda and Marina Cay, but will rendezvous with your boat. All the DMs were very attentive, and made sure we were comfortable will all the swim-throughs. We were lucky enough to be the only two divers on their big boat for two of the dive trips, and they still send 2 or 3 DMs into the water with us!