BVI Snorkeling, Scuba Diving And Activities For Your Sailing Charter
on May 30, 2019
Where Are The Best Places To Snorkel & Scuba Dive In The BVI?
Snorkeling is very popular in the Virgin Islands. There are many spectacular spots in the Caribbean Islands. Below you can find the best BVI snorkeling and scuba diving spots for your yacht charter vacation.
The British Virgin Islands chain of islands contains an amazing variety of islands ranging from the coral atoll of Anegada with its long white sand beaches to the main island of Tortola with its lush green mountains.
The British Virgin Islands (BVI) Offers Many Snorkeling And Scuba Diving Spots
One of the best ways to discover this beautiful underwater paradise, with its incredible visibility, coral, reefs, and plentiful fish populations, is by snorkeling. What is most wonderful about snorkeling is that it is easy. There is no heavy gear; no need for special lessons and it is suitable for all ages- from school children to grandparents.
The BVI Are Perfect For Snorkeling & Scuba Diving
Whether swimming from the beach, slipping over the side of your dinghy, or just jumping off the transom of your BVI Yacht Charter get a face mask, snorkel, and a pair of fins and start exploring the undersea world of the BVI.
If you don't bring your own snorkeling equipment, many sailing charter bases can provide it to you for a small fee.
Here Are Our Favourite Snorkel Spots In The BVI
1. The Caves (Norman Island)
The Caves. Photo by @alton.bertie. Used with permission.
Depth: 0-45ft
Thought to be the site of Robert Louis Stevenson’s Treasure Island, Norman Island has a fantastic cave system that has made it a popular stop for adventurous tourists. Bring a flashlight to illuminate the colorful coral, which lives at the base of the caves.
Expect to see: Blue tangs, southern stingrays, eagle rays, sergeant majors, barracuda, schooling grunts, anemones.
2. The Wreck of the Rhone (Salt Island)
Salt Island, Wreck of the Rhone. Photo by @hanhanbvi. Used with permission.
Depth: 30-90 ft.
At the bottom of the Caribbean Sea just off Salt Island’s Lee Bay, lies the wreck of a British Royal Mail Steamer. The RMS Rhone is one the most extraordinary shipwrecks you can snorkel in the BVI and all of the Caribbean. Buried under the sea since its wreck in October 1876 during a hurricane, plenty of artifacts are still visible today. Although primarily a dive spot, you can snorkel above it for a bigger picture view of the wreck.
Expect to see: Shipwreck, various schools of fish, lobster, turtles, large porcupine pufferfish, southern stingrays, eagle rays, moray eels, and octopuses.
3. Cistern Point (Cooper Island)
Snorkel. Photo by Oliver Bruchez. CC BY-SA
Depth: 40-50 ft.
South of Manchioneel Bay off the western coast of Cooper Island, Cistern Point is a shallow diving spot with large rock rising out of the water, marking the spot of a vibrant coral reef system perfect for snorkeling. Since it's less popular than some of the larger snorkel spots, you are more likely to have the reef all to yourself to explore.
Expect to see: Various schools of fish, spot shrimps, blue tangs, queen angelfish, damselfish, snappers, grunts, sergeant majors, goatfish, anemones, silvery fry, tarpon, turtles, southern stingray, moray eels, and nurse sharks.
4. Blue Chromis Reef (Cooper Island)
Blue Green Chromis. Photo by Andrea Mars. CC BY
Depth: 30-90 ft.
In Hallovers Bay off the west coast of Cooper Island, the Blue Chromis Reef has lots to offer eager snorkelers. Reef fish frequent this spot, including the blue chromis, which the reef is named after. With a calm current and good visibility, you can easily snorkel here for hours on end.
Expect to see: Blue chromis and other reef fish, shrimp, anemones, quillfin blennies, coral, sea fans.
Tip: If you look hard, you may spot the wreckage of a twin-seat airplane at about 35 ft. below.
5. Alice’s Backside or Ginger’s Patch (Ginger Island)
Brain Coral. Photo by Paul Asman and Jill Lenoble. CC BY
Depth: 25-50 ft.
Located off Ginger Island, a private island within the Little Sisters, is a popular snorkel BVI site called Alice’s Backside. Abundant with sea creatures and coral, you’ll find yourself in awe of the underwater landscape that stretches across the Sir Francis Drake Channel.
Expect to see: Brain and mushroom coral, parrot fish, eels, lobster, Nassau grouper, trunkfish, trumpetfish, and other schools of fish.
6. The Baths (Virgin Gorda)
The Baths. Photo by shilo2006. CC BY-SA
Depth: 0-40 ft.
A rocky shoreline with impressive boulders, caves, and tide pools make up the scenery of a popular snorkeling spot known as The Baths. Part of the Devil’s Bay National Park in Virgin Gorda, you can snorkel a trail, following schools of fish as they weave in and out from the rocky crevices.
Expect to see: Multiple species of coral, tropical fish, caves, and boulders (both above and below the water).
7. Rainbow Canyon (Pelican Island)
Snorkeling. Photo by Asier Sarasua Aranberri. CC BY-SA
Depth: 45-60 ft.
Named after the colorful rocks that make up Pelican Island, Rainbow Canyon attracts snorkelers and divers alike. A wide variety of sea life makes their home here, and the canyon provides an excellent alternative to Pelican Island’s most famous snorkeling and dive spot, The Indians.
Expect to see: Sea slugs, anemones, lobsters, reef fish, colorful sponges, garden eels, and queen angelfish.
Tip: Bring a camera! Rainbow Canyon’s inhabitants are very photogenic!
8. Buttonwood Bay (Great Harbor, Peter Island)
Humpback Whale. Photo by Alan Moore. CC BY-ND.
Depth: 8-40 ft.
Off the northern tip of Peter Island, a shallow reef starts near the surface of the water and slopes down to nearly 40 feet in Buttonwood Bay. Located in a secluded bay, you can snorkel and enjoy a drink at the Lazy Iguana Beach Club before heading back to your yacht.
Expect to see: Various species of coral, sea fans, fish, and sometimes humpback whales!
Tip: The best snorkeling is approximately 20 yards offshore.
9. The Indians (Pelican Island)
The Indians. Photo by @alton.bertie
Depth: 35-45ft.
A popular snorkeling spot in the BVI, The Indians are named after the native “Indians” who occupied this area of the Caribbean Islands before its settlement by the British. A fantastic reef lies below the rock formations here and allows you to snorkel the perimeter without having to venture too far out to see marine life.
Expect to see: Variety of reef fish, sea fans, corals, sponges, rays, lobsters.
Tip: Because it’s full of life, and a busy snorkeling spot, we recommend stopping at the Indians during the early morning hours in the hope to avoid larger crowds.
What do you think of our picks for the best BVI snorkeling spots?
If you’re ready to have your own underwater adventure in the British Virgin Islands, book your charter and start planning your trip.
BVI Scuba Diving Activities
BVI Scuba Diving Yacht Charter awaits to be discovered! The British Virgin Island is an extraordinary sailing, scuba diving, and vacation destination. Exquisite white-sand Caribbean beaches with aquamarine life will fill all your senses.
1. Wreck of the Chikuzen
The Wreck of the Chikuzen is considered one of the most amazing diving sites in the BVIs thanks to its remote location, seemingly in the "middle of nowhere." Situated 12 miles NW of Virgin Gorda, lying at a depth of 75ft. and surrounded by flat sands, this is the perfect place for marine life to assemble. This diving site is recommended for advanced scuba divers because of its remote zone and the regular 3 to 5 foot swells often hitting it. This Japanese refrigeration vessel, measuring 246 feet long, attracts visitors such as schools of barracuda, horse-eye jacks and snapper, stingrays, eagle rays, nurse and reef sharks, huge Jewfish, spadefish, and much more. It is considered an adventure for avid explorers! So, in your next BVI Scuba Diving experience, challenge your skills! You won’t regret it.
Depth: 20-24 meters
Type of dive: Shipwreck
Where to find it: 12 miles NW of Virgin Gorda
Insider tip: Same as the dimensions of the huge ship that appears once you dive in, all the fish life in this spot is bigger! So get ready to be amazed!
2. Wreck of the Rhone
Voted one of the ten best wreck dives in the world, the RMS Rhone, a British Royal Mail steamer, rests in the depths of the National Marine Park off Salt Island and is perfect for diving exploration. Its story tells that during a furious storm in 1867 an explosion occurred in the boiling room scattering the wreck in separate locations. Today the wonders of its history lie in the depths of its waters where several features still remain intact (such as its bow, lifeboat davits, wrenches, and portholes). The Rhone provides an amazing swim-through site possible for great underwater adventures. Your private chartered yacht can take you to see this amazing place where you can watch for turtles, lobsters, and green and spotted eels wandering through the fascinating relics of the ship’s history.
Depth: 18-25 m
Type of dive: Shipwreck
Where to find it: Off Salt Island
Insider tip: Fascinating relics are now home to amazing underwater creatures. Keep your eyes wide open!
Wreck of the Rhone, photo by Chip Gallent. CC BY 2.0
3. The Playground
The name itself, "The Playground," suggests images of a perfect dive spot—and that's completely accurate, thanks to the location's massive and colorful caves. Made of huge boulders with caves, passageways, ledges, and summits, all covered in bright red and orange sponges, this natural site is the shelter for a wide variety of diverse sea creatures. Described as the ‘Big Animal Dive’, sea creatures enjoy playing hide-and-seek in these alcoves, so get your underwater cameras ready for a fun adventure in the depths! Your BVI yacht charter can take you to explore this perfect and fun diving spot!
Depth: 17m
Where to find it: Green Cay, Jost Van Dyke
Type of dive: Vast rock and boulder site
Insider Tip: Watch for amazing topography, find nurse sharks, spotted eagle rays, devil rays, and tarpon, and if you're lucky you will see thousands of baitfish trapped in the canyons by patrols and tarpon.
4. Painted Walls
The vibrant underwater landscape and multiplicity of colorful fish make Painted Walls one of the most popular dives in the BVIs. The rocky ridges are covered with orange, purple, red, green, and yellow encrusting coral. This unique and mysterious site, full of overwhelming vibrant colors, is an underwater photographer’s paradise. Structured with vertical walls, parallel passageways, and canyons that lead to arches, all are adorned with vivid sponges and multi-colored coral. Don't forget your camera for an irreplaceable lasting memory.
Depth: 12m
Where to find it: Dead Chest Island
Type of dive: Coral reef/Underwater canyons
Insider tip: Perfect on a sunny day, when the sunshine hits the reef and the coral gleams luminously.
Coral Reef, photo by ScubaBear68
5. Virgin Gorda
Virgin Gorda is the third-largest island after Tortola and Anegada, covering a range of around 8 square miles. It is said that Christopher Columbus named the island “The Fat Virgin” due to the island’s profile seen on the horizon that looks like a fat woman lying on her side.
You can’t miss the wonderful underwater scenery filled with colors and beautiful fish, nor the quiet coves within. For divers novice to advance, paradise underwater awaits to be discovered. Some names of diving sites found around Virgin Gorda are The Invisibles (advanced, 60 ft), Mountain View (novice, 70 ft), The Aquarium (novice, 35 ft). On your private yacht charter, you can explore all the different diving spots Virgin Gorda has to offer.
School friends, photo by Laszlo Ilyes CC BY
… And here are some more diving spots you shouldn’t miss out on your next BVI Yacht Charter…
Jost Van Dyke
You don't want to miss out on the incredible wonders you will encounter in Jost Van Dyke. Named after a former pirate, it is a colorful scene where fish lovingly swim right past you—and yes, you will be dazzled by the colors and numerous reef life. The best thing about diving Jost Van Dyke is that there are a lot of secret locations for exploration for divers of all levels. From caves to drop-offs, deep open ocean scenery and coral gardens with an incredible amount of sea life await you! Don’t worry if you're not a diver, you can catch up with the fun by joining a Snorkeling and Eco-tour!
Jost Van Dyke, photo by Daniel Lobo CC BY
Angelfish Reef
This reef runs from 30 to 80 feet in depth and is exposed to the open Caribbean Sea. It is host to a group of big fish and smaller creatures, such as tiny crabs and baby eels in the anemones. Don’t forget to capture the image of the colorful reef. Located in the Southwest of the Norman Island, this sheltered and shallow dive is also perfect for beginners. A BVI Scuba Diving Yacht Charter can take you see this amazing place!
Angel Fish Reef, photo by Laszlo Ilyes
Wreck of the Inganess Bay
Another one of BVI’s amazing wrecks found near the shore just south of Cooper Island is the 136-foot island freighter Inganess Bay, sunk in August 1996 by the BVI Dive Operators Association. This ship was built in 1950 in Holland for a Scottish company and today serves as a relatively new and interesting dive site. Popping up from the water the wreck is covered by amazing corals and teams a variety of fish and sea life. This site is protected from swells and winds. Divers from all levels can penetrate the various rooms and hallways of the ship and be amazed by the diverse attractions this site has to show.
Wreck of the Inganess Bay, photo by Colin Moss. CC BY
West Seal Dog
One of the Dog Islands is the West Seal Dog located between Tortola and Virgin Gorda. Only a 15 minutes boat ride from Spanish Town, you may find this volcanic diving site home to a variety of underwater creatures. Its caves, niches, and rocky formations are filled with colorful sponges and corals, so don’t forget your underwater camera to capture the beautiful scenery and amazing sea life found here!
West Seals Dog, photo by Phia CC BY
BVI Scuba Diving Yacht Charters are very popular in the Caribbean, and scuba diving is just one of the many activities to explore during your vacation. BVI is considered one of the best places to snorkel in the Caribbean due to warm temperatures, amazing marine life, and unique diving spots. The BVI is the perfect combination of holiday adventure and paradisiac scenery all around. Book your BVI Scuba Diving Yacht Charter as your next vacation destination!
So what are you waiting for? Book your next yacht charter here and visit the best BVI scuba diving sites!
Are you ready to start the search for your perfect yachting holiday in the BVIs?
