SCUBA Diving in the British Virgin Islands
Are you interested in SCUBA diving in the British Virgin Islands?
SCUBA divers have many options when it comes to incorporating diving into their yacht charter vacation!
You don’t even have to bring your dive gear with you. Many yacht charters that offer SCUBA diving have an assortment of SCUBA equipment on board. Most will have a professional divemaster if not an Instructor. These SCUBA professionals will take you “resort diving” or certify you.
A wetsuit is often unnecessary when scuba diving in the British Virgin Islands due to the warm water temperatures.
The water is generally around 85 degrees during Summer and late 70s during Winter.
Can I do my certification onboard?
Yes, you can in simple terms. There are some considerations. It’s best if you complete your pool and online classroom portion before you come down to dive in the BVI. That way the Instructor can do your “open water” dives to finish off the training. This way you won’t have to spend your entire week and every day cramming to study.
You will need a yacht with an Instructor on board!
What kind of certification can I get on my yacht?
The open water scuba diving certification typically involves four dives and an additional dive called a “snorkel dive.” During these dives, you will practice the skills you learned in the pool, with the added advantage of experiencing them in the comfortable and warm water environment.
You don’t need bulky dive suits like you may if you did it in the United States. There is less to think about and remember, and you are not as “clumsy” with wetsuits and gloves getting in the way.
After all, if you do that, you will miss the cocktails over the yardarm, the beachcombing, and beach bars.
If you are with a group, THEY also get the pleasure of your company.
Can I go diving if I have no certification?
There are dive boats with Instructors or even Dive Masters. They can teach you the basics, and then you can do a couple of shallow dives with them.
This is fun and relaxing and gives you the chance to see if you even like it. Youngsters as young as ten can get involved, making it a great family activity. It will be remembered for decades as a great bonding and learning opportunity.
What About RendezVous Diving in the BVI?
This is an excellent option when your charter yacht needs a professional onboard. Or does your family want to hang out at the beach all week and not hang out on an anchor in top water while you are diving the wreck of the RMS Rhône? Easy peasy!
One of the local dive shops, such as Commercial Diving or Blue Water Divers, can arrange to meet your yacht. They usually meet around Norman Island, Peter Island, or Cooper Island and take you to the dive site. You can do one or two dives here, and they will bring you back to your yacht.
While you’re exploring the underwater wonders, the rest of your family can enjoy some well-deserved relaxation on the tranquil beaches. This arrangement, easily coordinated by the Captain, ensures everyone can make the most of their time, knowing the weather forecast and their likely whereabouts each night.
You can read more about casual diving here.
Gearing Up
Incredibly easy on a catamaran! Line up across the back deck and take a stride jump into the water!
What about bringing my own Scuba Diving equipment?
If you are more comfortable with it, you can bring your own equipment! This is particularly important if you have a prescription mask and well-fitting fins. If you want to buy dive accessories, there are dive shops on quite a few islands that sell a wide assortment of goodies.
You will find it fun buying the charts of the waters and marking off where you have been in the water and sailed around the islands.
How many dive sites are there?
There are literally hundreds. Jim Scheiner’s Diving in the British Virgin Islands is practically the Bible of the dive sites here. Although this is an older book, you will still find it on Amazon and just about every yacht that plies the waters.
From shallow, calm sand reefs perfect for open water skills to the famous wreck of the Rhône off Salt Island and the hundreds of wrecks lost over the centuries, the BVI’s dive sites are steeped in history. There’s something for everyone, from history buffs to those looking for a great photo op.
On a yacht charter vacation, the underwater world is your playground. You can explore underwater cannons, hunt for centuries-old glass bottles, test your knowledge by identifying different species of reef fish, or even assist your captain in hunting for lionfish. The options are as diverse as the marine life you’ll encounter.
Wreck of the RMS Rhone
What is the wreck of the Rhône? Funny, you should ask. The top Scuba Diving wreck in the Caribbean and one of the top ten wreck dives in the world. This was one of Her Majesty’s mail ships that went down in a hurricane in 1867.
She was another “modern” ship and the second one with sails and steam engines.
The boat’s steam engines were shattered when it accidentally drifted into Black Rock near Salt Island. This shipwreck, adorned with vibrant coral growth and frequented by many fish, stands as a captivating and historically significant relic within the British Virgin Islands, a testament to the power of nature and the resilience of human engineering.
BVI Reef Art
What about BVI reef art? This beautiful art form, a global trend, is proudly championed by the Beyond the Reef, an NGO in the BVI.
These reef art installations, a testament to human creativity and ingenuity, serve multiple purposes. They involve repurposing old planes, ships, and vehicles, often incorporating imaginative creatures through welding techniques, before deliberately sinking them in suitable locations.
This removes “trash” that may become an eyesore or has to be shipped at expense off-island. They become fish attraction devices. Think about it: whether they are in a spot for divers or a spot for fishermen when placed in a barren area, they will grow coral and attract fish to hide in their superstructure or hunt other fish.
They increase tourism and give us more places to dive. Currently, we have a Kraken in the British Virgin Islands, a joint effort of Commercial Dive Services, and Richard Branson of Necker Island, sunk off Virgin Gorda.
There are cars and vehicles off Peter Island.
What about an airplane made to resemble a shark? We have it! Since Hurricane Irma, when one of the Virgin Islands’ most famous floating bars, the Willy T’s, was thrown upon the land, it has now been cleaned and will be sunk as a pirate ship!
These projects also bring a sense of community and working together. They make everyone feel good!
How Many Dives Can You do in a week?
We suggest somewhere between 3 and 5 to accompany a relaxed sailing or motoring vacation around the islands. This leaves plenty of opportunities to do other fun things.
Can H2O Luxury Yachts Plan our Trip for SCUBA Diving?
Yes! We are probably one of the most qualified yacht charter brokers for this as our principals were SCUBA instructors, offering SCUBA on their yachts in the Caribbean for 17 years.
H2O team members have been diving the entire Caribbean chain from the Bahamas to the Grenadines and have accomplished thousands of dives. We are happy to share our favorite spots with you and tips on making the most of your yacht and dive vacation.
We know the best boats to book you on. Let us get you on a “real” yacht that offers a superior dive service on board that will make everyone happy. Do a yacht search here and watch for the yachts with SCUBA diving symbols on the front.
Check out additional articles we have on SCUBA diving on our blog!
Contact H2O Luxury Yachts today to book your yacht charter vacation with ANY SCUBA diving with it!
Please fill out our quote form here; the perfect yacht for you will hit your inbox quickly.
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