BVI as a "Dive Destination"

[zboss]

Hi Folks,

Just curious... for some reason, the USVI and the BVI have never been seen as a "Dive Destination". I mean, it's better than the Keys by far (and has a much better night life then Largo) and it's different from Cozumel.

For those of you that -haven't- dove there... why haven't you considered this as a "destination".

For those of you that own Shops... what's the hold up?

I'm pleading extreme ignorance here... I know they don't have the stingrays of the Caymans, the vis of Cozumel, the sharks of the Bahamas, or the ship wrecks of truk. The DO have long dives, hundreds of locations, including shipwrecks for both novice and advanced divers, drift diving with whales, and probably more that have not yet been discovered, a topside history and a good nightlife, and just about all of the diver operators are great.

Again - just curious what ya'll think.

 

[Deus]

Dove the Wreck of the Rhone and Mountain Point there 2 years ago. Ver, very nice Dives. I wish I had had more time to do the others. There are plenty of great dive sites there frmo what I hear. I don't know why it is not tagged as Dive Destination.

P.S. We stayed on Virgin Gorda. Loved it!

 

[mike_s]

BVI is not a bad place to visit. It's really nice. It's just that diving is better in some other places for "hard core divers" and you can't get a direct flight to BVI. You have to either fly throuh Puerto Rico and fly in on a puddle jumper or fly in to St Thomas(USVI) and take the ferry over.

It also caters to sail boaters and beach resort loungers more than it does to the dive community.


There is plenty of great diving there (in BVI and USVI), but the more hard core crowd seems to hit Bonaire, Cozumel, the Caymans, or maybe the Bahamas first. Just like the diving isn't that bad in Jamacia, but you don't see dive clubs booking trips there, even though they have nice resorts.

 

[ScubaTexas]

Heading to the BVIs in May and can't wait. :dazzler1:

 

[Allison Finch]

Well, I lived in USVI for a while. It would not be a place I would plan to go to dive. It is so-so there. If I were there for other reasons, I would dive while there just to keep busy.

 

[Tim Ingersoll]

If its all about the diving then I would rather spend the money to go somewhere else (ie better vis, better walls, more big stuff, etc.). If its about renting a sailboat and spending a week sailing with some diving thrown in I'm there.

 

[zboss]

Heading to the BVIs in May and can't wait. :dazzler1:

I'll be there over Memorial Day weekend.

 

[zboss]

BVI is not a bad place to visit. It's really nice. It's just that diving is better in some other places for "hard core divers" and you can't get a direct flight to BVI. You have to either fly throuh Puerto Rico and fly in on a puddle jumper or fly in to St Thomas(USVI) and take the ferry over.

It also caters to sail boaters and beach resort loungers more than it does to the dive community.


There is plenty of great diving there (in BVI and USVI), but the more hard core crowd seems to hit Bonaire, Cozumel, the Caymans, or maybe the Bahamas first. Just like the diving isn't that bad in Jamacia, but you don't see dive clubs booking trips there, even though they have nice resorts.

I understand what you say about the transportation.

as a diving haven? Is it the sites? Packages? Equipment? Cheap Hotels, 24*7 diving?

What I am getting at is: the BVI's are trying to turn into a resort destination, but they haven't really figured out what they can do other than provide competition to sandals. Boring.

I would like to see a dive resort myself, full service, nitrox, advanced -technical- diving options, etc...

Cozumel doesn't strike me as any better than the BVI's except maybe for visibility. What do they have, or Bonaire, that the BVI doesn't?

If you were able to fly into St. Thomas and have the dive boat you will be on for the week pick you up directly from the airport, get your equipment set up before you got back to the hotel and had you ready to do a night dive that night, would that be appealing?

Still confused...

 

[colo_diver]

as someone who just returned from the USVI, I sort of kinda of wish to keep ST Coix a little secert, but the diving publications and the dive ops are trying to change that..... the ops on St Croix have gotten together and started a marketing program called Diverse Virgin, to help bring people there. The only thing is that it is a little pricey to eat and there is a lack of seafood...... go figure that......

 

[mike_s]

Still confused...

If I was going with a local "dive club" on a "all out" dive trip. Meaning diving 3,4, or 5 times a day. I'd go somewhere like Bonaire or maybe Cozumel, Grand Cayman.


If I was going somewhere is a local "sailing club" to charter a sailboat for a week with the club or a large group of sailing friends, then sign me up for the BVI. Yes, I'd bring my scuba gear also.

That help some?

yes they have nice resorts, but other places just appeal more to people for "diving".