Scrub Island BVI

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Strima77

Contributor
Messages
95
Reaction score
18
Location
Meredith, NH
# of dives
200 - 499
Hello, I'll be on Scrub Isl in the BVI in August. Its off the eastern side of Tortola. Anybody familiar with the diving op there? Or dives in the area? thanks much.
 
Scrub Island is almost two islands connected by a narrow slip of land.

At the north side about 1/3 of the way to the east end there is a beach. From there swim out about 500 feet to the breaking reef. Great coral and very private spot. There are no major dive sites except for one off the east point named "Tip of Scrub" and another off the south west end called "Dip and Scrub". The dip is a easy dive and has a long broad shelf that drops to 65 feet. The Tip is another matter. Lots of current and lots of big critters and Lobsters.

Check out the newest version of Google Earth with the ocean section. Then check to get the dive sites. It will show the two I mentioned here. The local Dive book by Lonely Planet does not show them.

I would use Blue Water Divers at of Nanny Cay to do the dives. Great folks and one of our advertisers for our show.

We will also be in the BVI in August taping the remaining episodes for our TV show Travelers In Paradise. To see more go to www.travelersinparadise.com

If Blue Water Divers doesn't work out then try Dive BVI. They do some joint advertising with Scrub Island Resort and are the embedded dive operator for the resort.

I Hope that helps.

Carl
 
My first dive after being certified was along the south shore of scrub island. About 600-800 meters east of the yacht anchorage at Marina Cay there was placed a white dive boat mooring around 2006. It was still there in 2008. The nav chart calls the area Diamond Reef. This could be the "Dip and Scrub" site since the description fits.

On my inaugural dive there in January 2004, I encountered a 7' lemon shark and a giant spotted eagle ray both within 4 meters. Lots of large lobsters, a turtle and thousands of fish. Not bad for a first dive. We have visited this site on four different 'sail and dive trips'.

Since the north side has always been 'undivable' in January due to the prevailing winter NE winds, the south side of scrub has been my only experience there. I expect the south side would be an easy dive in the summer as well. It is not exposed to the open ocean. This reef runs most of the lengnth of the island.

The best thing about 'sail and dive' trips is that if it is too rough to dive, it's agood day to sail. And vice versa.

photo of a rough day in the BVI
 

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Diggerlead,

Who did you charter with?

We do an annual Bare boat sail charter in the BVI's. Usually in a cat from Cat co. The last time was an all electric Lagoon 42 before that a Lagoon 440 with the diesels.

We love the freedom to dive where ever we want and any time we want. It's nice to go to the non commercial spots and see whats there.
 
Diggerlead,

Who did you charter with?.

We have always used Sunsail in the past. They are merged with Moorings now. The operation is in Roadtown. We have always chartered older monohulls because of price. I have not been for two years. Did the trip four times.
 
Very cool. Sunsail/Moorings are all part of TUI corp. as is footloose. They have bases all over the world. They are the best charter operations running.
 
There are lots of good to very good dive sites just minutes away from Scrub by boat, in virtually every direction. Wrecks, reefs, caverns, even some larger critters, i.e.: Eagle rays and Lemon Sharks are around in August. It's usually calm water then, unless a Tropical depression is around.

Try Dive BVI they are the "local" dive op and true pioneers of BVI diving. Another close by Dive op is UBS. I have used both and would recommend them.

My fav sites around Scrub include Grand Central, HMS Rhone, Chikuzen, Ginger Island, and all the Dogs.
 
I did Shark Point on the east end of Scrub last Friday afternoon. No current and some nice fish life. 2 8ft nurse sharks layed in up in a ledge, turtles, dozen tarpon and loads of baitfish.

Sent a PM regarding diving from Scrub Island.

See you in a few weeks!

Jeff
 
Tip o' Scrub is one of the hidden gems of BVI diving. Enjoy your trip. Dive BVI have a shop on the island (as Jeff has probably already told you), so they seem like the logical choice. Have a blast!
 
I would defiantly recommend to go with Blue Water Divers also. They are one of the best ops in the BVI I have used. Since Baskin in the Sun went out I've used them exclusively. They've been taking care of me for years, Keith is the best.

Dive BVI I have never used, but going over their site looks like they have Nitrox, that makes it worth checking out next time I am down there (Dec woot).
 

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