tortola

[pammyk]

Has anyone gone diving in Tortola? My dive shop is planning a trip there and I'm interested in going. It's the end of March.

Pam :dazzler1:

 

[Natasha]

I've been there. I stayed at Prospect Reef and dove with Baskin in the Sun. Nice time. Nice diving. Bring lots of money. $$$$.

 

[kate brunn]

Just an update from Tortola, Baskin in the Sun is no longer in business. There are lots of other great dive companies and you can find all the info on them at www.bviscuba.org I am a little biased but the diving here is great!!!!

Kate Brunn
Owner Operator
UBS Dive Center
www.scubabvi.com

Has anyone gone diving in Tortola? My dive shop is planning a trip there and I'm interested in going. It's the end of March.

Pam :dazzler1:

 

[kate brunn]

Just an update from Tortola, Baskin in the Sun is no longer in business. There are lots of other great dive companies and you can find all the info on them at www.bviscuba.org I am a little biased but the diving here is great!!!!

Kate Brunn
Owner Operator
UBS Dive Center
www.scubabvi.com

Has anyone gone diving in Tortola? My dive shop is planning a trip there and I'm interested in going. It's the end of March.

Pam :dazzler1:

 

[zboss]

Has anyone gone diving in Tortola? My dive shop is planning a trip there and I'm interested in going. It's the end of March.

Pam :dazzler1:

It's very under estimated IMHO. Kate is right - pretty much all the dive outfits down there have a unique style... I've personally dove with most of the operators (including UBS) and find that they are much more in tuned to the needs to the average diver than most operators in other countries.

There are hundreds of great dive sites within 15-25 minutes from any dock. Of course, the BVI's have great dining and always a great night life.

With that said... depending on the time of year you go diving you can experience great diving or not-so-great diving. Remember - the north side of the island chain is exposed to the open atlantic so the seas can get rough. If this is the case the dive operators can usually find good diving but places like the Rhone might be tricky for some divers.

The other things that affect diving in the BVIs these days are heavy rains. The rains wash dirt onto the coral and the coral produce a mucous-like substance to clean themselves off. There is so much of it the vis can drop to nill. The BVIs are more suseptable to this because of their uniquely dry and hilly islands. Runaway development with very little oversight of construction hasn't helped.

Also - there aren't very many dive operators offering Nitrox (maybe one). I've actually had one tell me that I didn't need it because the dives are already so long. Unfortunately, this particular operator doesn't seem to understand that I hold the cash... oh well. I also wish there were ops that offered 100's or 120's for rent - there are some sights that are very shallow (under 35 feet) that could benefit from larger tanks for longer dives. There are also some wrecks that rest at about 80 feet on which I wish I had a larger tank and nitrox.

 

[scubasteve-o]

Has anyone gone diving in Tortola? My dive shop is planning a trip there and I'm interested in going. It's the end of March.

Pam :dazzler1:

Just got back from my honeymoon at Virgin Gorda in the BVI and the diving was GREAT!!! Experience providing, make sure you dive the Rhone - what a great dive! - and the Chimneys, off of Great Dog island. If you're looking to get away from island casinos, chain hotels, chain restaurants, abject poverty and hostility from locals towards tourists - the BVI is definitely the place for you. I've been to Tortola 4 years ago and am going back this winter with family. Can't wait!!