Virgin Gorda Dives??

[JamieS]

Hi,

My extended family and I are renting a villa on Virgin Gorda for a week in July. We plan on renting a small (25 - 30ft) power boat to use for the week. I know there are moorings on the dive sites there and can't wait to go. However, in my research, I came across The Wreck of the Chikuzen and am excitied about giving it a try if we have a really flat calm day. Does this site have a mooring as well? Anyone know? Rhoneman maybe???? I plan on picking up one of the maps of the area divesites once we arrive and probably a book as well. Anyone have any advice on which ones are worthwhile?

Are there any must do dives other than the Rhone?

Thanks in advance!

Jamie.

 

[Rhone Man]

Chickuzen has a mooring ball on it, but it is a bee-atch to find unless you have GPS coordinates. But definitely a dive well worth doing. I would recommend going with a local dive operator rather than trying to find it yourself - Dive BVI out of VG go the Chickuzen reasonably regularly.

The other really good collection of dive sites near VG are "The Dogs" islands. A collection of very small islets, they have about 12 dive moorings spread around them, and they are some of the best reef dives in the BVI. There is also a sunken airplane off the south side of Great Dog, but that is actually quite a poor dive.

The Rhone is a good dive, although to be honest I tire of it after about 400 dives on it over the years. My favourite dives are further down the islands and might be a bit of a stretch from VG, but if you get the chance, Ginger Steps, Carrot Shoal and Santa Monica Rock are superb dives.

For what it is worth, I attach a link to a summary of my favourite BVI dive sites that I posted a few months back...

http://www.scubaboard.com/forums/le...mans-british-virgin-islands-diving-guide.html

A couple of guys from Dive BVI post on SB regularly, so I am sure they will chip in soon with more up to date tips and advice...

 

[TSandM]

I loved doing the Chikuzen -- I think it may have been my favorite dive from our whole BVI trip. Being the only shelter on the sand bottom for a long way in any direction, it really collects big schools of fish, and the things that prey on them. We saw three spotted eagle rays on descent, and skates, and a big turtle. The wreck was eerie and beautiful.

There was a mooring nearby, but the viz was not good enough to see the wreck from the bottom, so you have to know in which direction the wreck lies.

 

[Roguewarrior2]

I pretty much agree with what Rhone Man said about the Chickuzen and the Dogs. A few more sites around Virgin Gorda are the Invisibles between Eustacia Island & Necker Island. Also Mountain Point and Grottos.

Check out OnlineBVI.net - Video Hosting for the British Virgin Islands SCUBA diving the BVI in 1986 for videos of BVI dive sites.

 

[JamieS]

Thanks for the advice, this is just what I was looking for!!!

I'll put up my first trip report ever when I get back. (Now, I only need to wait 4 months)

 

[VGdiver]

In July, we should be able to get out to the Chikuzen regularly. We did it last week just after the swells, a bit murky, but still covered in fish. We tend to have more activity out there when the viz is down (say 40-50 ft) than when it's stellar (over 80 ft). I don't know why but it's just the case. And you always have to wonder just what is swimming right outside the range of your vision. My personal record for big fish out there was 2 lemon sharks, 2 reef sharks, 1 unidentified shark and 2 goliath groupers. Yes, that was on one dive. I agree with the above remarks, there are good easy dives you can do on your own near VG. The Chikuzen isn't one you should try to do on your own, in a small boat, and without local knowledge.

Jeff