Virgin Gorda vs St. John

[intheair10]

My finance and I wil be headed to the Virgin Islands for our honeymoon at the end of May. We're trying to decide between staying the whole time at one or the other, or splitting the 1-week trip up so we can see each. I plan on doing 3 days of diving, the better half will be on the beach reading. I'm leaning towards BVI because I want to dive the Rhone and The Baths looks amazing. St. John seems to have more of a nightlife and culture scene. Spanish Town is supposedly quite poor. Ideas?

 

[marine9]

St Thomas has more of the night life, than St. John.

Saying that, I've not been to St. John, but have dove
the Rhone and love Virgin Gorda.

I'm told that there is some great diving in and around
St. John. Same, for sure, goes with the BVI.

When my wife and I went, she was not a diver either,
at the time. But she fell in love with the Baths. As will
you and your husband - I'm sure.

I don't think that you can go wrong either way.

Enjoy your trip.

 

[intheair10]

We chose to go to Virgin Gorda. Any must-do dives besides the Rhone? I'm into the dramatic wall, cavern, and swim-thru topography. I've been to the Divebvi site and most of the dives seem to be at the novice level.

 

[marine9]

The Rhone is a double dive, first deeper than second - of course.

I also like Maple Leaf; Chikuzen wreck; Alice in Wonderland; Spyglass
Wall; Aquarium and Coral Garden.

Many good sites around Cooper and Salt Islands, the whole
Francis Drake Channel is nice - Carval Rock is another that you might
like.

It's often difficult to get dive operations to go specific dive sites. Most
go to the same one's on a rotation. Weather is also a issue.

Check out the sites on the internet, or with the dive shop that you'll
be using.

Best of luck and enjoy the BVI. I always do! Wish I was going...

 

[marine9]

Try this website, it will assist a little.



http://www.scubamom.com/bvi-diving/Bvimap7.gif


Again, enjoy your trip!

 

[Rhone Man]

If you are on Virgin Gorda there are a lot of really nice dives around a collection of islets known as "The Dogs". Everyone goes to see the airplane wreck at Coral Gardens (off Great Dog), but I think it is severely overrated. But there are some really nice other sites around there.

The Chikuzen wreck is really nice. I think Dive BVI (the main operator on Virgin Gorda) dive it every Thursday, but best to check that.

There is only one serious cavern dive that I know of in the BVI, and it is called Grand Central Station. It is reasonably close to Virgin Gorda (it is north of Scrub Island), but most operators will not take people there, because it is quite a challenging dive (not the cavern itself, but the surrounding conditions - poor anchoring, exposed site, rough waves). Lots of overhangs and mini-caves at The Flintstones and Bronco Billy in "The Dogs" though.

Have fun.

 

[VGdiver]

Shoot me a PM with what you'd like to see and I'll tell you if it's possible or not. You'll like VG, not poor at all, some great restaurants and really nice people. Leave all preconceived notions at the airport and you might end up staying here like I did several years ago!

 

[Maggy]

I love both Virgin Gorda and St John. I have been diving around both islands, and so far I think diving around the BVI's has been better than around St John.

The Rhone is a must of course, but the Dogs, the sites at Ginger island and also Wreck Alley is really good. One of the most surpricing sites was the Aquarium. In one dive we saw 6 nurse sharks and a lot of different schooling fishes.

I'm sure you find the dive sites pretty OK for a honeymoon. Otherwise I guess there are a lot of other things to do.

Also going to St John and Virgin Gorda in the end of May, if not the volcano stops us again. Hope for some nice diving.