About the guide
About Scuba Diving BVI Who We Are
About Scuba Diving BVI: we are an independent guide to diving the British Virgin Islands. We are not a dive shop and we do not sell trips. Our aim is to help you understand the sites, the seasons and the options before you book.
What we cover
Scuba Diving BVI covers the dive sites of the territory, from the famous RMS Rhone to the remote reefs of Anegada, plus the practical side of a dive trip: when to go, how to dive from a charter yacht, how to learn to dive and where to snorkel.
Our guides explain what each site is like, how deep it is, who it suits and what to look out for. We describe conditions in general terms; on the day, your dive operator or captain knows best.
We also cover the questions that come up before every trip: which months bring the calmest seas, how warm the water is, what wetsuit to pack, whether you need a permit to use a mooring, how long to wait before flying home, and where non-divers in your group can snorkel while you dive. Each guide links to the others, so you can plan a whole week from one page.
How we write
We write in plain language for divers of every level. We check facts such as dates, depths and history against reliable sources, and we update pages when things change, such as new wrecks, new rules or storm damage.
We do not name or rank individual businesses, and we do not accept payment for coverage. Some pages may include affiliate links to dive gear; if so, we say so on the page.
Diving the BVI responsibly
The reefs and wrecks of the British Virgin Islands are what make the diving special, and they are fragile. Hurricanes, coral disease and warming seas have all left their mark in recent years. Every diver and snorkeler can help:
- Use moorings, never anchors, at dive sites.
- Keep your buoyancy under control and your hands and fins off the reef.
- Leave everything you find, from shells to brass fittings.
- Follow the BVI National Parks Trust rules in the marine parks.
- Choose operators who brief their divers on reef care.
Ready to start planning? Begin with our overview of BVI dive sites and our guide to the best time to dive the BVI. Scuba Diving BVI is published by Portside Marketing, LLC. Contact details are in our privacy policy.
How to use this guide
If you are planning your first dive trip to the British Virgin Islands, start with our overview of BVI dive sites, which groups the sites by area and suggests which ones suit new divers, wreck fans and mixed groups with snorkelers. From there, each area has its own guide:
- The RMS Rhone, the territory's most famous dive.
- BVI wreck diving, from the Chikuzen to Wreck Alley.
- Norman Island diving, with the Indians and the Caves.
- Anegada diving, for Horseshoe Reef and its shipwrecks.
For the practical side, read the best time to dive the BVI, our guide to diving from a charter yacht, learning to dive and the best BVI snorkeling spots for the non-divers in your group.
Accuracy and updates
Dive sites change. Storms move sand and break up wrecks, moorings are added and removed, and park rules are updated. We describe each site as it is generally known, but conditions on the day always come first: listen to your guide or captain, and dive within your training and experience.
If you notice something on this site that is out of date, or you know a site we should add, we would like to hear from you. Our contact details are in our privacy policy.
A note on safety
Nothing on this site replaces proper training, a dive briefing or local knowledge. Scuba diving carries real risks. Always dive with a buddy, plan your dives, keep within no-decompression limits, and make sure you have insurance that covers diving and emergency evacuation.
Why the BVI
Few places pack so much variety into such a small area. In one week you can dive a Victorian shipwreck, a modern artificial reef, pinnacles in open water and granite boulders that look like nowhere else in the Caribbean, all within a short boat ride of each other and usually in calm, warm water. Add one of the world's best sailing grounds, beaches that are easy to reach and a relaxed island pace, and it is easy to see why so many divers come back year after year. This guide exists to help you make the most of that first trip, and the ones that follow.
Start exploring
Wrecks, pinnacles and reefs, island by island.