Steel, iron and history
BVI Wreck Diving From 1867 to Today
BVI wreck diving runs from a Victorian mail ship to modern hulls sunk on purpose as reefs. The wrecks are close together, in warm and usually clear water, and most are within reach of recreational divers.
The main wrecks in the BVI
RMS Rhone (Salt Island)
The most famous wreck in the territory, and one of the best known in the Caribbean. The Royal Mail steamer sank in a hurricane in 1867 and now lies in two parts, from about 20 to 80 feet, in the Rhone Marine Park. See the full RMS Rhone wreck dive guide.
The Chikuzen (north of Tortola)
The Chikuzen was a Japanese-built refrigerated fishing ship, about 245 feet long, that sank in 1981 in open water north of Beef Island and Tortola. She lies on her side on a sandy bottom at about 75 feet. Being far from other reefs, she attracts big life: large schools of jacks and barracuda, eagle rays, and sometimes sharks and turtles. Because the site is exposed to the open ocean, it is dived on calm days and suits experienced divers.
Wreck Alley (Cooper Island)
Off Cooper Island, several vessels were sunk on purpose as artificial reefs, including the cargo ship Marie L and the tug Pat. They sit near each other on the sand in roughly 80 to 90 feet, already well covered in coral and sponges, and are often home to stingrays, barracuda and schooling fish. Their depth makes them a good place to use nitrox.
The Kodiak Queen (Virgin Gorda)
The Kodiak Queen is a former US Navy fuel barge that was sunk off Virgin Gorda in 2017 as an art reef, topped with a large sculpture of a sea creature. It is one of the newest wreck dives in the BVI. Ask local operators whether it is on their schedule, as conditions and access change.
Shipwrecks of Anegada
Horseshoe Reef, off Anegada, has caught ships for centuries, including the British frigate HMS Astrea in 1808 and the steamer Paramatta in 1859. Most of these old wrecks are broken up into anchors, cannon, ballast and ribs scattered over shallow reef. Diving them takes a dedicated trip; our Anegada diving guide explains what is involved.
Before you go
Skills for wreck divers
You do not need a wreck certification to enjoy the BVI wrecks from the outside, but a few skills make the dives safer and better.
Buoyancy
Good trim keeps your fins off fragile coral and sharp metal, and keeps silt off the photos of the divers behind you.
Nitrox
Most BVI wrecks lie between 75 and 90 feet. Enriched air gives you more time on the bottom at those depths.
Deep and wreck training
An advanced or deep course prepares you for the bow of the Rhone and the Chikuzen. Go inside a wreck only within your training and with a guide.
Wreck diving rules and respect
The wrecks of the BVI are part of its history, and many are protected. The Rhone lies in a marine park, and historic wrecks are protected by law, so nothing may be taken from them: not bottles, not brass, not coral. Look, photograph and leave things where they lie.
Boats use the moorings provided at popular sites. If you are diving from a chartered yacht, the rules on BVI yacht charter diving explain mooring permits and where private divers may and may not go.
Weather matters for the open-water wrecks. The Chikuzen and Anegada's reefs are exposed, so trips go only when the sea is calm. Check our guide to the best time to dive the BVI for the calmest months.
New to diving? Start on the shallow stern of the Rhone, then work up to the deeper hulls as your experience grows. See learning to dive in the BVI for courses that build up to wreck dives.
BVI wreck diving FAQ
What is the best wreck dive in the BVI?
The RMS Rhone, for its history, size and coral growth. For big fish in open water, many divers rate the Chikuzen.
How deep are the BVI wrecks?
The Rhone runs from about 20 to 80 feet; the Chikuzen lies at about 75 feet; the Wreck Alley ships at Cooper Island sit at roughly 80 to 90 feet.
Can I take souvenirs from a BVI wreck?
No. Wrecks such as the Rhone are protected, and removing anything is against the law and the park rules.
Photographing BVI wrecks
The clear water and strong sunlight of the BVI make its wrecks a pleasure to photograph. On the Rhone, shoot wide: the shafts of light through the open bow, the giant propeller and the outline of the hull against the blue. A wide-angle lens or a wet wide-angle adapter on a compact camera makes a big difference.
Colour fades quickly with depth, so at 70 to 90 feet a strobe or video light brings back the reds and oranges of the cup coral and sponges. Shoot upward toward the surface where you can, and keep your fins high so you do not stir up sand for the next diver.
Above all, never hold on to the wreck or rest on it for a photo. A good photo is never worth broken coral or a cut from sharp metal.
See every BVI dive site
Wrecks, pinnacles, canyons and reefs, grouped by island.