Diving from a boat
BVI Yacht Charter Diving Sail by Day, Dive by Mooring
BVI yacht charter diving lets you wake up next to a dive site. The British Virgin Islands are one of the world's most popular sailing grounds, and the dive community has built its services around the boats.
Option one
Rendezvous diving
Many BVI dive operators offer what is usually called rendezvous diving: their dive boat picks you up from your yacht, wherever it is moored, takes you to the dive site and drops you back after the dive. You bring your certification card; they bring the tanks, weights, rental gear and a guide.
Book ahead and tell the operator which anchorage you will be in. Popular overnight stops such as Norman Island's Bight, Cooper Island and Leverick Bay are easy pickup points. It is the simplest way to dive the RMS Rhone during a sailing trip.
Option two
Diving from your own boat
Certified divers can also dive from their chartered yacht, picking up a mooring at a dive site and going in from the dinghy or swim platform. Some charter companies can arrange tanks; dive shops on Tortola and Virgin Gorda also rent and fill them.
This gives you freedom, but you are your own guide. Know your site, the current and the weather, dive with a buddy, leave someone on board, and fly a dive flag.
Moorings, permits and park rules
The BVI National Parks Trust keeps moorings at many dive and snorkel sites so that boats do not drop anchors on coral. To use them you need a National Parks mooring permit, which most charter companies sell or include. Some moorings are kept for particular uses, such as day use or commercial dive boats, so read the buoy and the permit information and use only the ones you are allowed to.
Rules are stricter in the marine parks, such as the Rhone Marine Park. Never anchor on coral or seagrass, never stand on or touch the reef, and take nothing from wrecks or reefs. Fishing, spearfishing and collecting are restricted, and some activities need their own permits.
Moorings are usually limited to a short daytime stay, with a set time limit. Plan to dive, then move on to an overnight anchorage or mooring field.
Safety on a dive charter
- Leave someone aboard. Wind and current can move a dinghy or boat while you are down.
- Fly the dive flag and keep a lookout for dinghies and ferries.
- Watch the current. Channels between islands, such as the one between Salt and Peter Island, can run strongly. Start your dive into the current.
- Watch your air and your limits. Charter days mix diving, sun and sailing, which can tire you more than you expect.
- Plan your flight. After repetitive or multi-day diving, wait at least 18 hours before flying, longer after a decompression dive. Inter-island flights and seaplanes count too.
- Carry dive insurance. It is worth having for any trip to a remote island group.
Sample route
A diver's charter week
An easy loop that puts you near the best sites. Adjust it for wind and swell.
Days 1-2
Norman Island
The Indians and the Caves from the moorings, then the Bight for the night.
Norman Island divingDays 4-5
Cooper and Virgin Gorda
Wreck Alley, then the Baths and the Dogs on a calm day.
BVI wreck divingDays 6-7
Anegada (optional)
If the weather allows, cross to Anegada for its reef and beaches.
Anegada divingYacht charter diving FAQ
Can dive boats pick me up from my charter yacht?
Yes. Many BVI operators offer rendezvous diving, collecting divers from yachts at the main anchorages. Book ahead and tell them where you will be.
Do I need a permit to use the dive moorings?
Yes. The National Parks Trust moorings need a permit, which charter companies usually sell or include with the boat.
Can I dive from my yacht without a guide?
Certified divers can, at sites where it is allowed, using the moorings and following park rules. Know the site and conditions, and always leave someone on board.
What to bring on board
Space on a charter yacht is limited, so pack light but smart. Bring your own mask, snorkel, fins and dive computer, which are the items most worth having fitted to you. Many divers also bring a 3 mm wetsuit and a regulator they know. Tanks and weights are easiest to rent locally.
Add a dry bag for phones and paperwork, a small first-aid kit with ear drops and seasickness tablets, and a waterproof copy of your certification card. A bright surface marker buoy is useful when diving from your own boat, so passing dinghies can see you.
Finally, keep a simple dive log of sites, times and depths. It helps you plan your surface intervals across a busy week and your last dive before flying.
Choose your dive stops
See every BVI dive site, with depths and tips for each area.