Need recommendations for dive operators and places to stay in BVI

[Ben Prusinski]

I'm planning a winter vacation next month in December to BVI for diving and sailing. Looking for good recommendations on places to stay and dive operators to scuba with in the British Virgin Islands.

 

[diversteve]

DiveBVI if you're on the Virgin Gorda side. Excellent service and fun people. They also offer rendezvous diving where they'll meet your sailboat at a dive location. Some of the Tortola-based operators offer it also.

Dive BVI >> British Virgin Islands Scuba Diving, It's What we do!

Other options: BVI Scuba

 

[Rhone Man]

Agree with Dive BVI if you are on Virgin Gorda. If you are on Tortola I'd recommend Sail Caribbean.

Places to stay: there are loads of options depending upon budget, but by and large the nicer hotels are on Virgin Gorda. However, the best way to visit the BVI is to charter a boat (with a skipper if you need) and just sail around. The dive operators are all happy to do rendez vous pickups from charter boats.

 

[Ben Prusinski]

Thanks, I booked a stay at Mango Bay on Virgin Gorda and plan to dive with Dive BVI. I want to try rebreather course and dive the wrecks in the area. Promises great fun!

 

[Rhone Man]

Thanks, I booked a stay at Mango Bay on Virgin Gorda and plan to dive with Dive BVI. I want to try rebreather course and dive the wrecks in the area. Promises great fun!

You should have a blast.

Dive BVI used to do a wreck called the Chikuzen every Thursday. It is quite far out (on BVI scales - only 12 miles or so in the real world) so relatively few dive operators do it. But on a clear day is one of the best wreck dives I have ever done outside of Truk Lagoon. I'd definitely try and catch the trip on that day.

Other wrecks you may do would be the RMS Rhone (still nice, but she's getting a bit old - went down in 1867), wreck alley off Cooper Island (string of four artificial wrecks), and the "airplane wreck" off Great Dog (not quite as good as it sounds, but still fun to dive on a airplane - I actually had two friends who were on that plane when it crashed - happily everyone survived).

 

[Ben Prusinski]

Thanks folks, I booked a six day package with Dive BVI on Virgin Gorda before I go sailing. I will definitely hit Chikuzen and the Rhone wrecks. Should be a fun time.

 

[TSandM]

I'm with Rhone Man -- the Chikuzen is a fantastic dive! It is quite exposed, however, and weather and water conditions don't always permit diving it.

The Rhone is also a great wreck, whether you're interested in the wreck itself or the life that has established on it.

Although the BVI doesn't get a lot of good press, we thought the diving there was very good and I would go back. You will enjoy your trip.

 

[diversteve]

before I go sailing. Should be a fun time.

Hit up the Willy T off Norman. http://www.williamthornton.com/ DiveBVI will likely take you there for lunch when diving nearby.
Also Foxy's on Jost van Dyke once you're sailing. Foxys Bar
Pussers Landing in Soper's Hole on Tortola's West End is a good stop also. http://www.pussers.com/t-pussers-landing.aspx

On VG, Rock Cafe is a great place for a great meal The Rock Cafe - Italian and Caribbean cuisine, Virgin Gorda, British Virgin Islands and most everybody goes to the Leverick Bay Beach BBQ at Jumbies on Friday night. Leverick Bay - Caribbean Vacation, Caribbean Resort, BVI Hotel

You can even moor there temporarily and tender in - it's a yacht club as well as resort. We met about 1/2 the BVI crew there then followed them down south for drinks/dancing at Chez Bamboo. http://chezbamboo.com/

Mine Shaft for the sunset view, mini-golf and lobster or bbq nights also. http://www.mineshaftbvi.com/