"What if my companion dives, but I only snorkel?" - The BVI has plenty of spots where you can both have it all!
So you both love the water, but for whatever reason only one of you has made it through the SCUBA certification process. Does that mean you now have to take separate vacations? Not if you’re coming to the BVI! With our warm, clear Caribbean water and minimal currents there are plenty of “dive” sites suitable for both diving and snorkelling. From atmospheric wreck sites to shallow reefs teeming with rainbow-colored fish, there is so much for you both to enjoy. A diving trip aboard Cuan Law offers guests the flexibility to tailor a trip to their requirements, so even a group of mixed abilities or even non-divers can explore the vibrant world beneath the surface.
The Indians... Nestled at the south-western end of the BVI chain off Norman Island.
The spiked rock formations rising up to 50ft above the surface are so called because of their resemblance to the feathered headdress of the Carib Indians who inhabited the islands in the 1500s. The nooks and crannies extend both above and below the water, which is fairly shallow even at its deepest point of around 65 feet. Home to all manner of corals, worms and sponges, the crags also provide hiding places for an abundance of juvenile fish. You may be lucky enough to spot a Damsel Dad guarding his clutch of blue eggs from all the other denizens looking for lunch. Activity at The Indians dive site starts right at the surface, with small crabs and shellfish making their homes around the waterline. Swimmers and snorkelers cruising the calm waters can inch along the rock ledges, while the diver below is treated to the mini-wall effect. You’ll both be able to take photos too!
Coral Gardens... Just off Dead Chest near Peter Island, this location is stunning when the Sir Frances Drake Channel is calm.
Here is another dinghy-friendly spot that will delight both of you. Perhaps the boat is anchored off Deadman’s Bay and you’re ready to work off lunch after either feasting on board, or at Peter Island’s award winning beachside Deadman’s Grill. If so, hop into the dinghy for the three-minute run over to Dead Chest and tie up to the purpose mooring right over Coral Gardens. You’ll both slip into the crystal clear water and a myriad of colors will burst into sight as your eye-line dips beneath the waves. You may hear the clicking of the pistol shrimp amongst the diver’s bubbles too, but they’re pretty hard to actually see. No matter though, the corals and sponges smothering the rocky surfaces are spectacular enough to drift over in wonder for the entire afternoon. That’s the great advantage that the snorkelers have over the SCUBA folk - the lack of a tank means there is no time limit on the surface!
The Wreck of the RMS Rhone off Salt Island.
Just across the Salt Island Passage, between Salt Island and Peter Island, lies the wreck of the ill-fated RMS Rhone. This dive site - regularly voted the #1 Wreck in the Caribbean – may be unique in that it also offers snorkelers the experience of a lifetime. The 310ft vessel split in two as she foundered in 1867 and her stern now rests in as little as 15ft of water. Snorkelers can watch their diving buddies swim through the huge gap between the propeller and the rocks, just a few arm’s-lengths below or explore the more exposed sections of the ship themselves. The wreck is one of the most popular and famous diving locations in the Caribbean, and the marine life there is well-accustomed to visitors - so accustomed in fact that you may be followed as you bob along exploring the wreck and the boulders that make up the shoreline. Keep an eye out for the vibrant Orange Cup Corals, voracious octopuses and if you are lucky the odd barracuda!
Book a scuba diving vacation aboard Cuan Law today – the best way for divers and their non-diving companions to explore the world beneath the crystal clear waters of the Caribbean.