The Wreck of the Rhone
The RMS Rhone is a fabulous ship wreck that has actually brought to life a lovely aquatic park. It is one of the most preferred dives in the Caribbean. Its terrible tale remains to fascinate and mesmerize us.


Captain Woolley chose the closest path to open sea with the channel between Dead Chest Island and Black Rock Point on Salt Island. As Rhone came around to come close to the factor the tail end of the storm threw her onto the rocks.

The Background
During the yellow fever epidemic of the 1860s, transatlantic passenger ships stopped routinely at Road Harbour, Tortola and Great Harbour on Peter Island to move guests and freight in between them. Master Frederick Woolley of the Rhone had been cautioned by a dropping barometer that a tornado was coming, yet thinking that the typhoon season was over, he decided to remain at Great Harbour for the transfer with an additional RMS ship, Conway.

Equally as they were passing Black Rock Point between Salt and Dead Chest islands, the climate instantly altered direction. The initial lurch captured the Rhone on her side and she wrecked against the rocky coral reef. Tale has it that Captain Wooley was utilizing a silver teaspoon (which remains dirtied in the reefs today) to mix his cup of tea at the time. The wreck is currently a prominent dive site, home to a fascinating selection of aquatic life. Lots of people agree that a full expedition of the website needs two different dives, as the bow and demanding sections are spread out apart at various depths.

The Wreck
The Rhone relaxes underneath the warm clear waters of the Caribbean Sea and is a celebrated dive website today. Site visitors can explore the remarkably undamaged bow section, see where scenes from the 1977 film The Deep were fired, and swim under the demanding near its large 15 foot prop. This bursting marine park is a reminder of the fragile balance in between guy and nature.

On 29th October 1867 as Captain Wooley was preparing to anchor the Rhone in Roadway Harbor, the wind and waves moved and he chose to attempt to defeat the approaching storm out into the ocean blue. He steered the ship to Black Rock Factor in between Dead Breast and Blonde Rock, a set of rocky peaks rising from the water. The ship struck the rocks and sank in two areas with the cold water of the inbound tide speaking to the hot boilers creating an explosion and sinking the vessel with all 123 guests still connected to their beds.

Snorkeling
One of one of the most popular wreck dives in the Caribbean, snorkelers can conveniently check out much of the Rhone by simply drifting on a mask and breathing through the sea. The much deeper bow section is specifically unspoiled, a kaleidoscope of orange cup reefs teeming with yellowtail snapper, sennets and jacks. It's also where scenes from the 1977 flick The Deep were shot.

The stern and stomach are more separated, but they supply a haunting look of a past age. Divers must plan on at the very least two dives to totally experience the Rhone, particularly since presence can in some cases be complicated. Emphasizes include the fortunate porthole, which scuba divers rub completely luck, and the popular bronze prop. The rusting skeletal system of the Rhone is an iconic sight in the BVI and is a must-see for any kind of diving or boating lover. The ship is open to the general public for expedition, and many regional dive boats check out daily. The Rhone is protected by the National Park Solution, and entryway is at no cost.

Diving
Among the Caribbean's most renowned wreck dives, Rhone is a desired site for its historic allure and bursting aquatic life. It's open and relatively secure, making it appropriate for scuba divers of all experience levels.

The tale behind the wreck is unfortunate: as she was moving guests to one more ship, Conway, at Roadway Harbour on Tortola, Rhone rounded Black Rock Point and faced it at full speed. Hot boilers wrecked against cool seawater and exploded, sending the Rhone collapsing right into the rocks and sinking in mins. Only 23 of the 146 individuals aboard made it through. Their bodies were hidden on Salt Island.

The wreck split in two when it sank, and the bow area wandered british virgin islands catamaran rental to deeper waters, while the strict worked out at concerning 80 feet. Both are engulfed in reefs and occupied by aquatic life, including colleges of yellowtail snappers, sennets, jacks and grunts. It takes at least two dives to explore the entire wreckage, though, because the bow and strict areas are separated by concerning 100 feet of water.