RMS Rhone

Road Town · Salt Island · British Virgin Islands

The RMS Rhone is the British Virgin Islands' most iconic dive and one of the most historically significant wrecks in the Caribbean. This 94-metre Royal Mail steamer met its end during the devastating San Narciso hurricane of October 29, 1867, when massive waves drove the ship onto the rocks near Salt Island. The boiler exploded on impact with the cold water, tearing the vessel in two and claiming 123 lives. What remains today is a hauntingly beautiful underwater monument, thoroughly colonized by Caribbean marine life and protected as the BVI's first national marine park since 1967. The wreck is typically dived in two stages. The stern section, sitting at 20-25 metres, is the deeper dive and features the most intact structure: the propeller shaft, rudder post, and massive iron ribs rising from the seabed create dramatic swim-throughs. Large barrel sponges and encrusting corals have transformed the metalwork into a living reef, and you can spot spiny lobster peering from crevices, green moray eels coiled in the engine framework, and resident barracuda patrolling the perimeter. The bow section at 5-15 metres makes a perfect second dive or an ideal site for less experienced divers. Here you can clearly see the foremast lying across the reef, the crow's nest, and the bowsprit, all draped in soft corals and sea fans. Queen angelfish and schooling yellowtail snapper animate the scene, while octopus hide in the wreck's many nooks. The site gained worldwide fame when it served as the principal filming location for the 1977 movie 'The Deep,' and that Hollywood connection still draws divers today. Visibility ranges from 20 to 30 metres, with the clearest conditions from December through May during the dry season. Currents are generally mild, though occasionally they pick up around the stern section. The RMS Rhone is a protected site, so touching or removing anything is prohibited. Most dive operators depart from Road Town on Tortola or from nearby Cooper Island. If you visit the BVI for diving, the Rhone should be at the very top of your list -- no other Caribbean wreck combines this level of historical drama, marine diversity, and crystal-clear water.