The Wreckage of the Rhone
The RMS Rhone is a legendary ship wreckage that has actually brought to life an attractive aquatic park. It is among the most popular dives in the Caribbean. Its tragic tale remains to amaze and captivate us.


Captain Woolley went with the closest route to open sea via the channel between Dead Breast Island and Black Rock Factor on Salt Island. As Rhone came around to approach the factor the tail end of the hurricane tossed her onto the rocks.

The Background
Throughout the yellow high temperature epidemic of the 1860s, transatlantic passenger ships quit consistently at Road Harbour, Tortola and Great Harbour on Peter Island to transfer guests and freight between them. Master Frederick Woolley of the Rhone had been alerted by a going down measure that a storm was coming, however thinking that the storm period was over, he made a decision to remain at Great Harbour for the transfer with another RMS ship, Conway.

Just as they were passing Black Rock Point in between Salt and Dead Upper body islands, the climate suddenly changed direction. The preliminary stumble captured the Rhone on her side and she smashed against the rocky reef. Legend has it that Captain Wooley was utilizing a silver tsp (which continues to be dirtied in the coral today) to stir his cup of tea at the time. The accident is now a prominent dive website, home to a remarkable selection of marine life. Many people agree that a full expedition of the website needs 2 different dives, as the bow and strict areas are spread out apart at various midsts.

The Wreckage
The Rhone relaxes beneath the warm clear waters of the Caribbean Sea and is a celebrated dive site today. Visitors can explore the remarkably intact bow section, see where scenes from the 1977 film The Deep were shot, and swim under the stern near its large 15 foot propeller. This brimming marine park is a pointer of the delicate balance between man and nature.

On 29th October 1867 as Captain Wooley was preparing to anchor the Rhone in Road Harbor, the wind and waves shifted and he decided to try to defeat the coming close to storm out right into the ocean blue. He guided the ship to Black Rock Factor between Dead Breast and Golden-haired Rock, a pair of rocky pinnacles rising up from the water. The ship struck the rocks and sank in 2 areas with the cold water of the inbound trend calling the hot boilers causing an explosion and sinking the vessel with all 123 passengers still linked to their beds.

Snorkeling
Among one of the most popular accident dives in the Caribbean, snorkelers can quickly explore much of the Rhone by simply floating on a mask and breathing via the sea. The much deeper bow area is especially well-preserved, a kaleidoscope of orange cup reefs including yellowtail snapper, sennets and jacks. It's additionally where scenes from the 1977 motion picture The Deep were shot.

The stern and midsection are extra separated, however they provide a haunting peek of a past era. Scuba divers must plan yacht preference sheet on at least 2 dives to completely experience the Rhone, particularly since presence can occasionally be difficult. Highlights include the fortunate porthole, which scuba divers rub for good luck, and the renowned bronze prop. The rusting skeleton of the Rhone is an iconic view in the BVI and is a must-see for any type of diving or boating enthusiast. The ship is open to the general public for exploration, and many neighborhood dive watercrafts go to daily. The Rhone is protected by the National forest Service, and entrance is cost free.

Diving
Among the Caribbean's most well known wreckage dives, Rhone is a desired site for its historic appeal and teeming aquatic life. It's open and fairly safe, making it appropriate for divers of all experience degrees.

The story behind the wreckage is terrible: as she was moving travelers to another ship, Conway, at Roadway Harbour on Tortola, Rhone rounded Black Rock Point and faced it at full speed. Hot central heating boilers wrecked against cool seawater and took off, sending out the Rhone crashing right into the rocks and sinking in minutes. Just 23 of the 146 people aboard made it through. Their bodies were buried on Salt Island.

The wreckage split in two when it sank, and the bow section wandered 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 a minimum of 2 dives to explore the whole wreck, however, since the bow and demanding sections are separated by concerning 100 feet of water.