What to Do

SCUBA DIVING
The British Virgin Islands are actually high points on a vast underwater plateau that stretches for more than 70 miles across the northern Caribbean. The Islands form a protective ring around the body of water known as Sir Francis Drake Channel. This fortunate geography provides superior underwater visibility, healthy coral and calm dive sites, no matter what the weather.

The BVI does not have walls or drift diving however they do have sites full of stunning coral gardens, canyons, tunnels, caverns, grottos and wrecks full with underwater life of every size and kind. As a result, diving in The BVI waters is always exciting and is why so many divers choose to get certified here.

The British Virgin Islands are extremely conservation-minded and the extensive system of moorings at the most popular dive sites is maintained by the National Parks Trust and Ministry of Natural Resources which is dedicated to the preservation of reef areas and marine life.

Top Dive Sites of The BVI
The most famous dive site, the Wreck of the RMS Rhone off Salt Island near Black Rock, is considered to be one of the best wreck dives in the Caribbean. At least two dives are needed to cover both the bow and stern sections. At night the cup corals and sponges turn the main compartment into a kaleidoscope of orange and yellow.

Other top dive sites include:

Playground: South Side of Green Cay. Sheltered rock bottom encrusted with extensive hard and soft coral growth. Home to a wide variety of reef species.

Angelfish Reef: Lee side of Norman Island. Slopes from 20 to 80 feet and accommodates beginners and advanced divers. Plentiful fish life including namesake species.

The Indians: Near Norman Island. Lee shore provides calm water of snorkelers. Depths to 90 feet for divers with black coral at depth.

Painted Walls: Near Dead Chest. Series of bright-colored gullies and canyons in 30 to 60 feet of water. Turtles and nurse sharks common.

Blonde Rock: Between Dead Chest and Salt Islands. Twin pinnacles attract an abundance of marine life including turtles, schools of jack, cobia, barracuda and even the occasional shark. Structures are riddled with undercuts, ledges and canyons.

Coral Garden: South side of Great Dog. Extensive reef system with depths to 50 feet. Nearby airplane wreck can be explored on same dive.

Wreck of Inganess Bay: South of Cooper Island. Island cargo vessels placed on a sandy plane with depths to 95 feet. Stringrays are common.

Visibles: Off the Southwestern tip of Cockroach Island. Submerged pinnacle rising within 4 feet of surface. Attracts large schools of fish.

Chikuzen: Over 7 miles off of Tortola. Storm-damaged 246 foot refrigerator ship located in deep water on the Atlantic side. Look for big pelagics. Cuan Law is the only dive boat that regularly visits this site as it is too far out for local shore base operators to get to.

WATER SPORTS
If you're passionate about water sports or just an enthusiastic novice, The British Virgin Islands coastline offers the perfect playground. Polish your water skills with a combination of mild weather, warm, pristine waters and uncrowded beaches.

The island destinations of Tortola, Virgin Gorda, Jost Van Dyke as well as our many idyllic islets like Peter Island and Norman Island offer myriad choices for water adventure and excitement. Anegada offers limited activities including snorkeling, kayaking, bone fishing and some reef diving. So, put more adventure into a day at the beach while you enjoy the many choices of water sports available throughout The British Virgin Islands.

Let the team of professionals at our many water sports establishments tailor a plan of action for you! Here are some of the aquatic activities you can enjoy while vacationing in The BVI.

Scuba Diving & Snorkeling: The waters of The British Virgin Islands offer a fascinating world of underwater marine life - colorful, exotic fish, rare coral reefs, mysterious remains of sunken ships, including The Wreck of the Rhone II, voted best shipwreck in the Caribbean by Skin Diver Magazine. A must for the more active and experienced diver.

Canoeing & Kayaking: The powdery sand beaches along The BVI coastline and exposed waters near inlets and barrier islands are remarkably scenic, quiet and full of wildlife. The many lagoons throughout the islands are an excellent path to paddle your canoe and kayak.

Surfing: One of the best water sports when it comes to making a splash in our turquoise waters. The craze of this water sport is quickly becoming a favorite along our beaches.

Sailing: The most popular activity in The BVI. This area is a major charter boat center and boasts the largest concentration of bareboats in the world. Whether you charter a yacht for a week or two, or take a crewed day sail, a day on the water is an invigorating experience. Cast your cares to the wind and live the luxurious pace of life on the sea.

Power Boats: If you want to explore The BVI 's most remote areas and secluded beaches, try a Power Boat. There are companies in Tortola and Virgin Gorda who will rent an unmanned boat for a day - all you need is some power boat experience and the curiosity to explore our islands. Or, if you prefer, a power boat day sail, complete with crew will guide you from island to island.

Parasailing: The scenery is superb when suspended under a colorful parasail. See the beauty of the entire island from 600 feet above sea level. Fishing: Want to catch a Marlin or other game fish? Our licensed operators will charter boats from many ports with crew, state-of-the-art equipment, bait and a captain who will guide you to our best fishing grounds. For those who enjoy the art of casting, we will be happy to take you to remote and isolated flats for the best The BVI has to offer.

Swim with Dolphins: For a different nature experience, you can swim with dolphins at Dolphin Discovery, located at Prospect Reef in Tortola. Visitors can get close to these amazing, intelligent creatures, enjoying various activities with the Dolphins as well as watching them perform various fun and exciting behaviors.

Windsurfing: Our year-round trade winds allow for great windsurfing and kite boarding experiences. We are also home to the annual Highland Spring HIHO Windsurfing and Sailing Adventure. Competing windsurfers will cover over 150 miles as they race between 7 and 9 times from one island to another.

SPECTATOR SPORTS
The BVI is sports mad and is filled with exciting and fun activities for the whole family. We are a prime playing field throughout the year and host a multitude of exciting sports teams and events, including basketball, track and field, horse racing, softball and cycling.

While many locals enjoy playing a variety of sports, others like to watch. In The BVI you can scream for (or against) players and teams in a multitude of sports. We also play host to a Cycling Federation, Yacht Clubs, The BVI Olympic Committee, and numerous sport associations. A state of the art indoor sports arena will be opening soon, and our premier horse track is set amid stunning natural scenery.

Cricket: The international cricket matches have been known to bring the entire stadium to a standstill.

Basketball: Summer Xplosion brings in fans every Wednesday, Saturday and Sunday and the Playoff Grand Finale is an action-packed series with a loyal following. An exhibition game highlights the series where a US Team competes against our local division champions, demonstrating basketball tactics and skills.

Softball: From the crack of the bat to the loud cheers, one would know Softball is in full swing. A well appreciated sport in The BVI, both women and men teams are paramount to the leagues. Head to the stadium in mid-February to July when the season kicks off - ending with the exciting Championship play offs.

Cycling: The very popular activity of Cycling is a new introduction to the country's sporting scene. The BVI has its own cycling team that competes regionally and internationally. The team also hosts races in the regional Caribbean Cup mountain biking series held each year, bringing dozens of riders and spectators to our Islands. Related Link: BVI Cycling Federation


Horse Racing: The most popular spectator sport is held in Tortola at The Little A Race Track and are full afternoon events, with races, music, and a carnival-like atmosphere. The horses are thoroughbreds and the competition is keen. Two of the Virgin Islands most famous, and certainly richest, horse races are held here - The Chief Minister's Cup raced during the August Festival and the Governor's Cup raced in December with the BVI Tourist Board as prime sponsor.

Track & Field: A much-loved sport, The BVI has produced a host of star athletics and has earned international merits since the 1970's. Sprinters, Keita Cline, Deon Crabbe, Mario Todman, Derwin Scatliffe, Dean Greenaway; High Jumpers, Raymond "Kat" Solomon, Karl "Dub" Scatliffe, Mervin "Lucky" Charles have given a string of impressive, award-winning performances.