The Accident of the Rhone
The RMS Rhone is a famous ship accident that has actually brought to life a gorgeous marine park. It is among one of the most popular dives in the Caribbean. Its unfortunate story continues to interest and captivate us.


Captain Woolley went with the closest course to ocean blue via the network in between Dead Breast Island and Black Rock Point on Salt Island. As Rhone came around to approach the point the tail end of the hurricane threw her onto the rocks.

The Background
Throughout the yellow fever epidemic of the 1860s, transatlantic traveler ships stopped routinely at Road Harbour, Tortola and Great Harbour on Peter Island to transfer guests and freight in between them. Master Frederick Woolley of the Rhone had actually been cautioned by a dropping barometer that a tornado was coming, yet thinking that the cyclone 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 stumble captured the Rhone on her side and she shattered against the rocky coral reef. Tale has it that Captain Wooley was utilizing a silver teaspoon (which stays encrusted in the coral today) to stir his favorite at the time. The wreckage is currently a preferred dive site, home to an interesting range of marine life. Many people agree that a complete expedition of the site requires 2 different dives, as the bow and demanding sections are spread 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 between male and nature.

On 29th October 1867 as Captain Wooley was preparing to anchor the Rhone in Road Harbor, the wind and waves changed and he chose to try to defeat the approaching storm out right into the ocean blue. He steered the ship to Black Rock Factor in between Dead Chest and Blond Rock, a set of rocky peaks rising up from the water. The ship struck the rocks and sank in 2 areas with the cold water of the incoming trend getting in touch with the hot central heating boilers causing a surge and sinking the vessel with all 123 travelers still tied to their beds.

Snorkeling
Among the most renowned accident dives in the Caribbean, snorkelers can easily discover much of the Rhone by just drifting on a mask and breathing with the sea. The deeper bow area is particularly unspoiled, a kaleidoscope of orange cup corals including yellowtail snapper, sennets and jacks. It's also where scenes from the 1977 flick The Deep were shot.

The strict and belly are more separated, but they use a haunting peek of a previous age. Scuba divers ought to intend on a minimum of 2 dives to completely experience the Rhone, especially considering that visibility can occasionally be challenging. Emphasizes include the fortunate porthole, which divers massage for good luck, and the popular bronze propeller. The rusting skeletal system of the Rhone is an iconic view in the BVI and is a must-see for any diving or boating lover. The ship is open to the public for expedition, and several regional dive watercrafts go to daily. The Rhone is shielded by the National Park Solution, and entrance is absolutely free.

Diving
One of the Caribbean's most renowned wreck dives, Rhone is a desired website for its historical attraction and teeming aquatic life. It's open and relatively risk-free, making it ideal for divers of all experience degrees.

The tale behind the wreck is heartbreaking: as she was transferring travelers to an additional ship, Conway, at Road Harbour on Tortola, Rhone rounded Black Rock Factor and faced it at full speed. Hot central heating boilers smashed against cool seawater and blew up, sending out the Rhone crashing into the rocks and sinking in mins. Just best time to sail bvi 23 of the 146 people aboard made it through. Their bodies were hidden on Salt Island.

The wreck split in two when it sank, and the bow area wandered to deeper waters, while the demanding settled at regarding 80 feet. Both are swallowed up in coral and occupied by aquatic life, consisting of schools of yellowtail snappers, sennets, jacks and grunts. It takes a minimum of 2 dives to explore the entire wreckage, however, because the bow and demanding areas are separated by about 100 feet of water.