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


Captain Woolley chose the closest path to open sea through the channel between Dead Upper body Island and Black Rock Factor on Salt Island. As Rhone occurred to come close to the factor the tail end of the typhoon tossed her onto the rocks.

The History
During the yellow high temperature epidemic of the 1860s, transatlantic guest ships quit consistently at Roadway Harbour, Tortola and Great Harbour on Peter Island to move travelers and cargo between them. Master Frederick Woolley of the Rhone had been warned by a going down measure that a tornado was coming, however believing that the hurricane period mored than, he made a decision to remain at Great Harbour for the transfer with one more RMS ship, Conway.

Just as they were passing Black Rock Point in between Salt and Dead Breast islands, the weather condition all of a sudden changed direction. The first stumble captured the Rhone on her side and she smashed against the rough coral reef. Legend has it that Captain Wooley was using a silver teaspoon (which continues to be dirtied in the coral reefs today) to stir his favorite at the time. The accident is now a popular dive website, home to a remarkable variety of marine life. Many people agree that a complete expedition of the site requires 2 separate dives, as the bow and stern areas are spread out apart at different depths.

The Wreckage
The Rhone rests beneath the cozy clear waters of the Caribbean Sea and is a popular dive site today. Visitors can discover the incredibly intact bow area, see where scenes from the 1977 movie The Deep were shot, and swim under the strict near its huge 15 foot propeller. This teeming aquatic park is a tip of the delicate equilibrium between man and nature.

On 29th October 1867 as Captain Wooley was preparing to secure the Rhone in Road Harbor, the wind and waves shifted and he determined to try to beat the coming close to storm out into the open sea. He guided the ship to Black Rock Point in between Dead Breast and Blonde Rock, a set of rocky pinnacles 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 well-known wreckage dives in the Caribbean, snorkelers can quickly explore much of the Rhone by merely floating on a mask and breathing via the sea. The deeper bow area is especially well-preserved, a kaleidoscope of orange mug corals reefs including yellowtail snapper, sennets and jacks. It's likewise where scenes from the 1977 movie The Deep were recorded.

The stern and waistline are much more separated, however they offer a haunting look of a past period. Divers need to plan on at the very least two dives to totally experience the Rhone, particularly given that exposure can occasionally be difficult. Highlights include the fortunate porthole, which divers massage permanently luck, and the renowned bronze propeller. The rusting skeletal system of the Rhone is a renowned view in the BVI and is a must-see for any diving or boating fanatic. The ship is open to the public for expedition, and many regional dive boats check out daily. The Rhone is protected by the National Park Solution, and entryway is cost free.

Diving
One of the Caribbean's most popular wreck dives, Rhone is a desirable site for its historic attraction and brimming aquatic life. It's open and relatively risk-free, making it suitable for divers of all experience degrees.

The story behind the accident is unfortunate: as she was transferring guests to another ship, Conway, at Road Harbour on Tortola, Rhone rounded Black Rock Factor and ran into it at full speed. Hot central heating boilers smashed versus cool seawater and blew up, sending out the Rhone crashing right into the rocks and sinking in mins. Only 23 of the 146 individuals aboard endured. Their bodies were buried on Salt yachting vacations for couples Island.

The accident split in two when it sank, and the bow area drifted to deeper waters, while the strict settled at regarding 80 feet. Both are swallowed up in coral and occupied by aquatic life, including 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 regarding 100 feet of water.