The Accident of the Rhone
The RMS Rhone is an epic ship wreck that has actually given birth to a gorgeous aquatic park. It is one of one of the most popular dives in the Caribbean. Its unfortunate story remains to captivate and astound us.


Captain Woolley selected the closest path to open sea with the channel between Dead Chest Island and Black Rock Point on Salt Island. As Rhone occurred to come close to the factor the tail end of the cyclone threw her onto the rocks.

The History
During the yellow fever epidemic of the 1860s, transatlantic passenger ships quit regularly 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 advised by a going down measure that a tornado was coming, yet thinking that the typhoon season was over, he determined 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 Upper body islands, the weather condition unexpectedly altered direction. The first stumble caught the Rhone on her side and she smashed versus the rough reef. Legend has it that Captain Wooley was making use of a silver tsp (which stays encrusted in the reefs today) to mix his cup of tea at the time. The wreck is currently a prominent dive site, home to a fascinating selection of marine life. The majority of people agree that a complete expedition of the site requires 2 separate dives, as the bow and stern areas are spread apart at various midsts.

The Wreck
The Rhone relaxes under the cozy clear waters of the Caribbean Sea and is a renowned dive website today. Visitors can check out the extremely undamaged bow section, see where scenes from the 1977 film The Deep were fired, and swim under the strict near its large 15 foot propeller. This bursting aquatic park is a reminder of the delicate equilibrium in between male and nature.

On 29th October 1867 as Captain Wooley was preparing to anchor the Rhone in Road Harbor, the wind and waves moved and he determined to try to beat the approaching storm out right into the ocean blue. He guided the ship to Black Rock Point between Dead Breast and Blond Rock, a set 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 tide getting in touch with the hot central heating boilers creating a surge and sinking the vessel with all 123 guests still tied to their beds.

Snorkeling
One of the most well-known accident dives in the Caribbean, snorkelers can quickly discover much of the Rhone by merely floating on a mask and breathing through the sea. The much deeper bow section is especially well-preserved, a kaleidoscope of orange mug corals reefs including yellowtail snapper, sennets and jacks. It's additionally where scenes from the 1977 flick The Deep were recorded.

The stern and midsection are more broken up, but they provide a haunting peek of a past age. Scuba divers must intend on at the very yacht preference sheet least 2 dives to totally experience the Rhone, specifically given that presence can occasionally be complicated. Highlights include the lucky porthole, which divers massage for good luck, and the famous bronze propeller. The rusting skeletal system of the Rhone is a legendary view in the BVI and is a must-see for any diving or boating fanatic. The ship is open to the general public for expedition, and many neighborhood dive boats see daily. The Rhone is protected by the National forest Solution, and entryway is for free.

Diving
Among the Caribbean's most well known wreckage dives, Rhone is a sought after website for its historical appeal and teeming aquatic life. It's open and fairly safe, making it appropriate for scuba divers of all experience levels.

The tale behind the wreck is heartbreaking: as she was transferring travelers to another ship, Conway, at Roadway Harbour on Tortola, Rhone rounded Black Rock Factor and encountered it at full speed. Warm central heating boilers shattered against cold seawater and blew up, sending the Rhone collapsing right into the rocks and sinking in minutes. Just 23 of the 146 people aboard survived. Their bodies were hidden on Salt Island.

The accident split in two when it sank, and the bow area drifted to much deeper waters, while the demanding settled at about 80 feet. Both are swallowed up in reefs and populated by marine life, consisting of schools of yellowtail snappers, sennets, jacks and grunts. It takes at least 2 dives to check out the entire accident, however, considering that the bow and stern areas are separated by about 100 feet of water.