>

British Virgin Islands

Divesites
26
Centers
3
Courses & Events
1
Wildlife
39
© shutterstock-Mango-Media-VI

Explore British Virgin Islands

The British Virgin Islands in the beautiful Caribbean are popular among the diving community. There are around 60 islands all fairly close to one another, meaning all diving areas are easily accessible. With amazing shipwrecks and a wealth of thriving reefs all in crystal clear water, it’s no wonder these islands are a Caribbean favourite for divers.

Conservation is extremely important, and the vast majority of dive sites are well protected by the National Parks Trust here, which maintain mooring buoys for boats to prevent usage of anchor, which forbidden. All this contributes to the exceptional health of the reefs and marine life all around these islands.

There are plenty of options when choosing where and how to dive here. Dive centers, dive resorts and liveaboards operate year-round, so there’s never a disappointing time to visit. A lot of dive operators are on Tortola, with some on Jost Van Dyke, Cooper Island, Virgin Gorda and Norman Island.

Power Plug Type
A, B
Payment Method
VISA, MC, AMEX, Cir, Plus
Tipping
10–15% / Service Staff / Tipping is expected in restaurants and hotels; some establishments may add a 10% service charge.
Currency
USD
Dial Code
+1-284
Electricity
110V / 60Hz
Time
UTC−4

Courses and Events

Enriched Air Nitrox (40%)

As a Nitrox diver, you can increase your bottom times and safety margins, plus shorten your surface intervals - so you can spend more time diving and less time waiting! In this program, you will learn new skills and increase your diving knowledge whilst learning how to safely plan and dive with enriched air mixtures of up to 40% oxygen. Upon completion, you will earn an SSI Enriched Air Nitrox 32% or 40% certification.

11 February +15 More
EUR 126.09
USD 150.00

Dive Centers

Dive BVI, It’s what we do!

Virgin Gorda Yacht Harbour, VG 1150 Spanish Town, VGB

Turquoise Turtle Charters

Village Cay Marina, Nibs Street, VG1 110 Tortola, VGB

Sunchaser Scuba

Bitter End Yacht Club, VG1150 Virgin Gorda, VGB

Dive Sites

DIVE BVI, VG 1150 Spanish Town

Chimney (★4.3)

One of the most famous dives in the Dog Islands, the Chimney is a site with an unusual underwater structure. Long told to be a favorite site when Jacques Cousteau was diving here, you can easily see why this site is so popular! Bring a light to best appreciate the incredible colors!
Mares

Blue Chromis Reef (★4.2)

A shallow site perfect for beginner divers and snorkelers, ranging from 20-50 feet/ 3-15m. The rock formations closer to shore create beautiful overhangs for fish and lobsters to hide in, and the gentle sloping reef offers the opportunity to spot schooling tarpon, creole wrasse and an abundance of reef fish.
Mares, Janez Kranjc

Ginger Steps (★4.5)

Named due to the step like formation of the site Ginger Steps is open to snorkelers and divers of all levels (ranging from 20 - 95 feet/3- 30m). Reef fish can be found schooling at every level, look for sharks at the drop off and lobsters hiding in the giant mushroom shaped coral structures.
Mares, Janez Kranjc

Diamond Reef (★4.1)

A quick 2-minute boat ride from Scrub Island, this site is named as a result of a diver losing a diamond ring here about 10 years ago (never found). The reef itself is a small “wall” some 200 yards long. This site is ideal for all levels of divers and snorkelers, accessible in nearly all weather.
Scubapro

Wall to Wall (★4.7)

The name of this dive site comes from the fact that the site is often covered ‘wall-to-wall’ in fish. This site is sometimes washed by strong currents and close attention should be paid to the dive leader. You can’t miss Yellowfish Rock at the bottom!

Top Wildlife Sightings in British Virgin Islands

The British Virgin Islands (BVI) is a vibrant haven for marine life, offering clear, warm waters teeming with diverse aquatic creatures and ecosystems. The coral reefs, drop-offs, and caves create a rich tapestry for divers to explore. Among these vibrant reefs, you'll find sea turtles gliding gracefully through the waters and various species of sharks, including Caribbean reef sharks and nurse sharks, patrolling the underwater world. These encounters add an element of excitement and wonder to the diving experience. Typical Caribbean fish such as angelfish, parrotfish, snapper, butterflyfish, and grunts thrive amid the colorful coral formations, accompanied by a multitude of colorful invertebrate species.

In the waters around Tortola, divers can witness an array of marine creatures, including moray eels, groupers, and every imaginable colorful reef fish, swimming among the vibrant hard and soft corals. Meanwhile, the dive sites off Virgin Gorda are known for sightings of bigger critters and pelagics like eagle rays, cobia, great barracuda, turtles, and amberjack. Reef sharks are occasionally seen passing by, while sandy bottoms and sea floors often host stingrays and garden eels. If you're fortunate, you might even encounter nurse sharks.

Wreck dives in the BVI offer the chance to see lobsters, schools of barracuda, and yellowtail snapper, making for a thrilling underwater adventure. Although marine mammals such as dolphins are seen occasionally, they typically do not linger in the area. Turtles are a common sight, while manatees and whales are rarely spotted and are usually seen from boats rather than during dives. This dynamic and lively underwater world makes the BVI a perfect destination for those eager to explore and observe marine biodiversity in its natural habitat.

Wildlife Sightings are Based on User Generated Content

The image shown is a representative illustration and does not depict every individual animal in this category.

Total number of species: 27

iStock-Global_Pics

Barracuda
330 Sightings
J
43
F
23
M
52
A
43
M
42
J
35
J
23
A
10
S
2
O
11
N
18
D
28

The image shown is a representative illustration and does not depict every individual animal in this category.

Total number of species: 200

Alamy-WaterFrame

Moray Eel
170 Sightings
J
21
F
2
M
24
A
12
M
19
J
25
J
24
A
16
S
6
O
2
N
8
D
11
Shutterstock-Shane Myers Photography

Green Turtle
130 Sightings
J
17
F
13
M
23
A
10
M
9
J
8
J
11
A
13
S
3
O
6
N
5
D
12

The image shown is a representative illustration and does not depict every individual animal in this category.

Total number of species: 25

iStock/Juliosanjuan

Eagle Ray
123 Sightings
J
21
F
3
M
22
A
3
M
17
J
6
J
8
A
8
S
2
O
6
N
7
D
20

The image shown is a representative illustration and does not depict every individual animal in this category.

Total number of species: 600

iStock/ultramarinfoto

Wrasse
90 Sightings
J
9
F
3
M
11
A
8
M
6
J
26
J
13
A
5
S
0
O
4
N
3
D
2

The image shown is a representative illustration and does not depict every individual animal in this category.

Total number of species: 300

Alamy/Reinhard Dirscherl

Octopus
77 Sightings
J
19
F
1
M
5
A
2
M
5
J
6
J
11
A
1
S
1
O
1
N
12
D
13
Shutterstock-Ed Jenkins

Hawksbill Turtle
49 Sightings
J
10
F
3
M
8
A
1
M
12
J
11
J
2
A
1
S
0
O
0
N
1
D
0

The image shown is a representative illustration and does not depict every individual animal in this category.

Total number of species: 100

iStock-burnsboxco

Parrotfish
343 Sightings
J
39
F
19
M
50
A
38
M
42
J
61
J
31
A
21
S
2
O
12
N
13
D
15

The image shown is a representative illustration and does not depict every individual animal in this category.

Total number of species: 90

Shutterstock-Rich Carey

Angelfish
305 Sightings
J
40
F
17
M
30
A
30
M
38
J
55
J
30
A
22
S
1
O
16
N
10
D
16

The image shown is a representative illustration and does not depict every individual animal in this category.

Total number of species: 80

iStock/Extreme-Photographer

Stingrays
264 Sightings
J
35
F
21
M
33
A
19
M
21
J
33
J
25
A
7
S
3
O
6
N
27
D
34
Show More

The image shown is a representative illustration and does not depict every individual animal in this category.

Total number of species: 3

Shutterstock_Leo Lorenzo

Trumpetfish
209 Sightings
J
28
F
15
M
19
A
24
M
30
J
44
J
23
A
9
S
0
O
6
N
6
D
5

The image shown is a representative illustration and does not depict every individual animal in this category.

Total number of species: 130

Shutterstock_Krzysztof Odziomek

Butterfly Fish
187 Sightings
J
24
F
6
M
22
A
23
M
26
J
30
J
20
A
16
S
1
O
7
N
7
D
5

The image shown is a representative illustration and does not depict every individual animal in this category.

Total number of species: 60

iStock-Global_Pics

Spiny Lobster
179 Sightings
J
11
F
5
M
25
A
18
M
23
J
28
J
11
A
21
S
3
O
1
N
17
D
16
AdobeStock-Marc Henauer

Grey Reef Shark
168 Sightings
J
27
F
14
M
25
A
7
M
9
J
17
J
21
A
6
S
0
O
8
N
20
D
14

The image shown is a representative illustration and does not depict every individual animal in this category.

Total number of species: 55

k

Lobster
165 Sightings
J
22
F
13
M
38
A
9
M
17
J
19
J
18
A
3
S
2
O
8
N
3
D
13

The image shown is a representative illustration and does not depict every individual animal in this category.

Total number of species: 2

AdobeStock-hakbak

Nurse Shark
161 Sightings
J
21
F
13
M
15
A
10
M
22
J
16
J
18
A
10
S
1
O
6
N
18
D
11

The image shown is a representative illustration and does not depict every individual animal in this category.

Total number of species: 60

iStock-Global_Pics

Squirrelfish
158 Sightings
J
15
F
3
M
24
A
16
M
21
J
37
J
18
A
11
S
0
O
4
N
5
D
4

The image shown is a representative illustration and does not depict every individual animal in this category.

Total number of species: 130

AdobeStock-JirinaVFR

Pufferfish
157 Sightings
J
22
F
10
M
25
A
9
M
22
J
32
J
16
A
9
S
1
O
2
N
3
D
6

The image shown is a representative illustration and does not depict every individual animal in this category.

Total number of species: 85

iStock-mirecca

Surgeonfish
149 Sightings
J
19
F
1
M
14
A
23
M
23
J
33
J
13
A
12
S
1
O
4
N
1
D
5

The image shown is a representative illustration and does not depict every individual animal in this category.

Total number of species: 12

iStock/cinoby

Lionfish
145 Sightings
J
27
F
7
M
11
A
11
M
13
J
13
J
20
A
4
S
1
O
8
N
18
D
12

The image shown is a representative illustration and does not depict every individual animal in this category.

Total number of species: 110

iStock-Rainer von Brandis

Snapper
145 Sightings
J
19
F
2
M
19
A
17
M
20
J
34
J
16
A
9
S
1
O
2
N
2
D
4

The image shown is a representative illustration and does not depict every individual animal in this category.

Total number of species: 250

Shutterstock-Henry_and_Laura_Whittaker

Grouper/Basslets
143 Sightings
J
14
F
2
M
19
A
10
M
14
J
33
J
16
A
13
S
4
O
4
N
1
D
13

The image shown is a representative illustration and does not depict every individual animal in this category.

Total number of species: 150

Shutterstock-aquapix

Sweetlips and Grunts
123 Sightings
J
5
F
2
M
12
A
17
M
16
J
34
J
17
A
15
S
0
O
1
N
2
D
2

The image shown is a representative illustration and does not depict every individual animal in this category.

Total number of species: 90

Shutterstock-Levent Konuk

Goatfish
122 Sightings
J
8
F
5
M
18
A
13
M
24
J
28
J
5
A
10
S
0
O
0
N
8
D
3

The image shown is a representative illustration and does not depict every individual animal in this category.

Total number of species: 350

Alamy-Andre Seal

Damselfish
121 Sightings
J
7
F
7
M
8
A
20
M
13
J
37
J
13
A
10
S
1
O
1
N
3
D
1

The image shown is a representative illustration and does not depict every individual animal in this category.

Total number of species: 40

iStock-wrangel

Triggerfish
118 Sightings
J
12
F
3
M
11
A
19
M
16
J
26
J
7
A
9
S
1
O
7
N
4
D
3
k

Caribbean Reef Shark
102 Sightings
J
8
F
5
M
7
A
5
M
11
J
21
J
3
A
9
S
0
O
3
N
8
D
22

The image shown is a representative illustration and does not depict every individual animal in this category.

Total number of species: 40

iStock-Hoatzinexp

Jackfish
95 Sightings
J
4
F
3
M
15
A
7
M
15
J
19
J
6
A
17
S
3
O
1
N
3
D
2

The image shown is a representative illustration and does not depict every individual animal in this category.

Total number of species: 60

iStock-Global_Pics

Soldierfish
95 Sightings
J
12
F
1
M
13
A
5
M
16
J
18
J
16
A
8
S
0
O
0
N
2
D
4

The image shown is a representative illustration and does not depict every individual animal in this category.

Total number of species: 2

iStock-stock_colors

Tarpon
93 Sightings
J
11
F
4
M
11
A
9
M
15
J
13
J
8
A
4
S
0
O
3
N
5
D
10

The image shown is a representative illustration and does not depict every individual animal in this category.

Total number of species: 7000

iStock-Michael Zeigler

Crab
92 Sightings
J
8
F
3
M
7
A
5
M
16
J
23
J
3
A
15
S
4
O
1
N
3
D
4
AdobeStock-Nikolai Sorokin

Blacktip Reef Shark
74 Sightings
J
6
F
7
M
15
A
4
M
3
J
17
J
4
A
3
S
0
O
0
N
2
D
13

The image shown is a representative illustration and does not depict every individual animal in this category.

Total number of species: 3400

Shutterstock-Shane Gross

Shrimp
65 Sightings
J
5
F
2
M
2
A
7
M
11
J
23
J
4
A
3
S
2
O
2
N
4
D
0

The image shown is a representative illustration and does not depict every individual animal in this category.

Total number of species: 25

AdobeStock_Vladimir Wrangel

Boxfish
63 Sightings
J
4
F
3
M
10
A
12
M
11
J
12
J
3
A
2
S
1
O
0
N
4
D
1

The image shown is a representative illustration and does not depict every individual animal in this category.

Total number of species: 20

iStock-stephankerkhofs

Porcupinefish
50 Sightings
J
5
F
0
M
9
A
9
M
1
J
9
J
4
A
1
S
1
O
1
N
5
D
5
AdobeStock-_italo

Moon Jellyfish
25 Sightings
J
2
F
0
M
2
A
0
M
2
J
2
J
14
A
1
S
1
O
0
N
1
D
0
Alamy-WaterFrame

Common Seahorse
23 Sightings
J
1
F
0
M
0
A
3
M
5
J
5
J
8
A
0
S
0
O
0
N
0
D
1

The image shown is a representative illustration and does not depict every individual animal in this category.

Total number of species: 30

Shutterstock-s_a_j

Sand Eel
19 Sightings
J
4
F
0
M
0
A
1
M
4
J
8
J
0
A
1
S
0
O
0
N
0
D
1

The image shown is a representative illustration and does not depict every individual animal in this category.

Total number of species: 120

AdobeStock-Composer.

Flounder
18 Sightings
J
2
F
0
M
0
A
1
M
1
J
5
J
2
A
1
S
1
O
0
N
2
D
3