The Accident of the Rhone
The RMS Rhone is an epic ship accident that has given birth to a gorgeous marine park. It is just one of one of the most prominent dives in the Caribbean. Its awful tale continues to interest and captivate us.


Captain Woolley chose the closest route to open sea via the channel between Dead Breast Island and Black Rock Point on Salt Island. As Rhone occurred to approach the factor the tail end of the typhoon threw her onto the rocks.

The History
During the yellow high temperature epidemic of the 1860s, transatlantic passenger ships stopped on a regular basis at Road Harbour, Tortola and Great Harbour on Peter Island to transfer travelers and freight in between them. Master Frederick Woolley of the Rhone had been cautioned by a going down measure that a tornado was coming, but believing that the cyclone period was over, he chose to remain at Great Harbour for the transfer with an additional RMS ship, Conway.

Just as they were passing Black Rock Point between Salt and Dead Breast islands, the climate instantly changed instructions. The initial lurch captured the Rhone on her side and she wrecked versus the rough reef. Legend has it that Captain Wooley was utilizing a silver tsp (which continues to be dirtied in the coral today) to stir his cup of tea at the time. The wreck is now a prominent dive website, home to a remarkable selection of aquatic life. Many people agree that a full exploration of the site needs 2 different dives, as the bow and strict areas are spread out apart at various midsts.

The Wreckage
The Rhone rests beneath the warm clear waters of the Caribbean Sea and is a celebrated dive site today. Visitors can explore the remarkably intact bow section, see where scenes from the 1977 film The Deep were shot, and swim under the stern near its large 15 foot propeller. This teeming marine park is a reminder of the delicate balance in between man and nature.

On 29th October 1867 as Captain Wooley was preparing to anchor the Rhone in Roadway Harbor, the wind and waves changed and he chose to try to beat the approaching storm out into the open sea. He guided the ship to Black Rock Factor in between Dead Breast and Golden-haired Rock, a set of rocky pinnacles rising up from the water. The ship struck the rocks and sank in two areas with the cold water of the inbound trend speaking to the warm central heating boilers triggering an explosion and sinking the vessel with all 123 passengers still tied to their beds.

Snorkeling
One of one of the most renowned wreckage dives in the Caribbean, snorkelers can quickly check out much of the Rhone by just floating on a mask and breathing through the sea. The much deeper bow area is especially well-preserved, a kaleidoscope of orange cup corals including yellowtail snapper, sennets and jacks. It's additionally where scenes from the 1977 motion picture The Deep were shot.

The demanding and midsection are more separated, yet they use a haunting peek of a past period. Divers ought to plan on at least 2 dives to completely experience the Rhone, particularly since visibility can occasionally be difficult. Emphasizes include the fortunate porthole, which scuba divers scrub for good luck, and the renowned bronze prop. The rusting skeleton of the Rhone is an iconic view in the BVI and is a must-see for any type of diving or boating enthusiast. The ship is open to the public for expedition, and numerous local dive watercrafts go to daily. The Rhone is protected by the National forest Solution, and entrance is free of charge.

Diving
Among the Caribbean's most well known wreck dives, Rhone is a desirable site for its historical attraction and brimming aquatic life. It's open and fairly safe, making it ideal for divers of all experience levels.

The tale behind the wreck is unfortunate: as she was moving passengers to an additional ship, Conway, at Road Harbour on Tortola, Rhone rounded Black Rock Factor and encountered it at full speed. Hot central heating boilers smashed versus cold salt water and exploded, sending the Rhone collapsing into the rocks and sinking in mins. Only 23 of the 146 individuals aboard made it through. Their bodies were hidden all inclusive yacht charters greece on Salt Island.

The accident split in two when it sank, and the bow area wandered to much deeper waters, while the demanding worked out at concerning 80 feet. Both are engulfed in reefs and occupied by aquatic life, including colleges of yellowtail snappers, sennets, jacks and grunts. It takes a minimum of 2 dives to check out the whole wreck, however, because the bow and strict sections are divided by about 100 feet of water.