The Accident of the Rhone
The RMS Rhone is an epic ship accident that has actually given birth to a stunning marine park. It is one of one of the most preferred dives in the Caribbean. Its heartbreaking story continues to fascinate and astound us.


Captain Woolley opted for the closest path to ocean blue with the network between Dead Upper body Island and Black Rock Point on Salt Island. As Rhone came around to come close to the point the tail end of the typhoon threw her onto the rocks.

The Background
During the yellow fever epidemic of the 1860s, transatlantic guest ships stopped frequently at Road Harbour, Tortola and Great Harbour on Peter Island to transfer travelers and cargo between them. Master Frederick Woolley of the Rhone had actually been cautioned by a going down measure that a tornado was coming, but believing that the hurricane season mored than, he determined to stay at Great Harbour for the transfer with another RMS ship, Conway.

Equally as they were passing Black Rock Factor in between Salt and Dead Upper body islands, the weather condition all of a sudden altered direction. The initial lurch captured the Rhone on her side and she shattered against the rocky coral reef. Legend has it that Captain Wooley was making use of a silver teaspoon (which continues to be dirtied in the coral reefs today) to mix his cup of tea at the time. The wreck is now a popular dive site, home to a fascinating array of marine life. Most individuals concur that a complete expedition of the website calls for 2 separate dives, as the bow and strict sections are spread apart at various midsts.

The Accident
The Rhone rests under the cozy clear waters of the Caribbean Sea and is a popular dive website today. Site visitors can discover the extremely intact bow section, see where scenes from the 1977 movie The Deep were shot, and swim under the demanding near its huge 15 foot prop. This bristling aquatic park is a pointer of the delicate balance between male and nature.

On 29th October 1867 as Captain Wooley was preparing to secure the Rhone in Road Harbor, the wind and waves changed and he chose to attempt to beat the coming close to storm out right into the ocean blue. He guided the ship to Black Rock Factor in between Dead Upper Body and Blonde Rock, a pair 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 tide calling the warm boilers triggering a surge and sinking the vessel with all 123 travelers still tied to their beds.

Snorkeling
Among the most popular wreckage dives in the Caribbean, snorkelers can conveniently explore much of the Rhone by simply drifting on a mask and breathing through the sea. The deeper bow area is particularly well-preserved, a kaleidoscope of orange cup reefs including yellowtail snapper, sennets and jacks. It's also where scenes from the 1977 flick The Deep were shot.

The strict and belly are extra broken up, however they offer a haunting glance of a previous era. Scuba divers should intend on a minimum of two dives to completely experience the Rhone, specifically considering that exposure can often be complicated. Highlights include the lucky porthole, which scuba divers rub for good luck, and the famous bronze propeller. The rusting skeleton of the Rhone is a renowned sight in the BVI and is a must-see for any diving or boating lover. The ship is open to the general public for exploration, and numerous regional dive boats go to daily. The Rhone is protected by the National forest Service, and entryway is at no cost.

Diving
Among the Caribbean's most well known wreckage dives, Rhone is a sought after website for its historical appeal and bursting aquatic life. It's open and relatively risk-free, making it ideal for scuba divers of all experience levels.

The tale behind the wreckage is terrible: as she was transferring passengers to one more ship, Conway, at Road Harbour on Tortola, Rhone rounded Black Rock Point and faced it at full speed. Hot central heating boilers smashed yacht preference sheet versus cool seawater and took off, sending the Rhone crashing right into the rocks and sinking in minutes. Just 23 of the 146 individuals aboard survived. Their bodies were buried on Salt Island.

The accident split in two when it sank, and the bow area wandered to much deeper waters, while the stern worked out at regarding 80 feet. Both are engulfed in coral reefs and inhabited by marine life, including colleges of yellowtail snappers, sennets, jacks and grunts. It takes at the very least two dives to explore the entire accident, though, because the bow and stern areas are divided by regarding 100 feet of water.