The Accident of the Rhone
The RMS Rhone is a famous ship wreck that has brought to life an attractive marine park. It is just one of the most preferred dives in the Caribbean. Its heartbreaking story remains to captivate and astound us.


Captain Woolley went with the closest route to open sea through the network in between Dead Breast Island and Black Rock Factor on Salt Island. As Rhone occurred to come close to the factor the tail end of the hurricane threw her onto the rocks.

The History
Throughout the yellow high temperature epidemic of the 1860s, transatlantic passenger ships quit frequently at Road Harbour, Tortola and Great Harbour on Peter Island to move passengers and cargo in between them. Master Frederick Woolley of the Rhone had been warned by a going down barometer that a tornado was coming, however thinking that the typhoon period was over, he decided to remain at Great Harbour for the transfer with another RMS ship, Conway.

Equally as they were passing Black Rock Point in between Salt and Dead Breast islands, the weather unexpectedly changed instructions. The first stumble caught the Rhone on her side and she shattered against the rocky coral reef. Tale has it that Captain Wooley was making use of a silver tsp (which continues to be dirtied in the reefs today) to mix his cup of tea at the time. The wreck is currently a prominent dive website, home to a fascinating variety of marine life. Most individuals agree that a full expedition of the site calls for two separate dives, as the bow and stern areas are spread out apart at various midsts.

The Accident
The Rhone rests under the cozy clear waters of the Caribbean Sea and is a well known dive site today. Visitors can explore the extremely intact bow section, see where scenes from the 1977 movie The Deep were shot, and swim under the demanding near its big 15 foot propeller. This brimming marine park is a pointer of the delicate balance between guy and nature.

On 29th October 1867 as Captain Wooley was preparing all inclusive yacht charter to anchor the Rhone in Road Harbor, the wind and waves shifted and he decided to attempt to defeat the coming close to storm out into the open sea. He steered the ship to Black Rock Point between Dead Upper Body and Golden-haired Rock, a set of rocky peaks rising up from the water. The ship struck the rocks and sank in 2 sections with the cold water of the inbound tide contacting the warm boilers triggering an explosion and sinking the vessel with all 123 travelers still tied to their beds.

Snorkeling
Among the most popular wreck dives in the Caribbean, snorkelers can conveniently explore much of the Rhone by just floating on a mask and breathing through the sea. The deeper bow area is specifically unspoiled, a kaleidoscope of orange cup reefs teeming with yellowtail snapper, sennets and jacks. It's likewise where scenes from the 1977 film The Deep were recorded.

The stern and stomach are more broken up, yet they supply a haunting glance of a previous era. Divers ought to plan on a minimum of two dives to completely experience the Rhone, particularly considering that presence can sometimes be tricky. Highlights include the lucky porthole, which divers rub permanently luck, and the well-known bronze propeller. The rusting skeleton of the Rhone is a renowned sight in the BVI and is a must-see for any type of diving or boating lover. The ship is open to the public for exploration, and numerous regional dive boats go to daily. The Rhone is safeguarded by the National Park Solution, and entry is for free.

Diving
One of the Caribbean's most well known wreck dives, Rhone is a sought after site for its historical allure and teeming marine life. It's open and reasonably secure, making it appropriate for divers of all experience levels.

The story behind the wreckage is unfortunate: as she was transferring guests to another ship, Conway, at Road Harbour on Tortola, Rhone rounded Black Rock Factor and encountered it at full speed. Warm boilers smashed against cool salt water and blew up, sending the Rhone collapsing right into the rocks and sinking in minutes. Only 23 of the 146 individuals aboard made it through. Their bodies were buried on Salt Island.

The wreck split in two when it sank, and the bow area drifted to deeper waters, while the strict resolved at regarding 80 feet. Both are engulfed in coral and lived in by aquatic life, including institutions of yellowtail snappers, sennets, jacks and grunts. It takes at the very least two dives to explore the entire wreckage, though, because the bow and stern areas are separated by concerning 100 feet of water.