The Accident of the Rhone
The RMS Rhone is a legendary ship wreck that has given birth to an attractive aquatic park. It is one of the most popular dives in the Caribbean. Its terrible story continues to interest and astound us.


Captain Woolley opted for the closest path to open sea with the channel in between Dead Chest Island and Black Rock Factor on Salt Island. As Rhone came around to come close to the point the tail end of the cyclone tossed her onto the rocks.

The Background
During the yellow high temperature epidemic of the 1860s, transatlantic passenger ships quit routinely at Roadway 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 barometer that a tornado was coming, but thinking that the storm season mored than, he chose to remain at Great Harbour for the transfer with another RMS ship, Conway.

Equally as they were passing Black Rock Factor between Salt and Dead Breast islands, the weather unexpectedly transformed direction. The first lurch caught the Rhone on her side and she wrecked against the rocky coral reef. Legend has it that Captain Wooley was utilizing a silver tsp (which remains encrusted in the reefs today) to stir his favorite at the time. The wreck is currently a popular dive site, home to a remarkable array of marine life. Most individuals agree that a full expedition of the site needs 2 different dives, as the bow and stern sections are spread apart at various depths.

The Accident
The Rhone relaxes beneath the warm clear waters of the Caribbean Sea and is a popular dive site today. Visitors can check out the extremely intact 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 balance 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 made a decision to try to beat the approaching storm out into the ocean blue. He guided the ship to Black Rock Factor between Dead Chest and Blonde Rock, a set of rough pinnacles rising from the water. The ship struck the rocks and sank in two areas with the cold water of the inbound trend calling the warm central heating boilers triggering an explosion and sinking the vessel with all 123 travelers still tied to their beds.

Snorkeling
One of the most well-known accident 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 deeper bow section is particularly well-preserved, a kaleidoscope of orange mug reefs including yellowtail snapper, sennets and jacks. It's likewise where scenes from the 1977 motion picture The Deep were shot.

The demanding and midsection are more separated, but they supply a haunting glance of a previous age. Divers should intend on at the very least 2 dives to totally experience the Rhone, specifically considering that exposure can in some cases be challenging. Highlights consist of the fortunate porthole, which divers rub forever luck, and the famous bronze propeller. The rusting skeleton of the Rhone is a legendary view in the BVI and is a must-see for any type of diving or boating lover. The ship is open to the general public for expedition, and numerous local dive watercrafts check out daily. The Rhone is safeguarded by the National Park Solution, and entryway is at no cost.

Diving
One of the Caribbean's most popular accident dives, Rhone is a sought after website for its historical allure and bristling marine life. It's open and relatively secure, making it appropriate for scuba divers of all experience degrees.

The story behind the wreck is terrible: as she was transferring guests to an additional ship, Conway, at Roadway Harbour on Tortola, Rhone rounded Black Rock Factor and encountered it at full speed. Hot boilers smashed versus cold salt water and blew up, sending out the Rhone crashing into the rocks and sinking in mins. Only 23 of the 146 individuals aboard survived. Their bodies were hidden on Salt Island.

The wreck split in two when it sank, and the bow area drifted to much deeper waters, while the stern cleared up at concerning 80 feet. Both all-inclusive yacht charters bvi are swallowed up in reefs and occupied by aquatic life, including colleges of yellowtail snappers, sennets, jacks and grunts. It takes a minimum of 2 dives to explore the whole wreck, however, since the bow and strict sections are divided by about 100 feet of water.