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The Story
October 29, 1867, the worst hurricane ever to hit the Virgin Islands caught the RMS
Rhone heading out to sea, threw her against the rocks at Salt Island, BVI, and she sank.
The morning of the storm, the Rhone was at anchor just north of Peter Island, preparing
for its return trip to England. A sudden drop in atmospheric pressure heralded a storm of some magnitude. Rhone Captain
R.F. Wooley decided to head to Tortola for safe harbor. Unfortunately, the Rhone lost its anchor and Wooley chose to
head for open sea to ride out the storm.
This proved to be a fatal error. As the Rhone passed through the channel between Salt
Island and Peter Island, the wind shifted and the Rhone foundered on the rocks of Salt Island's Black Rock Point. She
split in two, sank immediately, and 17 passengers and 108 crew were lost.
The Dive
Both experienced and novice divers enjoy what is one of the most famous shipwreck dives
in the world. The dive is always done as a two-tank dive with the first dive on the deeper bow section - approximately
75 feet - and the second on the shallower stern section, which is done mostly at 25 to 40 feet.
From the swim through the hatch in the bow section to the swim through the propeller section,
this dive is truly exciting. Much of the ship remains intact, so it's fairly easy to identify the various ship components
such as the forward mast and crows nest, cannon, boilers, propeller shaft and propeller, etc. This is great fun!
With the diversity of fish life, like the "friendly" barracuda that hangs around the bow,
grouper, parrotfish, and flounder to name a few, and the beautiful encrusting corals, and sea fans, this dive is an
experience you will not forget. Don't miss it. It's awesome.
What are you waiting for?
Get down here and…
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