The RMS Rhone is a legendary ship wreck that has brought to life a stunning aquatic park. It is one of the most preferred dives in the Caribbean. Its terrible tale remains to fascinate and mesmerize us.
Captain Woolley chose the closest route to open sea through the channel in between Dead Upper body Island and Black Rock Factor on Salt Island. As Rhone occurred to come close to the factor the tail end of the cyclone tossed her onto the rocks.
The History
During the yellow fever epidemic of the 1860s, transatlantic passenger ships quit consistently at Roadway Harbour, Tortola and Great Harbour on Peter Island to move travelers and cargo between them. Master Frederick Woolley of the Rhone had been warned by a going down measure that a tornado was coming, however believing that the hurricane season mored than, he determined to remain at Great Harbour for the transfer with one more RMS ship, Conway.
Just as they were passing Black Rock Point in between Salt and Dead Upper body islands, the weather condition all of a sudden changed direction. The first stumble caught the Rhone on her side and she smashed against the rough coral reef. Legend has it that Captain Wooley was using a silver teaspoon (which continues to be dirtied in the coral reefs today) to stir his favorite at the time. The wreckage is now a popular dive site, home to a remarkable variety of marine life. Many people agree that a complete expedition of the site requires 2 different dives, as the bow and strict areas are spread out apart at different midsts.
The Wreckage
The Rhone relaxes below the warm clear waters of the Caribbean Sea and is a popular dive website today. Visitors can explore the extremely intact bow section, see where scenes from the 1977 movie The Deep were shot, and swim under the stern near its huge 15 foot prop. This brimming aquatic park is a tip of the delicate balance in between man and nature.
On 29th October 1867 as Captain Wooley was preparing to secure the Rhone in Roadway Harbor, the wind and waves shifted and he decided to attempt to beat the coming close to storm out right into the open sea. He guided the ship to Black Rock Point between Dead Upper Body and Blond Rock, a pair of rough pinnacles rising from the water. The ship struck the rocks and sank in 2 sections with the cold water of the inbound tide contacting the warm central heating boilers triggering a surge and sinking the vessel with all 123 travelers still tied to their beds.
Snorkeling
Among the most famous wreckage dives in the Caribbean, snorkelers can quickly discover much of the Rhone by just floating on a mask and breathing via the sea. The deeper bow area is especially well-preserved, a kaleidoscope of orange mug corals including yellowtail snapper, sennets and jacks. It's also where scenes from the 1977 flick The Deep were shot.
The stern and stomach are much more separated, but they supply a haunting peek of a past age. Divers must plan on at the very least two dives to totally experience the Rhone, particularly given that exposure can sometimes be difficult. Highlights consist of the lucky porthole, which divers rub completely luck, and the airbnb yacht famous bronze prop. The rusting skeletal system of the Rhone is a famous view in the BVI and is a must-see for any type of diving or boating fanatic. The ship is open to the public for expedition, and numerous neighborhood dive boats check out daily. The Rhone is protected by the National forest Solution, and entryway is free of charge.
Diving
One of the Caribbean's most popular wreck dives, Rhone is a desirable site for its historic attraction and brimming aquatic life. It's open and relatively risk-free, making it ideal for divers of all experience degrees.
The story behind the accident is unfortunate: as she was transferring travelers to another ship, Conway, at Road Harbour on Tortola, Rhone rounded Black Rock Factor and ran into it at full speed. Hot central heating boilers smashed versus cool seawater and blew up, sending out the Rhone crashing right into the rocks and sinking in mins. Only 23 of the 146 people aboard endured. Their bodies were buried on Salt Island.
The accident split in two when it sank, and the bow area drifted to deeper waters, while the demanding resolved at about 80 feet. Both are swallowed up in reefs and occupied by aquatic life, consisting of schools of yellowtail snappers, sennets, jacks and grunts. It takes a minimum of 2 dives to discover the entire accident, however, since the bow and stern areas are divided by about 100 feet of water.
