Scuba diving locations in British Virgin Islands:

• The Sir Francis Drake Channel, off Tortola, has the Painted Walls, with some of the finest sponge-encrusted walls in the region.
• The Dogs, Virgin Gorda, is the area for tunnels, chimneys, arches and in caves.
• Anegada is 20 miles north of Virgin Gorda and has more than 300 ships wrecked by its corals.

When to scuba dive in British Virgin Islands:

The water is warm all year, but there are often hurricanes and tropical storms between July and October. Between late December and early April, whales can be seen migrating north of Virgin Gorda, especially during the months of February and March when they have babies and must travel on or near the surface. North of Tortola is better in summer as the northerly swells of winter make conditions difficult. Coral spawns one week after the first full moon in August off Tortola.

Local standards for gear:

The best scuba diving spots in British Virgin Islands:

• The Chikuzen, north of Tortola.
• The Rhone, west of Salt Island, was a Royal Mail Steamer of 94 metres that sank in a hurricane in 1867 and now lies in three pieces, each resting at varying depths, from 6 to 24 metres.

The best spots to snorkel in British Virgin Islands:

• The Baths are a maze of huge boulders that capture the sea in clear pools.

Fun scuba facts:

Country data:

Administrative details

• Currency: US dollar (USD)
• Population: is about 27,000 (2005)
• Time Zone: AST (GMT-4)
• Main languages spoken: English ## Diveable overseas territories: United Kingdom

Virgin Islander diving federations:

Local diving laws and regulations (and PADI-equivalent certifications):