The RMS Rhone is an epic ship accident that has actually brought to life a stunning marine park. It is among the most prominent dives in the Caribbean. Its terrible tale continues to attract and captivate us.
Captain Woolley went with the closest course to ocean blue via the network in between Dead Breast Island and Black Rock Factor on Salt Island. As Rhone happened to approach the point the tail end of the hurricane tossed her onto the rocks.
The Background
During the yellow fever epidemic of the 1860s, transatlantic guest ships stopped regularly at Roadway Harbour, Tortola and Great Harbour on Peter Island to transfer travelers and freight in between them. Master Frederick Woolley of the Rhone had been advised by a dropping measure that a storm was coming, however thinking that the typhoon period was over, he determined to stay at Great Harbour for the transfer with an additional RMS ship, Conway.
Just as they were passing Black Rock Factor between Salt and Dead Breast islands, the weather unexpectedly changed direction. The first lurch captured the Rhone on her side and she wrecked against the rough coral reef. Legend has it that Captain Wooley was utilizing a silver tsp (which remains dirtied in the coral today) to stir his favorite at the time. The wreck is now a preferred dive site, home to an interesting selection of marine life. Lots of people agree that a full expedition of the website requires 2 different dives, as the bow and stern sections are spread out apart at various depths.
The Accident
The Rhone relaxes below the cozy clear waters of the Caribbean Sea and is a well known dive website today. Site visitors can explore the extremely intact bow section, see where scenes from the 1977 movie The Deep were fired, and swim under the stern near its big 15 foot prop. This bristling marine park is a pointer of the fragile equilibrium between guy and nature.
On 29th October 1867 as Captain Wooley was preparing to secure the Rhone in Roadway Harbor, the wind and waves changed and he chose to try to defeat the coming close to storm out right into the open sea. He steered the ship to Black Rock Point between Dead Breast and Blond Rock, a set of rocky pinnacles rising up from the water. The ship struck the rocks and sank in 2 sections with the cold water of the incoming trend contacting the hot central heating boilers creating a surge and sinking the vessel with all 123 guests still connected to their beds.
Snorkeling
One of the most well-known accident dives in the Caribbean, snorkelers can easily explore much of the Rhone by simply floating on a mask and breathing via the sea. The much deeper bow section is particularly unspoiled, a kaleidoscope of orange mug corals reefs including yellowtail snapper, sennets and jacks. It's likewise where scenes from the 1977 film The Deep were filmed.
The strict and waistline are more broken up, yet they use a haunting peek of a past era. Scuba divers must plan on at least two dives to totally experience the Rhone, particularly because visibility can sometimes be complicated. Emphasizes include the lucky porthole, which scuba divers scrub for good luck, and the renowned bronze prop. The rusting skeleton of the Rhone is an iconic view in the BVI and is a must-see for any type of diving or boating enthusiast. 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 wreckage dives, Rhone is a sought after site for its historic appeal and bristling marine life. It's open and fairly safe, making it ideal for divers of all experience levels.
The tale behind the wreck is tragic: as she was moving passengers to an additional ship, Conway, at Road Harbour on Tortola, Rhone rounded Black Rock Point and encountered it at full speed. Hot central heating boilers shattered against cool seawater and exploded, sending the Rhone collapsing into the rocks and airbnb yacht sinking in mins. Only 23 of the 146 individuals aboard made it through. Their bodies were buried on Salt Island.
The accident split in two when it sank, and the bow section wandered to deeper waters, while the strict cleared up at about 80 feet. Both are swallowed up in coral and lived in by aquatic life, including institutions of yellowtail snappers, sennets, jacks and grunts. It takes a minimum of 2 dives to explore the whole wreck, however, since the bow and demanding sections are separated by concerning 100 feet of water.
