WreckÁrea Marina Protegida

RMS Rhone

Near Virgin Islands (St John)

Profundidad: 5–30 mNivel: Open WaterAll year round

An iron-hulled steamer of some 94 m built at Millwall in 1865 for the Royal Mail Steam Packet Company, carrying sail and one of the first cast bronze propellers. On 29 October 1867 she was taking on coal in Great Harbour, on Peter Island, alongside the RMS Conway, when the San Narciso hurricane arrived. Captain Woolley tried to make open water, but the ship was thrown against Black Rock Point; water reached the red-hot boilers and the explosion broke her in two. The two halves lie some 30 m apart, so more than one dive is needed to see her whole.

Depth

5–30 m

Recommended level

Open Water

Average visibility

25 m

Water temperature

27 °C

Current

Weak to moderate

Access

Boat

Best time

All year round

Recommended certification

Wreck Diver

Approx. price

70 USD / dive

Ocean Marine protected area

Plan your dive

Best time: All year round
Approx. price: 70 USD / dive

Nearby park (23 km away)Virgin Islands (St John)

A royal mail ship sunk in a hurricane in 1867; one of the most famous and best preserved wrecks in the Caribbean, and a location for the film The Poseidon Adventure.

Protection status

Parque Nacional del Pecio del RMS Rhone, gestionado por el BVI National Parks Trust

Did you know

Sobrevivieron poco más de veinte personas de las cerca de 150 que iban a bordo, todas ellas tripulantes. La reputación de 'insumergible' del Rhone anticipó la del Titanic cuarenta y cinco años antes. Aquí se rodó la película 'Abismo' (The Deep, 1977), y siguen visibles el palo trinquete, la cofa, un cañón, la hélice de unos 4,5 m y el llamado 'ojo de buey de la suerte'. Las fuentes discrepan en el número exacto de supervivientes (22 o 23).

Sources consulted: Scuba Diving Magazine; Atlas Obscura; DIVE Magazine; Dive BVI; All At Sea; Yacht Warriors