Virgin Islands Life – Exploring one of the Caribbean’s most famous shipwrecks: RMS Rhone
Photography by Armando Jenik
RMS Rhone is one of the British Virgin Islands’ most popular dive sites, as divers are both fascinated by the underwater sea creatures which inhabit the wreck, and intrigued by the story of what once was a UK Royal Mail Ship built in Cornwall, England in 1865.
During a hurricane on October 29, 1867, the Rhone crashed into some rocks off the coast of Salt Island. Tragically, the lives of 123 souls were lost, and only 23 passengers were left to bury the deceased at a nearby ceremony on the island.
Rhone was an innovative ship and the first built to withstand the transatlantic journey to Brazil. The ship had weathered several major storms prior to the tragedy which ended her journeys, one of which in 1866 even destroyed two of her cutters and most of the deck furniture.
RMS Rhone is now a National Park of the British Virgin Islands, inhabited by exotic sea life and possibly remnants of artefacts and treasures which have yet to be discovered by those who dive 85 feet below sea level to explore.
Visit the Rhone and see what you can discover.
See you here!
Barracuda under the bow
What was once the ship’s deck is now referred to by divers as the ‘Greek Columns’
Crow’s nest now covered in sea sponges
Giant Goliath Grouper
Don’t disturb the Green Moray Eel!
Hawksbill Turtle
School of Horse Eye Jacks
Orange sea sponges cover the “Rhone River” inside the bow
Rub the lucky porthole clockwise for good luck!
Diver’s explore the bow and mast
Enter the Rhone … if you dare.
Squirrel Fish explore the stern
Lauren Charley
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