R.M.S. Rhone

Yesterday Bill did a two tank dive of the RMS Rhone off of Salt Island. I actually went along and snorkeled the wreck. It was really cool to snorkel because I followed Bill and the other divers. Also, it was the deepest water I had ever snorkeled (about 30-40 feet) so it was a a different perspective.

The ship went down in 1867 when it hit Black Rock (see picture below) during a hurricane. It is amazing to think that most of her is still visible and parts are recognizable. We saw the propeller, and Bill was able to see actual portholes and even a spoon that is now encrusted in coral.

Of the wreck of the RMS Rhone, the Dive BVI website says..... Certainly the most popular and well known of all BVI dive sites, the Royal Mail Steamer "Rhone" was the setting for the hit movie "The Deep", starring Nick Nolte and Jacqueline Bissett. The wreck itself is fascinating to explore with parts of her still in tact. The Rhone foundered during a hurricane and is lying in depths from 20 to 80 feet. She is colourfully decorated by a wide variety of corals and is home to several resident barracuda, sea turtles, stingrays, angelfish, yellowtail snappers and many other varieties of fish life visit the Rhone. This is a "must see" for all levels of scuba divers!


We have been having fun at the Bitter End. We have actually been here a week - longer than anywhere else we have been so far. We had a great dinner last night at Saba Rock (we finally made it!) and hosted dinner (and a scrabble tournament) for our friend Keith on Mary Elizabeth the night before that. We have met a lot of nice people at the resort restaurant and bar.

And of course we have been reading a ton. We both just finished Islands in the Stream by Hemingway on loan from Cindy - and loved it. I am now reading Motherless Brooklyn and Bill is going to start Gone Baby Gone. Mary Elizabeth is almost bookless, but we will be getting a 'new supply' when Andrea comes next week.


One day we took the dinghy and explored nearby Biras Creek. There is not too much there except a really exclusive resort, but there are plenty of mangrove trees, which absolutely amaze me.

Let's see... wind was really, really strong all week and then it died to practically nothing yesterday. It is back up to maybe 10-12 knots in the mooring field now, which is good because we do rely on the wind generator to help keep the batteries charged.

We are not sure what our immediate plans are at the moment. We have reservations back in St. Thomas for Friday, but we are thinking of staying in the BVI (here? Cane Garden Bay? Trellis?) until at least Sunday to keep out of the marina and stay on the water a few more days. Andrea comes in on Wednesday night - which we CAN'T WAIT for!!!!!

Hope everyone is doing well.