The British Virgin Islands (BVI) is a British overseas territory, located in the Caribbean to the east of Puerto Rico. The islands make up part of the Virgin Islands archipelago, the remaining islands constituting the U.S. Virgin Islands (see also Spanish Virgin Islands).

The British Virgin Islands consist of the main islands of Tortola, Virgin Gorda, Anegada and Jost Van Dyke, along with over fifty other smaller islands and cays. Approximately fifteen of the islands are inhabited. The largest island, Tortola, is approximately 20 km (approx. 12 mi) long and 5 km (approx. 3 mi) wide. The islands have a total population of about 22,000, of whom approximately 18,000 live on Tortola. Road Town, the capital, is situated on Tortola.

How to get there?

Tortola, the main island of the British Virgin Islands, is the location of the BVI's only major airport, the Beef Island Airport (EIS). The largest airplanes served are turboprops for intra-Caribbean flights.

Major Caribbean connections for large jets making  intercontinental flights are at San Juan, Puerto Rico (SJU) (see San Juan airport map and info here). Large jets also fly directly to St. Thomas (STT) (340-776-6282) in the United States Virgin Islands (see info here). From St. Thomas airport, after a short taxi ride, travelers usually take the ferry over to the BVI (see Ferries To/From USVI below). Another option is St. Maarten (SXM) now that American Eagle and other local carriers have regular scheduled service to Tortola's Beef Island airport (click here).

When to dive?

The best time to dive the British Virgin Islands would be all year round, but keep in mind that June through Dec is hurricance season. BVI is a sailers dream destination, now sailers need wind to sail right?, so also keep in mind that there is always a little bit of wind.

When diving, you can use a rashguard or a 3mm. The water is very warm and the visibility averages from 50 - 100 ft, depending on the day. (Wind, time of year, etc).

Currency - (Exchange Rate)

The local currency of the BVI is the United States Dollar. There are no exchange controls and no restrictions on movement of currency. International banking, commercial and financial services are available in Road Town, and communication facilities in the BVI are first rate.

The British Virgin Islands isn't cheap, you will find yourself spending a little more money than lets say if you went to Roatan, Honduras.

Where to Stay?

The best and most recommended place to stay in BVI, would be at Nanny Cay Resort. This resort is located near Road Town on Tortola and is close to everything. It also has everything, such as a small shopping village on the dock, 2 restaurants, a surf shop, yacht races every Thursday, a barber shop, weight room, private beach, and did I mention, a dive shop - Blue Water Divers, with the best rates on the island.

When in BVI, you must stay at Nanny Cay Resort, but this does not limit you. Take the ferry over to Jost Van Dyke, population of about 180 people. When on the island, visit Colin at Jost Van Dyke Scuba. He has by far the best diving in all of the BVI. With over 40 unmarked dive sites and a secret ship wreck, who he has showed only a hand full of people. Yes, he did let us film it, but we promised not to give away the location. You can check it out in the Issue #3 DVD Video Magazine.

Time Zone

BVI Time Standard Time is 4 hours behind Greenwich Mean Time (GMT-4).  

Hook-Ups

Treat this information like it's your best friend...well I guess that all depends on what your best friend is like. Anyways, for diving in British Columbia, you will need some tips and local contacts, so here goes.

Tortola:

When you fly in, you land on Beef Island, which is connected to Tortola by the Queens bridge. You will then want to take a taxi over to Nanny Cay Resort. About 40 minutes away, but you go through the main town on the way there.

You could stay at Nanny Cay for a week and still not see and do everything. Blue Water Divers is the dive shop near your hotel, and they leave at about 8am every morning. Keith and Mike (Muffy) are the owners, and they are really chill guys. They have some set dives, but you can usually pick them and they will take you there. After the long day of diving, come back and head over to Peg Leg's restaurant and play some beach volleyball or swim in the pool, or hey, the dive staff will be there, might as well have another beer with them!

You can check out all the best dives, and meet everyone from all the dive shops and the BVI dive organization...in their "after hour" stages in Issue 3 DVD Video Magazine. Funny stuff.

Jost Van Dyke:

The best part about Jost Van Dyke, is that there are only about 180 residents who reside there, with the tourist days tripleing the population. If you are in search for the youth, fun, and the best diving you have ever had, then take the ferry over to Jost Van Dyke, there is no question about that.

Colin from Jost Van Dyke Scuba will be more than happy to take you anywhere you want to go, but just tell him, "take me to the spots you took Dive Zero", and I promise that you will be speechless.

Colin is a very good guy, you will most likely meet his wife and kids. The whole lifestyle on this island is different than anywhere in the world, everyone is friendly and open.

The best bars would be Foxy's, Ivan's and the Soggy Dollar Bar. Checking out all three is a must!

You can check out everything Jost Van Dyke has to offer and all the crazy secret dive spots Colin took us on, in the Issue 3 DVD of Dive Zero.

View Dive Zero's BVI picture blog here.