2009 World's Best Diving & Resorts: Dive BVI

Dive BVI
British Virgin Islands

From healthy coral reefs to stellar wrecks and fish-filled diving--over a sand bottom that rarely exceeds 80 feet--the British Virgin Islands offer what every diver is looking for. Tropical, beautiful and virtually crime-free, the British Virgin Islands lie an easy morning's flight away from the U.S. East Coast. Serving up the best of this world-class dive-travel destination is Dive BVI, the most-experienced and best-equipped dive operator in the BVI.

Headquartered on the island of Virgin Gorda--location of the famous Baths--Dive BVI is the original Virgin Gorda dive shop and has three convenient locations there: Spanish Town Yacht Harbor, Leverick Bay Marina and Little Dix Bay Resort. There is also a Dive BVI shop that operates out of Scrub Island Marina, just northeast of the central island of Tortola, and only 10 minutes from Beef Island airport, where international commercial flights arrive.

This is the shop that wrote the book on diver service. The operation's boats are rated for 20 divers, but carry a maximum of 12, and there are never more than six divers per divemaster. Your gear is set up before the first dive and washed down after the last. And for divers arriving via private yachts, Dive BVI offers "rendezvous" diving; divers are picked up from, and returned to, their boats É at no extra charge.

In addition to the regular two-tank morning trips and one-tank afternoon runs, Dive BVI can arrange custom trips to meet divers' specific wishes, as well as private guides. And wherever you go, the staff has the knowledge to answer all of your questions--from the species of sponges on the Painted Walls to an overview of the RMS Rhone that is based on history, rather than hearsay.

Virgin Gorda and Scrub Island tend to attract travelers who appreciate quality and tranquility. And Dive BVI is perfectly in synch with this philosophy: a courteous and knowledgeable operation dedicated to showing you the best of the BVI.

Amenities: Newton 36s and Wave Piercing Catamaran, operated 40 percent under rated capacity to ensure diver comfort; divemaster to diver ratio of 1:6; PADI instruction available for every experience level, from snorkeler through Open Water Scuba Instructor; shops offer gear, rentals, sportswear, island accessories, souvenirs and more; nitrox and nitrox instruction available

TRAVEL DEAL : 4th, 5th or 6th day FREE with Dive BVI!