I hadn’t been to the BVI since 2008, so when the DIVEIN team received an invitation to BVI Wreck Week 2025, I jumped at it. But let’s back up a little bit: first, why should you go diving in the British Virgin Islands in the first place?
If you’re looking for the perfect mix of turquoise waters, sun-soaked sand, and a splash of pirate lore, scuba diving in the BVI should be at the top of your list. With more than 60 dive sites scattered across the archipelago, you can explore everything from coral gardens to famous shipwrecks like the RMS Rhone and the quirky “Sharkplaneos”—exactly what they sound like, sunken airplanes re-styled as sharks.
Crystal-clear water is warm year-round and often boasts visibility exceeding 100 feet (30 m), making it easy to spot turtles, reef sharks, and swirling schools of tropical fish.
And best of all, diving here is a breeze. Many sites are just a short boat ride from Tortola, Virgin Gorda, or Jost Van Dyke, meaning you can squeeze multiple dives into a single day without long hauls.
The BVIs are known for calm seas and protected anchorages, so even novice divers can enjoy the underwater scenery without battling strong currents or challenging conditions.
Add in plentiful local dive operators, steady year-round temperatures, and the post-dive perks of pristine beaches and the world’s best beach bars, and you’ve got yourself a dive destination that’s as easy as it is unforgettable.
Now, let’s dive into the particulars about BVI Wreck Week 2025.
First, what exactly is Wreck Week?
Conceived in the mid-2000s by Jeff and Casey McNutt of Dive BVI, Wreck Week began as a way to showcase not only the island’s rich maritime heritage, but also the topside culture as well. It was reimagined in 2019 as a response to the devastating Hurricane Irma of 2017, took a pause during the Covid pandemic, and is now back in full force.
“BVI Wreck Week is intended as both a reminder and a celebration,” says Kim Huish, president of the BVI Scuba Association.
It’s a reminder to those of us lucky enough to live here about the amazing maritime heritage that we all share and also how vital and fragile our ocean and reefs are. The celebration part is about sharing this extraordinary environment and culture with visitors and ourselves too,” she says.
Today, the event consists of a variety of loosely organized wreck dives—many dive shops on the island participate—and plenty of fun topside activities, too.
What sort of topside activities?
Because Wreck Week consists not only of dives to most of the BVI’s most famous wrecks, but also plenty of topside activities as well—it’s a great event for families or groups traveling together where not everyone is a diver.
During our week, we spent topside time attending a pirate-themed party at Hendo’s on Jost Van Dyke, helping local school kids and Green VI on a beach cleanup at Cane Garden Bay, and sipping and painting our way through an evening at Trellis Bay, followed by a party that culminated with an incredible flaming sculpture.
On a somber note, we also visited Salt Island, uninhabited since the late 1980s, for a memorial wreath laying in honor of the victims of the RMS Rhone, which went down nearby in an 1867 hurricane. Accompanying us on the visit were the guests of honor, the “Belles of the Cay,” two of the island’s last living former residents.
More light-hearted events followed—and the beauty of Wreck Week is that you can attend (or not) as many as you’d like. Marine-themed trivia night at Cooper Island—spoiler alert, my team did not win—was followed by movie night on the beach at Leverick Bay in Virgin Gorda, featuring “Jaws” in honor of the movie’s 50th anniversary.
Our final day, spent fully out of the water, was at Anegada, around four hours’ sail from Tortola and a bit of an outlier when it comes to the BVI. Where the rest of the islands are volcanic and mountainous, tiny Anegada is an uprisen coral atoll, flat as a pancake and surrounded by the bluest water and some of the squeakiest, whitest sand in the Caribbean.
Sponsored by Green VI and Beyond the Reef, our final beach cleanup there picked up an incredible 698.2 lbs of fishing gear and 250.5 lbs of plastic. Everything was weighed, separated, and recorded to help inform environmental policy in the BVI.
Finally, the event was capped off by a party at Nanny Cay, complete with a live steel pan band, heritage dancers, and a lionfish preparation and tasting table.
What about the dives, though?
If you come to Wreck Week, you come for the diving—and you won’t be disappointed. We spent the week sampling sites like the Willy T, a former party barge turned sunken pirate ship, the RMS Rhone, the BVIs’ most famous wreck, and Wreck Alley, where four wrecks in close proximity make a great dive for all abilities. Read more about the BVIs’ best wrecks here.
Who should I dive with?
You’ve got lots of choices here, too. We dove with all these operators during the week, and each was top-notch.
Blue Water Divers: Based at Nanny Cay, Blue Water Divers was founded in 1980 by two brothers. With three dive boats, both PADI and SSI designation, and plenty of gear on hand for rentals, it’s a one-stop shop for divers.
Cuan Law: The BVI’s only dedicated liveaboard dive boat gives you the easiest access to all the islands’ dive sites. With 10 staterooms and plenty of activities for non-divers, it’s a great choice for a family or group getaway. We spent a day on board diving the RMS Rhone.
Dive BVI: We visited Wreck Alley with Dive BVI, the founders of Wreck Week in the early 2000s. They’ve got several shops and a huge variety of options, from day dives to private charters and island-hopper cruises, suitable for both the divers and non-divers in your group.
Jost Van Dyke Scuba: This is the only dive shop on Jost Van Dyke, most famous for a stretch of world-class beach bars, including the Soggy Dollar, Hendo’s, and Foxy’s. Just be sure to finish up your dives for the day before you start sampling painkillers.
Sail Caribbean Divers: With shops at Hodges Creek on Tortola, the Moorings Marina in Road Town, and Cooper Island, Sail Caribbean Divers is perfectly positioned to offer access to over 60 dive sites in the BVI.
Sunchaser Scuba: Based at the Bitter End Yacht Club on Virgin Gorda, Sunchaser Scuba is closest to wrecks like Kodiak Queen and the Shark Planeos. Expect friendly, personalized service and a comfortable boat.
We Be Divin’: Based in Road Town, We Be Divin’ offers private excursions tailored to divers’ special requests. Plus, profits benefit two great causes—Beyond the Reef, which spearheads environmental initiatives, and PAW BVI, which champions animal welfare and re-homes island dogs in the U.S.
Where should I stay?
During our week, we were hosted on a captained, 46-foot catamaran, the Chillin’ Effect, from The Moorings, one of the BVI’s most well-known yacht charter companies. It made for the ideal way to experience the best of the islands, since we were mobile. We spent mornings diving, at most an hour sailing to our next destination, and slept in comfort each night on board.
Based on Tortola, the Moorings has a variety of yacht sizes and configurations, both crewed and un-crewed, making it a great option for Wreck Week attendees who want to sample as we did.
How will I get there?
Although there is an international airport on Beef Island in the BVI, many visitors arrive first at the international airport in St. Thomas (STT), the transportation and population hub of the USVI, which is well-served by United States carriers like Delta, American, and United.
If you land at STT, you’ve got several options when it comes to ferries, which run from both the capital city of Charlotte Amalie to Road Town, and from Red Hook on the east end of St. Thomas to the West End of Tortola. Expect a ride of about an hour.
Okay, I’m sold. When is Wreck Week 2026?
You won’t be sorry! BVI Wreck Week always starts on Father’s Day in June, lasting for the week following. In 2026, the dates are June 21–27. Find more information about the event here, and who knows—maybe we’ll come back for a second round. See you there!
Take a moment to look at this.
