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A Getaway To The British Virgin Islands: Superb Sailing, Fabulous Beaches, and Spectacular Diving

Accordion Content

Overview

Introduction

Scattered in an aquamarine sea, the British Virgin Islands flank the broad Sir Francis Drake Channel, which has beguiled sailors for centuries.  Powdery white-sand beaches, lush green mountains, and sheltered yacht-filled harbors characterize the island of Tortola. The dramatically shaped island of Virgin Gorda reminded Christopher Columbus of a reclining woman, so he named it Virgin Gorda, the “Fat Virgin.”  Jost Van Dyke has fewer than 300 inhabitants and they are widely known as a welcoming people.  The only coral island in the volcanic BVI chain, Anegada is a world apart–its name literally means “drowned land.”  The islands are known for amazing wreck dives, as well as sheltering pristine reefs in crystal clear waters that are less frequented than those of its Western neighbor, the U.S. Virgin Islands.

Geography

The British Virgin Islands are an archipelago scattered between the Atlantic Ocean and the Caribbean Sea, approximately 1,050 miles/1,680 km southeast of New York City. More than sixty islands, cays and rocks make up the group and are spread over an area of 59 square miles/153.4 square kilometers. 

History

First inhabited by Arawak and later by Carib Indians, the British Virgin Islands were said to be first sighted in 1493 by Christopher Columbus on his second American voyage.  Although the Spanish claimed it, they didn’t enforce their claims and several explorers visited the islands’ shores before they were settled by the Dutch (hence the island name that prevails today, Jost Van Dyke) in 1648 and then annexed by the English in 1672 after proving unsuccessful as a part of the Dutch West India Company. The islands were part of the British colony of the Leeward Islands from 1872-1960; and were ultimately granted autonomy in 1967.

Economy

The economy of the British Virgin Islands is one of the most stable and prosperous in the Caribbean. Tourism generates an estimated 45% of the national income.  There are several out islands with the most popular being Virgin Gorda and Tortola.  The economy of the BVI is also closely tied to that of the U.S. Virgin Islands, which is regarded as one of the top tourist destinations in the Caribbean.  Additionally, offshore company registration and raising livestock also contribute to the British Virgin Islands economy.

Location:
  • Caribbean
  • British Virgin Islands
Keywords: diving guides, caribbean dive travel, british virgin islands dive travel, bvi dive travel, bvi diving, virgin gorda diving, tortola diving, salt island diving, norman island diving, anegada diving Author:
Melissa Gwaldis
Related Tags: Diving Guides