Dive· Open water north of Beef Island· Virgin Islands (BVI, USVI and Spanish Virgins)
Chikuzen Wreck
18° 35.3′ N · 64° 35.2′ W · approximate
A 246 ft refrigeration ship scuttled in open water north of Tortola, now an isolated oasis in miles of sand that draws barracuda, jacks, eagle rays, sharks and a resident 600 lb Goliath grouper.
Practical
Position approximate and NOT for navigation: derived from Dive BVI's description ('12 miles NW of Virgin Gorda'), measured north-west from Virgin Gorda Yacht Harbour; get the real mooring position from a dive operator. 75 ft, advanced. Exposed: regular 3 to 5 ft swells, so only with experienced instructors in good weather; do not penetrate, as the internal piping is unstable. The ship burned off St Maarten, drifted toward Marina Cay, and was towed off and sank. Hurricane Irma (2017) tore off the bow, which has not been found; the stern has opened up, exposing the engine (Dive BVI).
Best for
Advanced divers wanting big fish
Season
Calm days, usually summer
Nearby
- Grand Central Station (Guana Island) Dive Site6.1 NM away
- Muskmelon Bay (Guana Island)6.3 NM away
- Towing Point (Great Camanoe) Dive Site6.9 NM away
- White Bay (Guana Island) Anchorage7 NM away
- Humpback Whale Season (BVI north shore)7.3 NM away
- Lee Bay (Great Camanoe)7.4 NM away
- Monkey Point (Guana Island)7.4 NM away
- Diamond Reef / Great Camanoe snorkel7.8 NM away