RMS Rhone & Salt Island · British Virgin Islands · Reef
Angelfish Reef
Sheltered canyons and ridges off the tip of Norman Island
Area photo: Gareth Richards · CC BY 3.0
A sheltered reef on the south-west tip of Norman Island, known for the canyons and ridges cut through it. The shallows are easy and suit beginners; follow the ridges outward and the reef runs down to about 25 metres. Angelfish, butterflyfish and wrasses work the coral, stingrays and eagle rays turn up deeper, and the shallows hold spotted drums, seahorses, shrimps and jawfish.
Where it is and how deep
18.3050° N, 64.6250° WApproximate position — the dashed circle shows where the site lies; your operator's briefing has the mooring.
The dive
The site sits on the south-west tip of Norman Island, sheltered and shallow over the part most groups dive, which is why it gets used for first dives after certification. The structure is canyons and ridges rather than a flat coral garden, so there are wide-angle lines to shoot along and holes to look into, and the canyons funnel the light in the morning. Follow the ridges outward and the reef drops to about 25 metres.
Depth control along the ridges is the real task, because the slope falls away gradually and it is easy to wander deeper than you meant to. Angelfish, butterflyfish and wrasses move over the coral, and southern stingrays and eagle rays show up at the deeper end. The shallows are where the small things are, and the light is best for them there: spotted drums, triplefin blennies, seahorses, shrimps and yellowheaded jawfish.
Marine life and season
- Stingrays
- Eagle rays
- Macro critters
| Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Prime | Prime | Prime | Prime | Good | Good | Good | Fair | Fair | Fair | Good | Prime |
Season follows RMS Rhone & Salt Island: Nov–Jun is calmest and clearest; Aug–Oct hurricane season brings swell that can close the exposed Rhone site entirely.
Know before you go
- The slope drops gradually as you follow the ridges outward, so it is easy to end up deeper than planned; set a depth limit before you drop in and hold it.
Questions divers ask
Is Angelfish Reef good for beginners?+
Yes for the sheltered shallow part of the reef, which is where most beginner dives happen. The ridges run out to a maximum of about 25 metres, so keep an eye on your depth if you follow them.
Sources
- Diving in the British Virgin Islands — Wikivoyage
- British Virgin Islands Diving Sites — Dive The World
More dive sites in RMS Rhone & Salt Island
Pinnacle
An amphitheatre of rock, ledges and swim-throughs to 18 m
Reef
Sponge-painted canyons and an archway into a shallow pool
Wall
A sheltered mini-wall from 5 m to 18 m under fans and sponges
Pinnacle
Four pinnacles and coral gardens, all inside 15 m
Pinnacle
A pinnacle from 32 m ledges up to a 5 m reef top
Wreck
A 1940 Navy fuel barge under a mesh kraken, in 17 m
Wreck
A 1988 refrigeration ship at 23 m, a long run offshore
Coral ridges in north-south lines with sand lanes between
Similar dives elsewhere
Broken walls and sand channels, 4.6 to 30 metres
Jawfish and blennies in the rubble off Klein Bonaire
A cave under the overhangs, and reef sharks out in the blue
Canyons, caverns and tunnels under ten minutes from the pier