RMS Rhone & Salt Island · British Virgin Islands · Wall
Ginger Steps
A three-step wall with different growth on every ledge
Area photo: Cayeldo · CC BY-SA 3.0
A wall off Ginger Island that drops in three distinct steps, from a top ledge at about 11 metres to a bottom between 27 and 29. Each ledge grows something different: soft corals on the upper step, large barrel sponges on the middle and black coral on the deepest. Pompano, octopus, lobster, barracuda and eagle rays are all recorded along the wall.
Also known as Ginger Steppes.
Where it is and how deep
18.3920° N, 64.4830° WApproximate position — the dashed circle shows where the site lies; your operator's briefing has the mooring.
The dive
The site does what its name says. From the mooring you land on the top step at about 11 metres, swim to the lip and go over onto a second ledge, and a third drop takes the wall down to around 29. Each ledge grows something different, with soft corals on the upper step, large barrel sponges on the middle and black coral on the deepest, so the wall changes character as you descend rather than simply getting darker.
The sensible order is to start at the deepest step and work your way back up, which buys the most bottom time. Pompano, octopus, lobster, barracuda and eagle rays all turn up along the wall, and the white sandy ledges make this a photography site as much as a wall dive. Finish back on the top step at about 11 metres, where you can drain the tank before heading up the line.
Marine life and season
- Barracuda
- Eagle rays
- Octopus & cuttlefish
- Trevally & jacks
| 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
- Current along the wall can be moderate, so check which way it is running before you drop and keep the time on the deepest step short.
Questions divers ask
How deep is Ginger Steps?+
The wall drops in three steps, with the top ledge at about 11 metres and the bottom of the wall between 27 and 29 metres depending on which source you read. Most dives start deep and work back up.
Sources
- Diving in the British Virgin Islands — Wikivoyage
- British Virgin Islands Diving Sites — Dive The World
- Ginger Island — Wikipedia
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