RMS Rhone & Salt Island · British Virgin Islands · Wall
Spyglass Wall
A sheltered mini-wall from 5 m to 18 m under fans and sponges
Area photo: Gareth Richards · CC BY 3.0
A shallow, sheltered mini-wall on the north side of Norman Island, running from about 5 metres at the top to 18 at the base. Sea fans and golden and purple tube sponges cover the face, with fairy basslets, damselfish, blue tangs and anthias in the growth and tarpon, spadefish, turtles and squid off it. The gradual slope makes for long bottom times.
Also known as Spyglass.
Where it is and how deep
18.3250° N, 64.6130° WApproximate position — the dashed circle shows where the site lies; your operator's briefing has the mooring.
The dive
Drop onto the top of the wall at about 5 metres and the rest of the dive is a matter of choosing your depth. The face runs down to roughly 18 metres where it meets the bottom, and the slope is gradual, so you can swim the base out and the top back and still come away with a long bottom time. The north side of Norman Island is sheltered, which is why this site keeps working when swell shuts the exposed rocks.
The wall itself is the interest. Sea fans and golden and purple tube sponges cover the face, and the small fish live in that growth: fairy basslets, damselfish, blue tangs, tobaccofish and anthias. Tarpon, Atlantic spadefish, rays, turtles and squid pass along it. Seahorses have been reported on the larger sea fans but are rarely seen. When a current runs along the wall the site is dived as a drift instead.
Marine life and season
- Sea turtles
- Squid
| 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.
Questions divers ask
Is Spyglass Wall suitable for new divers?+
Yes. It is shallow and sheltered, with the top of the wall at about 5 metres and the base at 18, so a newly certified diver can follow the face without ever going deep.
Sources
- Diving in the British Virgin Islands — Wikivoyage
- British Virgin Islands Diving Sites — Dive The World
More dive sites in RMS Rhone & Salt Island
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Overhangs and a gentle slope in 6 to 15 m off Cooper Island
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A rocky islet between Ginger and Cooper, sloping to 30 m
Wreck
A 1988 refrigeration ship at 23 m, a long run offshore
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Pillar and black coral at 21 m with pelagics passing through
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A three-step wall with different growth on every ledge
Similar dives elsewhere
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Large numbers of lobster and octopus on night dives
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