
Virgin Gorda & the Dog Islands · British Virgin Islands · Reef
The Flintstones
Boulder city off West Dog, with eagle rays passing in the deep
Area photo: O'Dea · CC BY-SA 4.0
The Flintstones is a boulder dive on the west side of West Dog, named for rocky outcroppings said to resemble Fred and Barney's home of Bedrock. It is a less visited, intermediate site where the boulders continue underwater, and nurse sharks and the occasional eagle ray pass in its deeper part.
Also known as Flintstones.
Where it is and how deep
18.4835° N, 64.4725° WApproximate position — the dashed circle shows where the site lies; your operator's briefing has the mooring.
The dive
Divers navigate through oddly shaped boulders between 9 and 21 m (30 and 70 ft), the underwater continuation of the outcroppings above the surface. Lobsters hide in the crevices among the rocks, while nurse sharks and the occasional eagle ray pass along the deeper edge of the site.
Marine life and season
- Eagle rays
| Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Prime | Prime | Prime | Prime | Good | Good | Good | Fair | Fair | Good | Good | Prime |
Season follows Virgin Gorda & the Dog Islands: High season runs from mid-December through April, when winter seas are rougher but clearer; hurricane risk peaks from late August through September.
Dive videos
Diving in the BVI - Flintstones Reef -June 2, 2021 · vectorw8t on YouTube
Sources
- BVI Dive Sites — Dive BVI
- Diving - Sunchaser Scuba — Sunchaser Scuba
More dive sites in Virgin Gorda & the Dog Islands
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High-walled canyons lead to a massive arch lined with yellow coral
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No walls, but ledges and boulders sheltering nurse sharks and grunts
Similar dives elsewhere
Up to ten reef sharks over a 15 m patch reef
Coral bommies from 15 to 24 m, with eagle rays and garden eels
A sloping inland reef from 2 m, used for courses and first dives
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