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Dive
Centers - Accommodations - General
Information - Getting There - Entry
Requirements - Travel Tips
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General
Information
The British Virgin Islands
(BVI) are a group of over 50 islands
and Cays, located in the Leeward
Islands, about 90 miles East of
 Puerto Rico
and North East of the US Virgin
Islands. The main island of Tortola
is about 54 square miles, with Virgin
Gorda about 8 square miles. Most
of the islands are made up of rolling
hills, although Anegada is completely
flat rising to only a few feet above
sea level.
The dive sites are concentrated
around Gorda and the Sir Francis
Drake Channel islands.
The dives off Sir Francis Drake
Channel islands boosts sinkholes
and ledges as well as a wide variety
of caves and canyons. Another feature
of the area is some of the finest
sponge encrusted walls in the region.
On the walls you will find sides
with tunnels, majestic arches and
caves. The site known as Painted
Walls is the most obvious example,
but there are many other equally
colorful scenes.
Of the Sir Francis Drake Channel
dives, the R.M.S. Rhone is a very
popular and reputable wreck dive.
Though there are no such old wrecks
with a dramatic story like the R.M.S.
Rhone - there are several other
interesting wrecks in the area.
Of these wrecks nearly all are within
the ability level of most divers
giving novice wreck divers a thrilling
experience.
Climate Winter: 72-82F (22-27C)
Summer: 80-90F (26-32C)
Water Temp Winter 75F - Summer 85F
(summer) (23-29C)
Visibility 60-100 ft (18-30m)
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Getting
There
By
Air
One
reason that the BVI
has remained quiet is
beacause there are no
direct flights from
the USA, Canada, Europe
or South America to
the main airport - the
Terrence B. Lettsome
Airport (EIS) which
is located on Beef Island,
a cay that is linked
to Tortola by the Queen
Elizabeth II Bridge.
From
the USA and Canada:
Fly to San Juan, Puerto
Rico (SJU) or St. Thomas,
USVI (STT).
From
Puerto Rico or St. Thomas
to Virgin Gorda:
Private Charter flights
and helicopters are
available directly to
Virgin Gorda Interantional.
Airport (VIJ) with Fly
BVI, Caribbean Wings,
Clair Aero, Island Birds,
Air Sunshine or Island
Helicopter.
From St. Thomas a private
water taxi or ferry
service can be arranged
directly to Virgin Gorda.
From
Puerto Rico to Beef
Island, Tortola to Virgin
Gorda:
If you prefer to fly
from San Juan, Puerto
Rico to Beef Island,
Tortola (EIS) (our neighboring
island) flights are
available with American
Eagle, Liat, Caribbean
Star, Caribbean Sun
or Cape Air.
Once on Beef Island,
the North Sound Express
Ferry will bring you
to Virgin Gorda's Spanish
Town or Leverick Bay,
a 30-45 minute ferry
ride. Alternatively,
a private charter boat
can be arranged from
Beef Island to Virgin
Gorda.
From
Europe:
Fly to either Antigua
(ANU), St. Maarten,
Barbados or Puerto Rico
(SJU). Take one of the
local carriers listed
above to either Virgin
Gorda or Beef Island,
Tortola and then boat
to Virgin Gorda.
From
the UK:
Departures from the
UK to Antigua are with
BWIA, British Airways,
or Atlantic Airlines.
Check with Tour Operators
such as Thompson. British
Airways and Caledonian
Airways offer joint
flights to San Juan,
Puerto Rico.
From
Germany:
Lufthansa from Frankfurt
has flights to Puerto
Rico.
BWIA and Lufthansa have
flights to Antigua.
Lufthansa has flights
to Sat. Maarten.
From
Switzerland:
BWIA has flights from
Zurich to Antigua.
From
Holland:
KLM has flights from
Amsterdam to ST. Maarten.
From
France:
Air France and AOM French
Airlines have flights
to St. Maarten.
It
is always best to contact
your Travel Professional
for reservations and
trip cancellation insurance.
All flights must connect
through another Caribbean
airport such as San
Juan, St. Thomas, Antigua,
St. Kitts or St. Maarten/St.
Martin.
--Note--If you
are traveling on to
Virgin Gorda, Anegada,
Peter Island, or Jost
van Dyke - check with
your hotel, resort or
villa to make sure that
charter flights or ferry
service will be available
if you arrive after
4pm. Otherwise, plan
to spend a night or
two in Tortola.
Flight Links
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Ferry
Services
Ferry
Services among the islands are
frequent, easy and comfortable.
Below are boat and ferry services.
Please contact them or ask your
resort to provide times and
details.
Caribbean
Maritime Excursion (operating
as Road Town Fast Ferry) (USVI
- BVI)
284-494-2323
Operates from the Water Front
& Red Hook, St. Thomas to
Road Town, Tortola.
Inter-Island Boat Services (USVI
- BVI)
284-495-4166
Operates from Red Hook, St.
Thomas & Cruz Bay, St. John
to West End, Tortola.
Marina Cay Ferry (Beef Island
- Marina Cay)
284-494-2174
Complimentary ferry service
from Trellis Bay, Beef Island
to Marina Cay.
Native
Son, Inc. (USVI - BVI)
284-495-4617
Operates from the Water Front
& Red Hook, St. Thomas to
West End & Road Town (via
last ferry), Tortola.
New Horizon Ferry Services (Tortola
- Jost Van Dyke)
284-495-9278
Operates from Great Harbour,
Jost Van Dyke to West End, Tortola.
North Sound Express (Tortola
- Beef Island)
284-495-2138
Operates from Beef Island, Tortola
to Spanish Town, Leverick Bay
and Bitter End, Virgin Gorda.
Nubian Princess (USVI - BVI)
284- 495-4999
Operates from Red Hook, St.
Thomas & Cruz Bay St. John
to West End, Tortola.
Peter Island Ferry (Tortola
- Peter Island)
284-495-2000
Operates from Baugher's Bay,
Tortola to Peter Island Yacht
Harbour.
Smith's
Ferry Services Ltd. (operating
as Tortola Fast Ferry) (USVI
- BVI)
284-495-4495
Operates from the Water Front
& Red Hook, St. Thomas to
West End & Road Town, Tortola
and The Valley, Virgin Gorda.
Speedy's (USVI - BVI)
284-495-5240
Operates from the Water Front
& Red Hook, St. Thomas to
West End & Road Town, Tortola
and The Valley, Virgin Gorda.
BVI
Ports Authority (Information
& Schedules)
Entry
Requirements
Note: As of 2007 Passports will
be needed by all to enter into
the Caribbean.
From North America: For a US
& Canadian citizen a passport
is preferred however you may
also use an original birth certificate
accompanied by a valid photo
ID such as a driver's license.
From Europe: European citizens
need a valid passport to enter
The British Virgin Islands.
However visitors that are residents
of certain countries, require
a visa in order to enter The
BVI. If in doubt about the necessity
of a visa, contact the nearest
BVI Tourist Board Office, the
nearest British Embassy, or
contact the Chief Immigration
Department, BVI Government at
Tel: (284) 494-3471 or 468-3701
ext. 4700.
From the Caribbean: Please note
that citizens from some islands
may need to obtain a visa to
visit The British Virgin Islands.
Visitors from these Caribbean
islands need to have a visa
in order to enter The BVIs.
If in doubt about the necessity
of a visa, contact the nearest
BVI Tourist Board Office, the
nearest British Embassy, or
contact the Chief Immigration
Department, BVI Government at
Tel: (284) 494-3471 or 468-3701
ext. 4700.
B.V.I. Departure Tax - $20.US |
Travel
Tips
Time
EST (summer), EST+1 hr (winter),
GMT-4 in summer & GMT-5 (winter)
Getting Around
One of the best ways to see Tortola
and Virgin Gorda is to either hire
a driver for a few hours or the
day, or rent a car and drive yourself.
Generally, rental cars are over
$40 a day but you have the freedom
to wander wherever you want to go
to see and hike, snorkel, or explore
without the limitations of a "tour".
Driving
A valid British Virgin Islands Driving
License is required by all those
seeking to drive in The British
Virgin Islands. For a fee of $10.00,
a temporary British Virgin Islands
Driving License can be obtained
from the Traffic Licensing Office
or Car Rental Agencies with a valid
Driver License from another country.
Driving is on the left-hand side
of the road in The British Virgin
Islands. Minimum age for Car Rentals
is 25.
Bank Hours
Banks
9:00am to 2:00pm Mon-Thu;
9:00am to 2:00pm, 4:00pm to 5:00pm
Fri.
(Closed Saturday and Sunday)
Dress
The BVI's are more than just a beaches,
and beach attire worn elsewhere
tends to offend residents. Therefore,
please wear proper attire (no bare
chests or midriffs) in residential
and commercial areas. There are
no nude beaches in The British Virgin
Islands.
Medical
An International Vaccination Certificate
is not mandatory in The British
Virgin Islands. Peebles Hospital
has surgical, x-ray and laboratory
facilities; there is a private plastic
surgery clinic as well several private
medical centres. A chapter of Alcoholics
Anonymous meets regularly. Call
(284) 494-4549/ (284) 494-3125.
Pets
Pets are allowed entry into the
Territory only after an import permit
is issued by the Department of Agriculture.
For regulations governing animal
importation, contact the Department
of Agriculture, Paraquita Bay, Tortola,
British Virgin Islands. Tel: (284)
495-2532 or Fax: (284) 495-1269.
Taxes
Sales Tax:
There is no Sales Tax in the British
Virgin Islands.
Departure Tax:
$20.00 per person leaving by air,
$5.00 leaving by sea and $7.00 for
cruise ship passengers.
Hotel Tax:
In the British Virgin Islands there
is a 7% Hotel Accommodation Tax
payable by guests who stay for six
months or less in hotels, apartments,
houses, cottages, villas and similar
accommodations.
Tipping
10 or 15% depending on service.
However, some resorts automatically
add a service charge to their rates.
In this case, you have no obligation
to tip extra.
Electricity
110/60 volts AC, 60Hz. American
2-pin plugs are used.
Cruising Permits
A Cruising permit is required for
all cruising in The British Virgin
Islands
SEASONAL RATES: (December 1- April
30). All recorded Charter Boats
- $2.00 per person per day. All
non-recorded Charter Boats - $4.00
per person per day.
British Virgin Islands : Watersports
Centres OUT OF SEASON RATES: (May
1 - November 30). All recorded Charter
Boats - $0.75 per person per day.
All non-recorded Charter Boats -
$4.00 per person per day.
Dive, day charter and sport fishing
boats should contact The British
Virgin Islands Customs Department
Tel: (284) 494-3475 or (284) 468-3701
ext. 2533 for current cruising permit
requirements.
Marine Conservation Permits
The use of National Parks Trust
mooring without a permit is illegal.
Call the National Parks Trust Office
at (284) 494-3904 for information.
Fishing Permits
The removal of any marine organism
from British Virgin Islands waters
is illegal for non-BVIslanders without
a recreational fishing permit. Contact
The Ministry of Natural Resources
& Labour, Tel: (284) 468-3701
ext. 2147 for information.
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