SAIL AND DIVE THE BRITISH VIRGIN ISLANDS.

Sailing and diving in the British Virgin Islands is our favorite trip... from the moment you land to being picked up by our friends, and whisked away to Free Ingwe, this trip is perfect.

As an example of your vacation, our recent trip included being greeted at the airport and storing our gear on board before heading out the first morning after a wonderful breakfast for The Chimneys. We anchored and slowly entered the water towards a spectacular site called The Chimneys, which is a chimney-like vent which starts at forty-five feet in a large cavern and ends at the surface as you make you way through a small but comfortable opening ten feet below the surface. The light pierces it and forms a spectacular spotlight effect when you are at the base of the vent. Just Wonderful. See our BVI travel stories for photos.

Later, we lifted anchor and headed towards The Bitter End Yacht club and anchored off a small island just west of the club for the night and enjoyed our first dinnerl on board framed by a spectacular sunset in splendid company.

The next morning, we set sail around the tip of the island and while we had plans to head to Anegeda, we chose to tack off towards the Baths on Virgin Gorda.

The Baths are truly amazing. Boulders the size of apartment buildings are leaned up against each other and in the center form a walkway which is incredible as you wander your way through 100 ton boulders perched inches above your head.

Our next stop was the world famous Wreck of The Rhone. Widely regarded as one of the best wreck dives in the Caribbean, the two halves can be dived separately. The Bow lies in 60 ft - 90 feet - divers can swim inside the ships hold and see coral encrustations along with many fish.

Diving inside a wreck that has great ambient light as the Rhone does, is always fun. On our first dive, Yim stayed above the wreck and followed our bubbles through the dive. The stern, often done as the second dive (15 ft-60 ft), shelters lobsters and octopus hiding in the metal work of the boiler gear box housing, the rudder and the propeller. Many fish varieties live in this National Park area. We swam through the open area beside the propeller... a great spot to boost a divers confidence in very safe conditions.

After leaving The Rhone, we headed down to Peter Island and anchored in a deserted bay for the evenings, snorkeled around watching the rays search for food ten feet down and came on board for some yummy rum drinks.

The next morning we visited The Caves. Located on the southwest side of Norman Islands, these really are Treasure Caves. You can swim right inside them and with a flashlight, can easily enjoy the huge colonies of anemones attached to the surface of the openings. It's a great mornings snorkel trip and easily combined for a great day by then visiting The Indians.

The Indians are three rocky outcrops which reportedly rise 55 feet above the water and 55 feet below. Whether that is accurate or not, this is one great dive and once is not enough. This dive will take you through an underwater garden the likes which are rare today on any dive before heading us back to the base.

Swimming along at the base of these slabs of rock closely will reward you with dozens of different soft corals clinging to the surface before you come to a short wide tunnel which we easily swam through and entered another small world.

It's just a really cool spot. Little caves to enter, tons of fish, huge rocks anchored all around you and beautiful hard and soft coral. See the photo at right. And a maximum bottom depth of 55 feet. What else could you ask for?

And then there is Mels cooking. There is nothing better than having spent the day diving and sailing than settling down to a wonderful meal outside on the back of a catamaran. For a sampling of Mels menu, click here.

This Leopard 45 is a wonderfully equipped dive/sail catamaran. All-inclusive weekly charter rates include captain & cook, meals, snacks, beverages, and all water sports on the boat with the exception of diving. Airfare is not included in pricing.

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