Salt Island, British Virgin Islands

Salt Island is a small island in the British Virgin Islands, located in the central BVI south of Tortola. It is best known for the shipwreck of the RMS Rhone, a 19th-century passenger steamship that sank in 1867.

The main attraction is the RMS Rhone wreck, a popular scuba diving site where the two large sections of the ship lie at different depths, allowing dives for a range of certified divers. Snorkelling and surface observation of reef life around the wreck are also common activities.

The passenger steamship sank on 29 October 1867 during a hurricane, and the wreck has remained a prominent underwater landmark since then. Salt Island itself historically took its name from local salt pans and small-scale salt production that operated on and around many islands in the region.

Salt Island sits in the British Virgin Islands archipelago, south of Tortola and within sight of other central BVI islands; the nearest major settlement is Road Town on Tortola. Access is by boat from Tortola and other nearby islands.

• Access: Boat access is normally from Tortola, with dive and tour operators running trips to the wreck and surrounding reefs.
• Protection: The wreck is part of a protected marine area established to conserve coral, reef life, and underwater cultural heritage.

What to See #

• RMS Rhone wreck: Sank on 29 October 1867 during a hurricane; the wreck now lies in two main sections with the bow in relatively shallow water and the stern in deeper water, making it accessible to recreational divers.