Name: Carval Rock
Address: British Virgin Islands

About Carval Rock

Carval Rock is a steep pinnacle rising from deep water between Cooper and Ginger Islands, swept by nutrient-rich currents that feed dense schools of fish. The rock is covered in sponges and gorgonians and attracts kingfish, barracuda, jacks and patrolling reef sharks. Currents can be strong and the surface is often choppy, so this is a dive for experienced divers in good conditions. It is widely regarded as one of the best advanced dives in the BVI.

Highlights

Current-swept pinnacle with dense fish lifekingfish, barracuda and jackssponges and gorgoniansreef sharks on the deeper edges

Season calendar

Best months to dive here

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Excellent

Good

Off-Season

Dive site facts: Carval Rock

Depth: 12–30 m
Current: Strong
Entry: Liveaboard only
Level: Advanced
Dive type: Pinnacle, Reef
Region / port: British Virgin Islands
Coordinates: 18.3780° N, 64.4600° W

Conditions & Currents

Guides normally rate the water movement here as strong current. Dive profiles here run between roughly 12 and 30 metres, so plan your gas and no-decompression limits around the deeper part of the site. It is usually briefed as a dive for advanced divers. The site is reached by liveaboard, so entries are run from the tender or straight off the back deck. Because the flow can pick up quickly, drift profiles, a surface marker buoy and a tight group are standard practice here, and the crew's briefing always overrides any general description.

Why dive Carval Rock from a liveaboard?

Carval Rock is one of British Virgin Islands's signature dive sites. A liveaboard sleeps you on the water and puts you in the water for three to four guided dives per day, including dawn and night dives that day-boat operators rarely offer. You skip the daily commute back to port and reach quieter, less-crowded sites in the same region on a single trip.

Below are the liveaboards that include Carval Rock on their British Virgin Islands itineraries.

Liveaboards diving Carval Rock

These liveaboards may visit Carval Rock on selected itineraries — the exact dive sites depend on departure, weather and conditions.

All Star Cuan Law

Virgin Islands

20 guests32 m

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Alice in Wonderland

British Virgin Islands

Alice in Wonderland on the south side of Ginger Island is often described as the prettiest coral dive in the British Virgin Islands.

Suitable for: Intermediate
Current: Moderate
Access: Liveaboard only
Depth: 12–27 m
Theme: Reef

Ginger Steps