About Dead Chest West
Dead Chest West lies off the island where Blackbeard reputedly marooned his mutinous crew. The site offers coral ridges, small walls and boulder fields covered in sponges and sea fans, with turtles, rays and plentiful reef fish. It is less visited than neighboring Painted Walls, so the reef is in excellent condition. The mix of history and healthy reef makes it a rewarding stop.
Highlights
Coral ridges and boulder fieldssponges and sea fansturtles and rayspirate history of Dead Chest Island
Season calendar
Best months to dive here
Jan
Feb
Mar
Apr
May
Jun
Jul
Aug
Sep
Oct
Nov
Dec
Excellent
Good
Off-Season
Dive site facts: Dead Chest West
- Depth
- 8–24 m
- Current
- Mild
- Entry
- Liveaboard only
- Level
- Intermediate
- Dive type
- Reef, Wall
- Region / port
- British Virgin Islands
- Coordinates
- 18.3683° N, 64.5633° W
Conditions & Currents
Guides normally rate the water movement here as mild current. Dive profiles here run between roughly 8 and 24 metres, so plan your gas and no-decompression limits around the deeper part of the site. It is usually briefed as a dive for intermediate divers. The site is reached by liveaboard, so entries are run from the tender or straight off the back deck. Tide, wind and season all shift the picture from day to day, so the crew's briefing on the boat always overrides any general description.
Why dive Dead Chest West from a liveaboard?
Dead Chest West 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 Dead Chest West on their British Virgin Islands itineraries.
Liveaboards diving Dead Chest West
These liveaboards may visit Dead Chest West on selected itineraries — the exact dive sites depend on departure, weather and conditions.
All Star Cuan Law
Virgin Islands
20 guests32 m
Dive sites similar to Dead Chest West
Same character, same waters — six more sites divers love for the exact same reasons.Compare seasons, access and liveaboard routes — then pick the site that fits your trip best.
© Esri — Maxar, Earthstar, GIS
Painted Walls
British Virgin Islands
Painted Walls off Dead Chest Island is one of the most colorful dives in the British Virgin Islands.
- Suitable for
- Beginner
- Current
- No current
- Access
- Liveaboard only
- Depth
- 6–30 m
- Theme
- Reef / Wall