About Santa Monica Rock
Santa Monica Rock is an exposed offshore seamount south of Norman Island that rises from deep water to within about 10 meters of the surface. The rock is washed by open-ocean currents, which attract large schools of horse-eye jacks, barracuda and hunting wahoo, and reef sharks patrol the deeper edges. Because of its exposure and currents it is reserved for experienced divers, and it is only dived in settled weather. On a good day it is one of the most fish-packed dives in the British Virgin Islands.
Highlights
Offshore seamount with big fish actionschools of horse-eye jacks and barracudareef sharks and hunting wahooopen-ocean currents
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: Santa Monica Rock
- Depth
- 10–30 m
- Current
- Strong
- Entry
- Liveaboard only
- Level
- Advanced
- Dive type
- Pinnacle, Reef
- Region / port
- British Virgin Islands
- Coordinates
- 18.2833° N, 64.6500° W
Conditions & Currents
Guides normally rate the water movement here as strong current. Dive profiles here run between roughly 10 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 Santa Monica Rock from a liveaboard?
Santa Monica 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 Santa Monica Rock on their British Virgin Islands itineraries.
Liveaboards diving Santa Monica Rock
These liveaboards may visit Santa Monica Rock 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 Santa Monica Rock
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
Spyglass Wall
British Virgin Islands
Spyglass Wall drops along the northwest corner of Norman Island, the island said to have inspired Treasure Island.
- Suitable for
- Intermediate
- Current
- Mild
- Access
- Liveaboard only
- Depth
- 8–30 m
- Theme
- Wall / Reef
The Caves are three shallow caverns in the cliffs on the south side of Norman Island, famous as the treasure caves of Treasure Island lore.
- Suitable for
- Beginner
- Current
- No current
- Access
- Liveaboard only
- Depth
- 3–12 m
- Theme
- Cave & cavern / Reef
© Esri — Maxar, Earthstar, GIS
The Indians
British Virgin Islands
The Indians are a group of jagged rock pinnacles rising out of the water near Norman Island, and they are among the most popular dive and snorkel sites in the British Virgin Islands.
- Suitable for
- Beginner
- Current
- No current
- Access
- Liveaboard only
- Depth
- 3–15 m
- Theme
- Reef