Wreck of the Chikuzen
Wreck of the Chikuzen
5
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Though remote, the wreck of this 246-foot Korean refrigerator ship is full of marine life.
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Relax27270
Chelmsford, England2 contributions
If you find yourself diving in the BVI, the first thing you must do is ask whichever dive operator you are using when they next plan to go to The Chikuzen. They only go once a week, and even that's weather dependent. The Rhone is more famous, but the Chikuzen is more impressive - and you won't be alongside 20 other punters doing the rounds which is the case at the Rhone, unless you have the means to get there early. I dived the Rhone with friends at 7.30am and we had the place to ourselves. By 12.30pm I heard there were 11 boats moored over the Rhone!
When you first get into the water over the Chikuzen, you may only just be able to make out the wreck, if at all. As you descend through the barracuda, the huge hull of the ship comes into view, the propellor to your right, the rigging and upper deck to your left. The great thing about the fish life here is that it is all bigger! Jewfish, the odd shark, rays and a pair of cobia are all about to be spotted, but for me it's the wreck itself that is just amazing. In pretty good shape (but don't enter it - some reports say you can, but when I was last there a huge piece of the deck had collapsed recently.) one tank should be good for two circuits, or one very leisurely round trip. If you like wrecks, this is one not to be missed.
When you first get into the water over the Chikuzen, you may only just be able to make out the wreck, if at all. As you descend through the barracuda, the huge hull of the ship comes into view, the propellor to your right, the rigging and upper deck to your left. The great thing about the fish life here is that it is all bigger! Jewfish, the odd shark, rays and a pair of cobia are all about to be spotted, but for me it's the wreck itself that is just amazing. In pretty good shape (but don't enter it - some reports say you can, but when I was last there a huge piece of the deck had collapsed recently.) one tank should be good for two circuits, or one very leisurely round trip. If you like wrecks, this is one not to be missed.
Written September 9, 2002
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
emaxxmuc
München3 contributions
The Chikuzen is really a world class dive if the conditions are right for such a remote dive-site.
We have beeen sailing in the BVIs in Nov 2002 and made 2 dives at the chikuzen: We saw many different kind of fishes in enormous quantity. We also meet 2 sharks about 6 feet away from us, circeling us for severel times (I think, they are used to be feet by someone, because I have never seen so curious sharks before). We didn´t penetrate the wreck but just had a look in it: I think the surrounding of the wreck is so amazing, you should prefer to surround it twice.
For experienced divers this wrecksite is a must and definitly the best one in the US- & BV-Ilands.
Have fun,
Max
We have beeen sailing in the BVIs in Nov 2002 and made 2 dives at the chikuzen: We saw many different kind of fishes in enormous quantity. We also meet 2 sharks about 6 feet away from us, circeling us for severel times (I think, they are used to be feet by someone, because I have never seen so curious sharks before). We didn´t penetrate the wreck but just had a look in it: I think the surrounding of the wreck is so amazing, you should prefer to surround it twice.
For experienced divers this wrecksite is a must and definitly the best one in the US- & BV-Ilands.
Have fun,
Max
Written December 13, 2002
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Cullen M
Alexandria, VA104 contributions
Jun 2013 • Couples
The Chikuzen is a large, intact refrigerator vessel that was once part of the Japanese fishing fleet out of St. Martin. The owners decided one day to set her on fire and let her sink at sea, rather than properly scrap her. Well, the Chikuzen almost went aground on Marina Key until local authorities brought her under control and were going to scuttle her near Anegada (I believe).
Well, halfway there, the Chikuzen sank in about 80 feet of water.
Now the Chikuzen rests on her side and is teeming with life. We saw large sting rays, giant eagle rays, barracuda, and all sorts of other fish.
Visibility was perfect for us at about 50 feet or so...maybe more. The "tour" is quite simple, in that you descend at the stern and swim around the ship and go back up. There are places you can safely penetrate the wreck, including the hold which was a massive refrigerated area for the fish.
The wreck is seldom visited due to two reasons; the first is that it is quite a bit a ways from Virgin Gorda or Torolla, and the second is that the waters are a bit rough, as you are out in the open ocean at this point. Half the divers on my boat were sick, but they all still went down. Once you get below the surface, the currents aren't bad at all.
So, if you can brave the currents or have an iron stomach, you should definitely do the Chikuzen.
Thanks Dive BVI!!
Well, halfway there, the Chikuzen sank in about 80 feet of water.
Now the Chikuzen rests on her side and is teeming with life. We saw large sting rays, giant eagle rays, barracuda, and all sorts of other fish.
Visibility was perfect for us at about 50 feet or so...maybe more. The "tour" is quite simple, in that you descend at the stern and swim around the ship and go back up. There are places you can safely penetrate the wreck, including the hold which was a massive refrigerated area for the fish.
The wreck is seldom visited due to two reasons; the first is that it is quite a bit a ways from Virgin Gorda or Torolla, and the second is that the waters are a bit rough, as you are out in the open ocean at this point. Half the divers on my boat were sick, but they all still went down. Once you get below the surface, the currents aren't bad at all.
So, if you can brave the currents or have an iron stomach, you should definitely do the Chikuzen.
Thanks Dive BVI!!
Written June 10, 2013
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Avery_Jules
Dallas, TX17 contributions
May 2014 • Couples
We are divers but chose to snorkel over this wreck. If you have never been to a wreck before this is a great place to start. You will be amazed at the condition of the wreck after all of this time.
Written January 12, 2015
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
geckobvi
Washington DC, DC215 contributions
Mar 2013 • Friends
I have made several dives on this site over the years Dive BVI and never been disappointed. Whether it's dolphins putting on a show for us, Eagle Rays or fields of starfish it is always an exciting and fun dive. It takes some time to get there and the seas not always accommodating, but well worth it. If you have the opportunity, take It!
Written November 15, 2013
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Ben D
Bahamas32 contributions
Feb 2017 • Friends
I happened to be here on pretty much the best day of weather ever. The conditions were perfect, from the bow of the boat we could look down and see the huge 'cuda's and schooling reef fish. The wreck is pretty much intact, and very safe.
Written January 18, 2018
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
HVTravelGirl
Garrison, NY313 contributions
May 2012 • Friends
I love the Chicuzen - one of the few places you can see big animals near Virgin Gorda - there are always lots of giant rays. The dive operations don't get to go out here much since the wreck is in the middle of nowhere. Upside is that it attracts great sea life and it's a huge, impressive wreck. Downside is the rough, ocean crossing - don't go if you have a weak stomach.
Written April 20, 2013
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
cdoccny
New York26 contributions
Apr 2014 • Friends
Goliath Grouper, reef shark, large schools of fish, 200 foot viz.
Simply a super dive site.
I was surrounded by a school of thousands (yes, thousands) of yellowtails while diving here and instead of swimming off, they swam WITH me. It was a real rush. This was just after swinmming with a Goliath Grouper that dwarfed me and just before a 6-7 foot reef shark cruised by.
Hard to beat this site and I rank this as one of the best dives I have ever done.Dove it with Dive BVI and they did an excellent briefing and followed a profile that allowed a safe 50 minutes on the wreck
Simply a super dive site.
I was surrounded by a school of thousands (yes, thousands) of yellowtails while diving here and instead of swimming off, they swam WITH me. It was a real rush. This was just after swinmming with a Goliath Grouper that dwarfed me and just before a 6-7 foot reef shark cruised by.
Hard to beat this site and I rank this as one of the best dives I have ever done.Dove it with Dive BVI and they did an excellent briefing and followed a profile that allowed a safe 50 minutes on the wreck
Written May 2, 2014
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
wiggyb2013
Alexandria, VA80 contributions
Jul 2015 • Couples
Incredible dive. Japanese refrigerator ship that sunk. This and the Rhome are the two best Caribbean Wreck dives around
Written July 22, 2015
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
jturk74
Austin, Texas9 contributions
Sep 2012 • Friends
The Chikuzen is amazing, if you are capable of diving it. This dive is not for the weak or inexperienced diver. This dive requires excellent communication and the ability to accurately swim against a current exceeding 2 knots for prolonged periods while navigating in potentially limited visibility with few or no landmarks to an extremely small, virtually camouflaged target (the mooring line). The penalty for a miss is significant. There is nothing but open ocean for many miles in every direction.
The first challenge is finding the wreck. The chart plotters on most yachts and various maps provide inaccurate positions. The second challenge is braving the current, which was quite strong the day we dove. One of our divers had his fin ripped off by the current while holding the downline and gave up before the dive started. Once down though, the dive was phenomenal. The ship is in magnificent condition and attracts tons of life, including some decent-sized black tipped reef sharks, an enormous lionfish, and loads of other life. Despite strong currents visibility was the best we experienced in the BVI. We captured amazing video which was the highlight of our trip.
The first challenge is finding the wreck. The chart plotters on most yachts and various maps provide inaccurate positions. The second challenge is braving the current, which was quite strong the day we dove. One of our divers had his fin ripped off by the current while holding the downline and gave up before the dive started. Once down though, the dive was phenomenal. The ship is in magnificent condition and attracts tons of life, including some decent-sized black tipped reef sharks, an enormous lionfish, and loads of other life. Despite strong currents visibility was the best we experienced in the BVI. We captured amazing video which was the highlight of our trip.
Written November 25, 2012
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
So, you said the coordinates are inaccurate. Do you have the good ones? or any other instructions such as how to find the mooring?
Thanks
Written December 15, 2014
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