Dive #194 - Rich Torkington's Dive Log

A smooth trunkfish at night
Videograph by Rich Torkington in BVI 2004

Dive Journal: We enjoy a wonderful sail back to the Island of Tortola and anchor in a cove on the northwestern end called Brewer’s Bay. It is an idyllic quiet location at twilight, and we spend lots of time lounging around topside and gazing at the coast and emerging stars.

The night dive here takes us to a plateau reef a little bit north of our anchorage. We immediately discover lots of young spotted reef lobsters and giant basket stars here. Led by Abie, we take a tour of the reef and gradually approach the rocks of the island’s coastline.

We enter a great cave seemingly formed by the haphazard piling of huge flat-sided rocks. The passage of the cave takes us on a ramping swim-through from about 55’ to 20’, and we find the cave just loaded with mollusks, beautiful encrusting sponges, and orange cup corals. The highlight of the dive.

Emerging from the cave, we catch sight of a juvenile and then an adult spotted drum. Soon thereafter we come upon a stunning rock overhang that is so brilliantly studded with orange cup corals I can hardly believe it. The most intense orange you’ve ever seen in your life.

Finishing up the dive, we play with a free swimming white spotted moray and more young lobsters. The bioluminescence is enchanting during our safety stop and the waters are like glass on our exit. Love those night dives...