Dive Review of Dive BVI/Katitche Point Greathouse in
Virgin Islands/British Virgin Islands

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Dive BVI/Katitche Point Greathouse, Dec, 2010, by Susanne E. Howarth, CA, USA ( Reviewer 3 reports). Report 5870.
No photos available at this time
Ratings and Overall Comments 1 (worst) - 5 (best):
Accommodations		Food
Service and Attitude		Environmental Sensitivity
Dive Operation		Shore Diving	N/A
Snorkeling	N/A
Overall Rating
Value for $$
Beginners
Advanced
Comments	Jeff and Casey McNutt run probably the best dive operation I've ever experienced. They emphasize safety and enjoyment, and cater to each individual diver - trying to take you to sites you want to dive, while also choosing sites where vis and current will be acceptable to your level of experience and ability. This year, although I've been diving here for five years already, they took me to new dive sites on 9 out of 28 dives! (And they were quite delighted to figure out which sites I had not yet seen and arrange to take me there.) It's also nice that the dive staff does NOT experience significant turnover: there are always new divemasters, but by and large, they stay around for multiple years, and therefore KNOW the sites well, and do a wonderful job of finding and pointing out the interesting sea life on all sites. They also obviously enjoy their jobs - which makes for even more enjoyable diving for the paying divers! One of the wonderful things about diving from Virgin Gorda is that there are about a dozen islands within striking distance for the Dive BVI boats to reach on any given day. Depending on wind and wave conditions, one or more sites are always divable (barring a full-on tropical storm). Dive sites include a little bit of everything (other than deep deep wall dives): wrecks, shallow, deeper, multi-level, brightly colored corals, sand patches, big stuff, little stuff, etc. VG is a favored place for sailors, because of the very consistent trade winds. The windy conditions - on some days - caused lots of surge and/or current, and sometimes choppy seas. However, with so many dive sites from which to choose, it was always possible to find a comfortable place. Although I've checked every possible weather and sea condition in the list, overall, the conditions were beautiful - the weather simply changed from day to day and hour to hour, with overall temps (above water) being in the low 80s, with a shower or two on any given day, and glorious weather otherwise. After my first visit here, I learned not to worry about choosing the dive sites I wanted to see on any given day. Instead, I now rely on the Dive BVI staff to choose the sites that will be best on any given day - it's much more enjoyable that way! Dive BVI also prides itself on "Gucci Diving": they will take care of your gear for you, from the day you arrive to the day you depart. This year, I pulled a muscle in my back en route to the BVIs. Therefore, I was routinely taking my BC off in the water, and the divemasters willingly pulled it out and onto the boat for me. Finally, for you sailors, Dive BVI is very willing and able to do "rendez-vous" dives - to pick you up at your boat, wherever you have moored in their area of operation. As for Virgin Gorda: don't come here if you're looking for lots of nightlife and entertainment other than diving, sailing, and snorkeling. The island is tiny and - blissfully - not overdeveloped! There are perhaps two 5-star restaurants on the island (the Sugar Mill at the Little Dix Bay Resort and the main restaurant at Biras Creek Resort). There are also a handful of places that are fun for lunches, drinks, and casual dining (Leverick Bay Resort, the Top of the Baths restaurant, the Bath & Turtle, and Saba Rock Resort). DO come here if you want to relax, with lots of very friendly and easygoing locals, ready and willing to take very good care of you! In between dives, if you really want to pamper yourself, book spa treatments at the Little Dix Bay Resort (regardless of whether you're staying there). My favorite spa treatment of all - internationally and domestic - is their "Caribbean Breeze Body Facial." Finally, Katitch Point Greathouse is the kind of home we all would love to own in the Caribbean - spacious, luxious, and with a fine attention to pampering you! Everything is in perfect condition, and is always being upgraded. Clearly, the owners have appointed this villa to satisfy their own tastes - i.e., NOT with the typical second rate furnishings one finds in most rental properties. This was our fifth visit to the island, and we have already booked our reservations to return next year.
Websites	Dive BVI Katitche Point Greathouse
Reporter and Travel
Dive Experience	251-500 dives
Where else diving	Australia (Barrier Reef and Coral Sea), Bali, Belize, Bonaire, Cozumel, Roatan, Thailand, USVI, California, Florida, USVI
Closest Airport		Getting There
Dive Conditions
Weather	sunny, windy, rainy, cloudy, dry	Seas	calm, choppy, surge, currents, no currents
Water Temp	79-80°F / 26-27°C	Wetsuit Thickness	3
Water Visibility	10-75 Ft/ 3-23 M
Dive Policy
Dive own profile	yes
Enforced diving restrictions	Most divers use computers, and once the divemasters are comfortable with your diving skills, they are generous in allowing you to monitor your own diving. Safety stop (3 minutes at 3 meters) is strongly recommended on all dives, though no dives exceed 90 feet. Divemasters lead all dives
Liveaboard?	no	Nitrox Available?	yes
What I Saw
Sharks	Lots	Mantas	None
Dolphins	1 or 2	Whale Sharks	None
Turtles	> 2	Whales	None
Ratings 1(worst) - 5 (best):
Corals		Tropical Fish
Small Critters		Large Fish
Large Pelagics
Underwater Photography 1 (worst) - 5 (best):
Subject Matter		Boat Facilities
Overall rating for UWP's		Shore Facilities
UW Photo Comments	Several years ago, I took the PADI underwater photographer course through Dive BVI, and credit them (and my Nikon Coopix, with UW housing) with the quality of my photos, how EASY it is to take them, and how much fun I have taking, editing, and sharing them.

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Dive Review of Dive BVI/Katitche Point Greathouse in Virgin Islands/British Virgin Islands

Dive BVI/Katitche Point Greathouse, Dec, 2010,

Ratings and Overall Comments 1 (worst) - 5 (best):

Overall Rating

Reporter and Travel

Dive Conditions

Dive Policy

What I Saw

Ratings 1(worst) - 5 (best):

Underwater Photography 1 (worst) - 5 (best):

Dive Review of Dive BVI/Katitche Point Greathouse in
Virgin Islands/British Virgin Islands