Move over Robin Leach! It could be you staying on a private 880-acre island surrounded by cobalt-blue Caribbean waters, secluded barefoot-soft beaches, towering rocky cliffs, and lush tropical vegetation. Imagine sipping your favorite cocktail as afternoon breezes gently cool your skin, and breath-taking sunsets play out in glorious Technicolor all around you. From your comfortable surroundings at the main resort, nestled on top of the 600-foot high hillside, you relax with the sounds of pink flamingoes, watch the drifting patterns of colorful butterflies, and luxuriate in the wind-blown scent of an endless variety of tropical flowers.

If there is heaven on earth, British Virgin Islands’ Guana Island www.Guana.com must be it. Nothing short of amazing, this entire island is enjoyed by a maximum of 32 guests, with a professional staff who eagerly attend your every need. The British Virgin Islands are a group of over sixty islands and rocky shoals that are connected by hundreds of square miles of fish-filled pristine reefs, ancient underwater volcanic canyons, and an endless sea of rippled sandy flats. With a variety of depths ranging from three feet to the plummeting deep blue waters of the unexplored

her face. Davy Jones had his grip tight on the ship’s hull, greedy for the souls aboard. Just as the RMS Rhone had cleared through the pass, and it appeared that she would make it to open waters, the eye of the hurricane passed and the winds quickly switched directions. Just minutes before, Black Rock Point had provided a saving windbreak, but now it was the sword that would split the ship wide open. Category four hurricane winds grabbed the Rhone’s hull, smashing it like a child’s toy onto the black rocks. As the panicked passengers and crew attempted in vain to save themselves, the sound of splintering metal and wood gave way to rushing seawater. Like a slithering serpent, the intruding cool water quickly found the ship’s hot boilers. The expanding steam explosion pounded the final nail into the ship’s coffin as it ripped her hull in half and quickly sent both ends to the sea floor, carrying crew, passengers, and cargo to their doom. Those few who survived the tremendous explosion were tossed into the raging seas where they waged a personal battle against wave and rock. Only twenty-two of the crew and one passenger out of 146 people would survive. Captain Woolley would uphold the mariner’s highest honor: he went down with his ship. Over one hundred and forty years have passed since that fateful night, and the RMS Rhone has endured many more storms and a great deal of human intervention. Early hardhat divers salvaged much of her cargo. The US Navy underwater demolition teams blew up her stern section in the 1950’s.

Finally, after 100 years, the government of the BVI designated the RMS Rhone as a national state park in 1967. Today, even though the wreckage is scattered along the sea floor, the RMS Rhone is a must-dive location for all who visit the BVI. If your travel plans do not include your own private island, the main island of Tortola has many accommodations ranging from the penny-pincher’s delight to the admiral’s club traveler. Nestled into the lush greens of Tortola’s north shore, Sugar Mill Resort is an elegant and historical landmark that provides accommodations fit for a prince, at an excellent mid-ranged price www.sugarmillhotel.com. Boasting its own sea-side dock, restaurant, lounge, and large swimming pool, Sugar Mill Hotel is privately secluded but still within fifteen minutes of the main island dive shop and sailing marina. If you feel like taking a day or afternoon off from exploring BVI’s underwater wonderland, there is a myriad of fun activities for the devoted couple or entire Brady Bunch-sized family. The British Virgin Islands are known as one of the world’s largest sailing capitals. At any given time, you can view hundreds of tall white sails decorating the horizon. Horizon Yacht Charters www.horizonyachtcharters.com offers any sized sailing vessel from a small two-man dinghy to a super sailing yacht equipped with more fancy amenities than the average millionaire’s home. For those who wish to charter a