Willy T - Salt Island & Cooper Island

The Willy T isn't your average BVI wreck dive. This wasn't some mighty ship lost to a storm, but a floating bar, scuttled after decades of raucous parties. We love its irreverent history; you can almost hear the faint echo of reggae and clinking glasses as you descend. It’s sitting upright in about 11 metres, an easy dive for anyone who’s comfortable with a wreck. What you get is a unique, upright wreck teeming with personality. We’ve finned through its former saloon, where the light still filters through imagined windows, illuminating schools of snapper and grunt. Look closely and you’ll find nudibranchs clinging to the railings, and often a grumpy moray eel peeking from a dark corner. Our favourite part is navigating the upper deck, where the old bar stools are now miniature reef systems, attracting damselfish and sergeant majors. It’s a playful wreck, not somber, and offers a fun exploration with plenty of swim-throughs without ever feeling claustrophobic. Ideal for a second dive of the day, or for newer wreck divers looking for something a bit different.

Location: Salt Island & Cooper Island, British Virgin Islands, Caribbean
Coordinates: 18.345684, -64.598530
Type: wreck
Maximum Depth: 11m

Marine Protected Area: Peter Island

Best Time to Dive in Salt Island & Cooper Island

The warmest water temperatures in Salt Island & Cooper Island occur in January, averaging 27.1°C. The coolest conditions are in December at 27.1°C.

Monthly Water Temperatures

January: 27.1°C (air: 25.5°C)
February: 27.1°C (air: 25.1°C)
March: 27.1°C (air: 25.2°C)
April: 27.1°C (air: 25.7°C)
May: 27.1°C (air: 26.8°C)
June: 27.1°C (air: 27.6°C)
July: 27.1°C (air: 27.8°C)
August: 27.1°C (air: 28.1°C)
September: 27.1°C (air: 28.3°C)
October: 27.1°C (air: 28.0°C)
November: 27.1°C (air: 27.1°C)
December: 27.1°C (air: 26.3°C)

Nearby Dive Sites in Salt Island & Cooper Island

Nearest Dive Centres to Willy T

Marine Life in Salt Island & Cooper Island

Home to 504 recorded species including 410 reef fish, 39 hard corals, 13 sharks & rays, 9 other, 7 whales & dolphins, 6 seagrass & algae.

Notable Species

Mustard hill coral (Porites astreoides) - Hard Corals
Massive Starlet Coral (Siderastrea siderea) - Hard Corals
Gutong (Sparisoma aurofrenatum) - Reef Fish
Great star coral (Montastraea cavernosa) - Hard Corals
Parrotfish (Thalassoma bifasciatum) - Reef Fish
Finger Coral (Porites porites) - Hard Corals
Blue Doctor (Acanthurus coeruleus) - Reef Fish
Yellowhead Wrasse (Halichoeres garnoti) - Reef Fish
Lettuce Coral (Agaricia agaricites) - Hard Corals
Barber (Acanthurus bahianus) - Reef Fish
Dark Green Parrotfish (Sparisoma viride) - Reef Fish
Bicolor Damselfish (Stegastes partitus) - Reef Fish
Gutong (Scarus iseri) - Reef Fish
Sammy Johnson (Scarus taeniopterus) - Reef Fish
French grunt (Haemulon flavolineatum) - Reef Fish
Longspine Squirrelfish (Holocentrus rufus) - Reef Fish
Butterfly (Chaetodon capistratus) - Reef Fish
Sharpnose Pufferfish (Canthigaster rostrata) - Reef Fish
Blushing Star Coral (Stephanocoenia intersepta) - Hard Corals
Barred Hamlet (Hypoplectrus puella) - Reef Fish

Recommended Packing List for Willy T

Based on average water temperature of 27.1°C.

Shorty or Rashguard - warm 27°C water needs minimal exposure protection
Mask - essential for every dive
Fins
BCD - buoyancy compensator
Regulator - your most safety-critical piece of gear
Dive Computer - tracks depth, time, and NDL
Surface Marker Buoy (SMB) - essential for boat pickups
Dive Torch - useful for crevices and colour at depth
Underwater Camera - capture your diving memories