Lonely Planet Virgin Islands

Lonely Planet Diving & Snorkeling British Virgin Islands

Average customer rating:

An essential guide to BVI diving and snorkeling
Very comprehensive

Lonely Planet Diving & Snorkeling British Virgin Islands
Mauricio Handler
Manufacturer: Lonely Planet Publications
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

General | Water Sports | Sports | Subjects | Books

General | Sports | Subjects | Books

General | Caribbean | Travel | Subjects | Books

Virgin Islands | Caribbean | Travel | Subjects | Books

Lonely Planet | Guidebook Series | Travel | Subjects | Books

General | Travel | Subjects | Books
Similar Items:

The Cruising Guide to the Virgin Islands: A Complete Guide for Yachtsmen, Divers and Watersports Enthusiasts
Virgin Anchorages
Diving & Snorkeling U.S. Virgin Islands (Lonely Planet Diving and Snorkeling Us Virgin Islands)
Insight Map Us & British Virgin Islands: Fleximap Plus Travel Information (Insight Fleximaps)
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ASIN: 1864501359

Book Description

Comprising some 40 islands and cays in the northeast corner of the Caribbean, the British Virgin Islands are low-key and uncommercial. Topside, they offer lush subtropical forests and endless pristine beaches. Underwater, divers and snorkelers delight in coral-covered pinnacles, caverns, walls and shipwrecks, including the famed 19th-century RMS Rhone. Once a notorious pirate hideaway, today's British Virgin Islands continue to be a sailors' paradise and are counted among the Caribbean's premier yachting destinations. This book describes 63 of the British Virgin Islands' best dive sites, with full-color photos throughout.

You'll get specific information on: <ul>

depth range, access and conditions </li>

Common and hazardous marine life </li>

Topside activities and attractions </li>

Diving services, live-aboards and yacht charters </li>

8 easy-to-read maps </li></ul>

Customer Reviews:

An essential guide to BVI diving and snorkeling.......2000-07-10

This book picks out the twenty-one best diving sites in the British Virgin Islands and gives a page or two of descriptive text about each. Each dive site has one or more pictures to show the reader what to expect. Each dive site also has some general descriptions such as the typical depth, the current condidtions, how to access the site, and what expertise is required. There is a map on which all of the sites are located. There is a rating system the book uses to inform the diver whether a place is suitable for a beginner or an expert. The book also serves as a general guide to the BVI, including history, food, culture, lodging, and tourist information. The book includes some helpful tips on diving in the BVI and warns about the dangers underwater.

Very comprehensive.......2000-03-30

Our group used this guide in doing dives from our yacht in the BVI. I found it to be comprehensive enough to help us to find the dive sites fairly well without asking too many questions of the locals. There were only one or two sites which we wanted to dive which we didn't find.

I liked the ratings of the dives from beginner to expert but I think adding a 'star' rating would help people to determine what particular dive to choose when there are many choices. Also helpful would be to include a map of the dive site (some other dive books do this) which would help in planning the dive. These are the only reasons I didn't give this book a 5 star rating.

Book Description

Rolling green slopes, swaying palms and powdery beaches set the scene in America's little corner of the Caribbean. More than 2 million tourists a year visit the U.S. Virgin Islands, flocking here for the tropical climate, duty-free bargains and diving beneath warm, crystal-clear seas. Sites feature lush reefs, walls and intact wrecks that shelter more than 500 species of fish. Nondivers can snorkel atop coral gardens, visit an aquarium or tour the reefs on a 65 ft submarine. This book describes 53 of the territory's best dive sites, with full-color photos throughout.

You'll get specific information on: <ul>

Dive site topography and access </li>

Topside activities and attractions </li>

Common and hazardous marine life </li>

Dive shop and cruise line listings </li>

7 easy-to-read maps </li></ul>

Customer Reviews:

Great book.......2007-04-11

I had a hard time finding a complete dive book for St.Croix--most of them focus on the other U.S. Virgin Islands. This is a complete map of all of the dive sites and on land ammenities.

Five Sea Stars.......2006-07-26

Thoroughly researched and thoughtfully constructed, this book offers something for everyone interested in exploring the amazing underwater landscapes of the USVI. Beginning divers and snorkelers will appreciate the overview of practicalities about how to get there, various underwater options, and other things to do when your extremities start to get pruney from all that time in the water.

More expert divers and those already familiar with the area can flip right to the heart of the book and delve into the descriptions of the many dive/snorkel sites. On our recent trip we stuck entirely with St. John, and I heartily agree with the author's assessment that Leinster Bay is one of the best snorkeling spots on the island. We can't wait to go back.

My only recommendation for the 2nd edition of the book would be to include even more sites accessible from shore for those spur-of-the-moment snorkeling expeditions.

We will definitely be bringing this book along on our next trip to the USVI!

Grateful author responds ..........2005-08-30

Thanks to those of you who have already purchased a copy of Diving & Snorkeling U.S. Virgin Islands! I'm glad most of you are pleased with the book, and I truly appreciate your feedback. Your suggestions will help me improve the next edition of the book. Keep your comments coming!

Shark Man, I am sorry the book didn't meet your expectations, but I would like to clarify something about coverage given to snorkeling sites.

While the snorkeling sidebar does list just names of popular snorkeling sites (favorites of mine and many other Virgin Islanders), the 53 extended dive site descriptions include several that are also excellent snorkeling sites. These are listed in the book index under "Snorkeling Sites" and identified with a snorkeling icon in the site descriptions.

As you were on a snorkeling trip, I'll take your criticism of my dive site descriptions with a grain of sea salt. =8D

Best!
Dave Lauterborn
(...)

NOT for SNORKELING !!!!!.......2005-07-27

I bought this book for our snorkeling trip to the US Virgin Islands and I was extremely disappointed with it. The snorkeling information in this book consists of a list of 11 of the "top snorkeling spots" that are the same common sites you see in any travel book or website.....it doesn't even describe them or give you any information on them. The dive site info consists of short descriptions of 53 sites in the USVI, which I would rate at fair to good (for diving). About a third of the book is about things like history, shopping, airlines, etc., which are much better covered by any travel guide. If you're looking for a snorkeling guide don't waste your money on this book.

great companion.......2005-07-10

We used this book a ton on our recent trip to the USVI. We were just snorkeling, and found the tips, sealife info and site information that helped us immensely. We fell in love with the VI and are looking forward to exploring more next summer. We just puchased the same book for the BVI and can't wait to go snorkeling next summer there!

This book has great photos and information - I'm so glad I brought it with us on our trip.

Average customer rating:

Somewhat Disappointing
Comprehensive!

Lonely Planet Virgin Islands
Randall Peffer
Manufacturer: Lonely Planet
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

General | Caribbean | Travel | Subjects | Books

Virgin Islands | Caribbean | Travel | Subjects | Books

Guidebooks | Reference & Tips | Travel | Subjects | Books

Lonely Planet | Guidebook Series | Travel | Subjects | Books

General | Travel | Subjects | Books

Look Inside Outdoors & Nature Books | Trip | Specialty Stores | Books

Look Inside Travel Books | Trip | Specialty Stores | Books
Similar Items:

Explore the Virgin Islands (Sixth Edition)
Diving & Snorkeling U.S. Virgin Islands (Lonely Planet Diving and Snorkeling Us Virgin Islands)
Top 10 Virgin Islands, US and British (Eyewitness Travel Guides)
Insight Map Us & British Virgin Islands: Fleximap Plus Travel Information (Insight Fleximaps)
Fodor's U.S. and British Virgin Islands 2006 (Fodor's Gold Guides)

ASIN: 0864427352

Book Description

Craving conch fritters and callaloo? Yearning to snorkel in crystalline coves? Kick off your shoes and follow this guide to the Virgin's best - from St Thomas' sizzling calypso bars to St John's vast tropical park to tiny Norman Island, where the Treasure Caves hold secrets of pirates past. <ul>

a host of outdoor activities - from shipwreck dives to rain forest hikes </li>

special yacht-chartering section to aid your island-hopping </li>

lodging for all budgets - beach camping, inns and five-star resorts </li>

complete interisland ferry schedule </li>

16 detailed, user-friendly maps </li></ul>

Customer Reviews:

Somewhat Disappointing.......2002-07-09

We used this Lonely Planet guide book on a recent trip to the US and British Virgin Islands as well as Explore Virgin Islands by Pariser. We learned about both through online reviews and bought both on Amazon.com. Pariser's book was better; the maps are easier to use. his tips on how to get along with the locals were informative. We wanted more on the ecology from lonely planet, but turned to explore virgin islands for that. All in all, Pariser's guide had more info not found elsewhere.

Comprehensive!.......2002-04-23

I have read 4-5 guides to the Virgin islands, and I believe this is the most comprehensive. They give the most detailed info about ALL aspects of travel to St Thomas, St John and the British VIs. I particularly appreciate the honesty re: potential problems (bad neighborhoods etc) and the solid advice on how to be smart and not have to worry. There are interesting tidbits about archeology, flora and fauna, native patois (even how to pronounce common Caribbean foods, sayings) etc. The maps are detailed, the beach and touring site descriptions are thorough, and directions are given for all. Definately worth buying & the only guide I'd buy if I had to chose.

Diving and Snorkeling Guide to U.S. Virgin Islands: St. Croix, St. Thomas, and St. John (Lonely Planet Diving & Snorkeling Guides)

Average customer rating:

Buy the new edition instead
Buy the new edition instead
Diving NOT a Snorkeling Guide
This book is useless as a snorkeling guide.

Diving and Snorkeling Guide to U.S. Virgin Islands: St. Croix, St. Thomas, and St. John (Lonely Planet Diving & Snorkeling Guides)
Susanne Cummings , and Stuart Cummings
Manufacturer: Pisces Books
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

General | Water Sports | Sports | Subjects | Books

Swimming | Water Sports | Sports | Subjects | Books

General | Sports | Subjects | Books

General | Caribbean | Travel | Subjects | Books

Virgin Islands | Caribbean | Travel | Subjects | Books

Guidebooks | Reference & Tips | Travel | Subjects | Books

General | Travel | Subjects | Books
ASIN: 155992053X

Customer Reviews:

Buy the new edition instead.......2002-12-14

[Bad info] for snorkelers, and the site information is flimsy. But Lonely Planet just published a new edition of this book. ...It's MUCH better than this sorry, 10-year-old book, and the pictures are incredible!

Buy the new edition instead.......2002-12-14

This does suck for snorkelers. But Lonely Planet just put out a new edition of this guide. I bought if off their website, www...(sorry Amazon!). It's MUCH better than this tired old book, and the photos are incredible!

Diving NOT a Snorkeling Guide.......1999-06-29

The title is misleading, therefore only 1 star. There is only one paragraph devoted to snorkeling. It is, however a great 4 star diving guide. Great marine life pictures.

This book is useless as a snorkeling guide........1998-11-27

The title is very misleading. If you are looking for a guide to snorkeling in the USVI, look elseware. The space devoted to snorkeling involves approximently five sentences. I got more information from my Fodor's!

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