Floating spa was built from the destruction caused by Hurricane Irma. Now it’s a must-see attraction in the British Virgin Islands
There are many reasons to visit the British Virgin Islands . This 45-island archipelago is less popular than its neighbors, the U.S. Virgin Islands, and easy to navigate, especially for boaters.
Jost Van Dyke is the smallest of the four main and most visited islands, which also include Tortola (where your plane will likely land), Virgin Gorda, and Anegada. As the locals say, it is a small island with a big heart.
This is reflected in Ocean Spa BVI , a stunningly beautiful spa that looks nothing like the fancy marble spas you might imagine. Instead, its beauty comes from its origin story – although this is, of course, complemented by the beautifully blue water around it, with its rustic and colorful facade in contrast.
Ocean Spa BVI is literally the work of Dale Mapp, a hospitality industry veteran who dreamed of opening his own spa. But it took a long time for that to happen. His first attempt was half finished when it was vandalized, forcing him to start over. His second attempt – along with his home and belongings – was destroyed by Hurricane Irma in September 2017. The hurricane devastated nearly every home and business on Tortola and Jost Van Dyke, and five months passed before electricity was restored. Undeterred, he decided to try the same concept for a third time.
He and a friend scoured Jost Van Dyke, collecting lumber from damaged homes and properties, picking up parts of roofs, loose wooden gates and wooden siding boards. “I was determined to make something beautiful out of all the devastation,” says Mapp. “I immersed myself in the idea of leaving dry land and creating a floating spa, the only one in the British Virgin Islands and one of the few in the Caribbean.”
It took four months to manually build the 50 square meter structure. It is made entirely from reclaimed hurricane wood .
Mapp and another therapist work together, and their four treatment rooms are always booked. It’s not surprising. If you think you’ve tried all types of massage in all types of settings, you might want to think again. I myself was skeptical until Mapp picked me up at the dock for the short boat ride to the spa.
What is the spa experience like, one of the best in the Caribbean?
As we sailed across the water to White Bay, just a few minutes away, he told me that many people get to the spa in different ways: by kayak, sailboat or even swimming from the shore. From its location, about 30 meters from land, the views are lush green mountains, luxury villas and an endless ocean.
The treatment rooms are cozy. Perhaps the coolest feature of all is the glass window in the floor perfectly positioned under the face pillow. It’s the only time in history I’ve kept my eyes open during a massage, marveling at colorful tropical fish and underwater marine life.
The massage itself is splendid. The waves roll slowly, and the spa responds, creaking like an old wooden boat. The waves and that creaking are the only sounds you hear. As the therapist works his magic, you succumb to the slowly swaying tide – this added element is what elevates this treatment from the fantastic to the extraordinary. The windows are open to the breezes that gently sweep through the room. Not to mention the fish, which make brief appearances in your private window overlooking the sea.
This is not a “body rub and it’s over” massage. It’s first-class therapy in a unique setting and a memory you’ll never forget. Knowing that it is a dream come true for a man who never gave up? It just makes everything better.
