The Sinking of the Willy T

For decades, the Willy T -- a floating bar and restaurant built from a converted schooner -- sat anchored off Norman Island, becoming one of the most photographed stops in the British Virgin Islands.

In September 2017, Hurricanes Irma and Maria tore through the BVI and badly damaged the original vessel. A new Willy T restaurant was established soon after, continuing the tradition on the water -- but the old hull's story wasn't over.

Local non-profit Beyond the Reef gave the wreck a second life: decorated with replica pirates and cannons, it was sunk in Key Bay, off Peter Island, in 2019, creating an artificial reef and one of the BVI's most talked-about dive sites -- Willy T II.

Watch footage of the sinking of the Willy T.