Snorkeling the Dogs

Having been to the BVIs a number of times over the years, our crew is looking to work in a few stops that we have consistently overlooked in the past. We have a snorkel happy crew that has been to the Indians, the caves off Norman, Marina Key, but have never been to the Dogs. Assuming the weather and currents permit, we are looking at the Dogs on our trip at the end of this month. Any input from those of you who have made this stop as to the best place to anchor or tie up to a mooring, best spot on the Dogs to snorkel, any other words of wisdom on this topic?

we stopped last June on the south western corner of George Dog... stayed for a short while on an NP mooring for a middle of the day snorkel en route to North Sound. It was our first stop there as well and it was excellent - well worth it.

Graeme
ARIADNE L450

Can't remember if we've snorkeled the Dogs before - is that the place with the airplane submerged? If so, we did and it was Ok for us last spring. We LOVE snorkeling Monkey Point - can be a bit tricky to get a mooring ball if the wind is up (it's like a little wind tunnel in there), but it's always been great snorkeling.

The airplane fuselage is on the south side of Great Dog. There used to be a couple of mooring balls there, but they were gone the last time we stopped there. Not sure if they've been replaced.

As mentioned, the SW corner of George Dog by Kitchen Point has very good snorkeling. There are a few NPS moorings there. If not too rough, swim around the point to the east shore opposite the small beach. I've encountered nurse sharks there and the coral is very healthy.

I've snorkeled over the Bronco Billy on the west side of George Dog, but you need to be able to free dive or scuba to get to the underwater arches.

If no surge, there is very good snorkeling at The Chimney on the west side of Great Dog. Several NPS moorings there.

Snorkeling at the Great Dog Chimney site is the second best snorkeling site in the BVI, IMO. Best site being the Indians.

^^^^^^^^^^ THIS ^^^^^^^^^

Then add Monkey Point

The Chimney is a favorite spot of ours. Lot's of area you can cover there. The area towards where the dive site is all the way to the opposite side is worth snorkeling - large coral heads and all sorts of other features.

Another spot we like is the tip of virgin gorda - there's some NPT balls there as well and the snorkeling is often good.

We stopped at George Dog on our way to Leverick for lunch and a snorkel. I must say that I thought it was just okay. We moored just behind kitchen point.

For our trip this June we will be stopping at the dogs again from Marina Cay on our way to Leverick.

Just curious where is the Chimney in relation to The mooring field behind Kitchen Point? It sounds like we missed a great snorkel and don't want to miss it the 2nd time as well!

thx!

The chimney is on the west end of great dog - just look at a map, its pretty clear where the mooring field would be on the west end. Chimney itself is the north part of the mooring field, but snorkling is good all in that area.

The big underwater arch just north of the chimney is a nice freediving challenge for the suitably prepared.

I have looked at that one every time we snorkel there, and discretion is the better part of valor. <img src="http://www.traveltalkonline.com/forums/images/graemlins/jester.gif" alt="" />

Any ideas on the depth?

Depth of the arch or the area? There's plenty to see for snorkelers that prefer to stay at the surface. The place is also a popular SCUBA dive with depths to about 45 or 50 ft. if memory serves. The arch is probably about 20' to 25' deep.
The horizontal distance you have to cover with a solid rock ceiling is the gut check, at least it was for me.

Revival of old thread. We stopped at the Dogs on our last trip in 2017, but the currents were running strong, so we were unable to enjoy the snorkeling there. For anyone there since Irma, any updates as to whether the NPS day moorings are sill in place (or if they have been replaced if lost in the storm)? Also, for clarity, as some original responses to this inquiry seem to conflict as to whether the chimney is on Great or Dog island?

Good scoops on the Dogs....Thank you !

Like to add in what some of the other posters mentioned.

MONKEY POINT : Guana Island. Outstanding snorkeling !

We usually go counter clockwise on our two week BVI sailing vacations.

Leaving Marina Cay, or Scrub Island, we slide thru, (under power ) the narrow Camanoe Passage on the way to Jost or Canegarden Bay.

About a 30 minute motor from Marina Cay, or Scrub and we charge up the batteries as well. Reverse, Clockwise around the BVI, Monkey point will be on they way from Canegarden, or Jost to Marina Cay or Scrub, or VG.

There were about 10 N.P. free moorings, 1.5 hour time limit. After the mooring pick up, we have breakfast. This is early a.m. and want the sun up a bit to light up the corals and the many, many fish. We have seen very large Tarpon here, just cruising
nice and slow. There is a time limit, 1.5 hrs, but we are seeing boats now totally ignoring those limits all thru the BVI. No Resepct. Turkeys ! .

After snorkeling, we will shower off on the stern step, and get a quick fresh water washdown for bodies and snorkel gear. Usually, there will be a boat standing by, waiting for a mooring to be available . We will catch their attention, and let them know we are dropping off, and they come in and pick up our mooring. We will smile and wave and give them a thumbs up, and they happily return our greetings. Nice, ,and feels great .

The point protects the mooring field from the wind and seas, so it is pretty calm, and the marine life is abundant. We usually snorkel toward the far left side , and then slowly fin along the shore line and reef to the far right at the ' point ' .

it really is excellent snorkeling.

Our second favorite is the Indians and Pelican off Norman Island .

Others snorkel sites that we enjoy are the Caves at Norman and Cistern Point, at Cooper Island.

We have not yet snorkeled the Dogs and George Dog sounds pretty nice, depending on the wind waves and lack of chop. Maybe , this next trip in May 2019, we can make a lunch stop with some snorkeling there. Thanks for the scoops on the Dogs

In late November, we revisited the Chimney at Great Dog. The quantity and variety of fish was outstanding, and actually better than we had at The Indians. The one challenge is that there can be a lot of surge if there is any swell.


A couple first-time St John snorkel stops for me included Henley Cay (a tremendous amount of soft corals that were undamaged) and western point of Whistling Cay (was a bit underwhelming). It was a few days after the full moon, so the currents were particularly strong.


Monkey Point is always hit-or-miss for me. If there's been any surge, the visibility is greatly reduced (as it was on my Nov visit and I only saw 1 tarpon). Try to visit when the seas are calm and if you see pelicans diving you'll be greeted by massive baitfish schools and sometimes a dozen or more large tarpon.