TravelTalkOnline Forums Travel and Vacation Forums British Virgin Islands Itinerary Help! - Diamond Cay vs. Cooper/Peter?

So I have posted an itinerary on a previous thread but wanted to get some more input.
Haven’t booked but am close to booking through DYC for May this year. It will be 4 friends (all guys) and two have never been to the BVIs and wewill want to party at good lively bars and eat good food vs quiet nights. The departure from scrub on a Sunday morning makes for an interesting counter clock wise itinerary. I’ll post it below and would appreciate thoughts. My main question is whether or not a night at Diamond Cay vs a night at either Cooper/Peter island is worth it. Points to consider:
1) I have heard good things about Foxy’s Taboo and but some recent feedback (from forum mbmers) said that the food wasn’t that great and service not good as well. Not sure if this is an anomaly or a trend?
2) I have never stopped at Diamond Cay and looking to give it a try, also want to check out B-Line
3) Itinerary is such that if we stop off at Diamond Cay would not to stop at Cooper or Peter Island
4) We will be stopping at Great Harbour/Little Harbour or white bay as well…

Itinerary
- Sat - Scrub - arrive 2:30 pm. provision, chart brief
- Sun - Anegada - boat brief, sail to Anegada, Cow Wreck bay for the day, dinner at wonky dog
- Mon - CGB - the usual
- Tue - Little JVD - B-line, dingie to sandy spit, hike to bubbly pool dinner at Foxy's Taboo
- Wed - White bay/Great Harbour - some sailing, sandy Cay, see if we can get a ball at Ivan's (WB) or great harbour, white bay for drinks and beach, Corsairs for dinner, night at Foxy's
- Thu - Norman - Provision at west end. Soapers hole, shopping souvenirs, snorkel at the caves, Dinner at Pirates Bight, party at Willie T's
- Fri - Leverick - early morning stop at the Indians for snorkel, slip at leverick, taxi/car rental to baths in pm, BBQ at Leverick
- Sat - Scrub - refuel at Leverick and depart around noon, sail to Scrub, on the slip sat night, check boat in, relax drink, Celebrate successful cruise
- Sun - Scrub early morning departure first boat 6:30am - 8:15 flight

That's a lot of worrying about an itinerary for something pretty far off. I'm going in a couple weeks but don't have a single stop planned yet, but TETO. If you're worried about food and service at a place, I'd try to get feed back closer to when you're actually going to be there as things may change. I like Diamond Cay for the relative quietness of the place; and for swimming/snorkeling. Whenever I've been there it's turtle city! Last time I was there was before the storms, but the food was good at Taboo, but super slow service-but I wasn't there for the meals to be honest. Location location location.

Just my 2 cents...and you know what they say about opinions....

Norman to Leverick will be a long sail IMO. I'm not sure how much time you'll have to taxi back to the baths then get back for the BBQ.

Interested in Diamond Cay .... we've never stopped there but will be heading from Scrub to Cane Garden bay later this month on our trip.
Are there mooring balls in Diamond Cay or anchoring only? Is this where B-Line is?
Thanks.

Diamond Cay refers to the anchorage in the notch between the east end of Jost Van Dyke and the west end of Little Jost Van Dyke. There are both FCFS mooring balls and Boatyballs. Foxy's Taboo (and bubbly pool) is located on one side and the B-line beach bar is on the other. What's left of Sandy Spit is just outside the anchorage, and Sandy Cay is just south of the anchorage. I don't know about anchoring, someone else can answer that question. It is a nice enough overnight option. Last December we had a young boy in a dinghy come out to ask if he could bring us anything. We couldn't turn him down so we asked him to bring us a couple of bags of ice, which he did.

Big Diamond Cay fan...had same experience as Noel in May. Better than Great Harbor IMHO. I would skip Cooper

Is the grocery open at West End for your Thursday stop?

I'd consider making the first night away from the dock at Leverick to avoid spending most of the last full day on the boat sailing (or likely motor sailing) from Norman to North Sound. Also will make you first day less stressful since you won't be in such a hurry trying to get off the dock and to Anegada while you still have good light overhead. I guess that messes with your plans to be at the Friday BBQ, but Friday at the Willie T should be fun too.

We spent a night at Diamond Cay this last trip and it was nice. Main reason we were there is for kiteboarding at Sandy Spit, but we had fun in the Bubbly Pool and drinks at Foxys Taboo. Not very lively but a nice stop nonetheless.

We also chartered with Dream and I loved beginning and ending at Scrub. Especially ending there we were able to take nice showers and get cleaned up before the long trip home.

Have fun!

We were at Diamond Cay two nights ago, Peter last night and Cooper today. So from a very small sample here are my comments:

1) Diamond Cay has BoatyBalls and FCFS balls. It’s an attractive spot with at least two beach bars (Taboo and B-line). Certainly a little off the beaten track. Honestly we failed to find the Bubbly Pool and gave up because of frequent squalls. The mooring field was fairly calm and windy (not effected by north swells going on then). Lots of Pelicans.

2) Great Harbor, Peter Island has lots of FCFS balls and almost all were empty when we arrived. It was a windy but calm night under the conditions when we visited (also not effected by the north swell in effect then). Oceans 7 bar is friendly and sold us ice. It’s an attractive spot, but you aren’t allowed ashore (apart from the bar) and we didn’t hear of any good snorkeling spots.

3) Cooper is very popular (mostly BoatyBalls but some FCFS as well). There ware a few balls free (or rather that opened up) after 12:30 but not many. It’s a very attractive spot, the bar and restaurant are very nice and we have enjoyed both on this a previous visits. There are at least two snorkeling spots. It’s not a secluded environment but one of our favorites.

Super helpful. Thank you.

I was at Cooper last week and can confirm it's a great spot. Bar is really nice - people there were super friendly and the snorkeling was fantastic.

We love this gem of a spot ...been many times . first time with our kids 10 years ago when we were BVI newbies , got all dressed up to go to Foxys taboo for a meal only to find it was closed on Mondays ...we walked to bubbly pool instead at dusk !!! Big mistake as the no seeums and mosquitoes nearly carried us away...live and learn and always an adventure right

No. It is not open.

I agree - that is why diamond Cay may not work out. if we can break up that sail from Norman to Cooper or Peter island, would make taxi to the baths more doable. If we stop off at Peter or Cooper we can also swing by early in the AM to see if there is a free mooring ball in front of the baths. Then no need to take a taxi....

oh well lots of time to decide!

If there isn’t a mooring ball at the baths you can probably find one at the entrance to the yacht harbor and dinghy to the baths.

we go to Leverick and take taxi late afternoon then eat at Coco Maya