TravelTalkOnline Forums Travel and Vacation Forums British Virgin Islands This year's best snorkel spots!

As we finish up another busy charter season, and, looking back at the last year, we wanted to put together a list – from our point of view – of the BVI’s greatest snorkel spots. The search for the perfect snorkel site in the BVI is always a great debate. The truth is, a snorkel site can be great one day, and downright dangerous the next. And, sites change year to year, as coral grows and recovers and, unfortunately, is sometimes destroyed from careless swimmers. Finding a great snorkel site, in the right condition, on the right day, is an art. That is one of the great values of a good crewed yacht captain. www.iYachtClub.com captains have the kind of local knowledge that can only be gained by living here and snorkeling, every day.

So, with the understanding that our ranking is based on snorkeling in the right conditions, here is our new, 2014, best snorkel spots in the BVI list:

Number 10:
Chromis Reef
Chromis Reef is on the west side of Cooper Island. Snorkel in 0 – 45 ft. mostly patchy reef. Hundreds of electric blue chromis fish, 3 cm in length, hang around above the coral. They dart in to hide when you come close. There are some interesting overhangs which are home to squirrel fish, grunts and sometimes baby drum fish. The boulders in the shallows usually are good for spotting juveniles. There is a twin-seat airplane wreckage resting in a sand patch in 35 ft. of water. Good Luck finding it.

Number 9:
Vanishing Rock
This site gets it's name because the rock disappears most of the time, unless the tide is low. Vanishing Rock sits between Salt and Cooper Islands in a narrow passage that attracts scores of fish. Some of the "Rock" highlights include a variety of corals, shrimp, squirrelfish, and maybe a nurse shark or two.

Number 8:
Coral Gardens
If you're looking for some brain (coral) then make sure to stop at Coral Gardens. Located Northeast of Dead Chest Island, Coral Gardens offers onlookers jawfish, sea fans, barracuda, snapper, and of course brain. Please be advised to only snorkel Coral Gardens on very calm days. This place is also an excellent scuba destination.

Number 7:
Monkey Point
The coral here is pretty much dead, but that’s not what you’ve come to Monkey Point for. Along the coastline, there are about 100 billion bait fish schooling in, around and through the rock/coral structures, and very large Tarpon are feeding on them. You can swim above, among, and under the bait fish, and watch the tarpon (and occasional tuna, snapper, jack, etc) feed on the baitfish. Last trip out we were entertained following an octopus! It’s also fun to watch from underwater as the pelicans dive in and grab a mouthful of bait fish. There were so many bait fish there this February that you could not find the big fish due to the little fish!

Number 6:
Ginger’s Backside
AKA ‘Alice’s Back Door’, this is a protected and beautiful hard coral site under the dramatic backdrop of Ginger Island. You will snorkel in 10 – 60ft of beautiful water as the coral formations gently slope down to a sandy bottom. Boulder corals such as brain & moon coral dominate, but there are also sections of stag horn and pillar coral. Interesting mixed coral formations are home to chromis and damsel fish and overhangs are favored by grunts and squirrel fish. There is also an abundance of schooling reef fish, and sometimes turtles.

Number 5:
Cistern Point
Cistern Point is one of the better shallow snorkeling sites around the BVI, with a rocky sea floor and some small underwater alleys. The sea life here includes gray snappers, angelfish, and goatfishes.
Shallow boulders lead to coral then onto a sandy bottom of soft corals in approx 50 ft. You can circumnavigate the rock. Watch out for current and boats on the West side. The current has a tendency to pick up in the afternoon. Look out for tarpon, turtles, eagle rays, angel fish, file fish, butterfly fish and schools of squid.

Number 4:
The Indians.
The Indians feature four cone-shaped rocks rise from a depth of 40 feet to about 30 feet above the surface. Three rocks stand together while the fourth is separated by a narrow channel. Near the bottom, a myriad of fish fill the narrow passages. Expect to see almost every variety of reef fish and crustacean, as well as schools of harmless jelly fish in the summer. Sea fans and corals of every hue dot the walls. When the sun’s rays spotlight the vibrant colors of this reef, you will know why this site is considered to be one of the best spots for snorkeling in the BVI. It is truly a spectacular site.

Number 3:
Loblolly Bay, Flash of Beauty
I’m talking about the site that is a mile or so down the beach from Big Bamboo. Big Bamboo’s beach offers good snorkelling, but the beach in front of Flash of Beauty is better. There’s a very old reef that protects the beach from high surf, so it’s usually pretty calm. The reef is very shallow and you’ll see immediately that it is indeed an “old reef”. It’s not deep, but it’s cavernous. You can see how the reef has grown out from the sand over many years, and how the wave action keeps the reef in check. Hundreds of ships have wrecked off the reef here—many carrying treasure, cannons, and other valuables. This reef is the favorite site of Pat Little, crewed charter captain of Miss Kitty!

Number 2:
Spyglass Hill and the extended snorkel around the tip of Soldier Bay
This calm and protected cove is one of the BVI’s best kept secrets. It is a favorite of the charter crew of Ocean Jedi! The looming Spy Glass Hill above was once a pirate look- out for unsuspecting galleons, who then fell prey to the unscrupulous buccaneers. It makes a nice change to snorkel along a wall. 15ft at the top, then dropping down to a 60ft sandy bottom, it’s a good place to spot eagle rays cruising along the wall.
Look out for moray eels free swimming to a new hiding place and spotted drum fish in their various stages of development. Beautiful elk horn & mushroom corals are intermittent with large sea fans.

The number one site in the BVI, 2014:
The Aquarium
Nestled between the famous Baths and Spanish Town (Virgin Gorda) lies The Aquarium. Having a close proximity to the Bath's, you'll see boulders and rocks piled up all over the sea floor. There is some amazing vertical coral formations, sponges, lobsters, and possibly a nurse shark. <img src="http://www.traveltalkonline.com/forums/images/graemlins/Clapping.gif" alt="" />

Thanks for the report! Wheels up in 21 hours!

Thank you!

Thanks Derek! Hope to meet you someday and check out how you've upgraded your 46 for ideas. If you see the Pro Valor L46 Dancing Days with a huge Tennessee flag, that would be us. <img src="http://www.traveltalkonline.com/forums/images/graemlins/handshake.gif" alt="" />

Can you be more specific on the location of Chromis Reef on Cooper and The Aquarium on VG?

Rob

Aquarium on Virgin Gorda has a yellow mooring. It's between Spanish Town and the Baths. If you just travel along that shore you'll find it. We did a dive there once. Only downside is boat traffic goes right by it all the time.

Not sure on Chromis reef..

Great list BTW!

The Aquarium - aren't the yellow moorings for commercial dive boats? Are there any other moorings there, or can you get to it from shore if you're land based?

Jen

I've never had a problem picking up a yellow mooring for diving. Snorkeling would probably be fine too - the mooring there is usually empty anyway.

Some of the smaller sites (eg, the aquarium, the rhone's anchor) have only one ball and it is yellow. I asked UBS and they said that a private boat engaged in diving was free to take it.

Nice list, and I've only been to three of those.

I'd add George Dog and actually The Baths, which is a pretty place to snorkel off the beach.

When you say a private boat engaged in diving, would that include snorkeling as well?

Diving is diving. Snorkeling is snorkeling.

Depending on the spot, I don't think picking up a yellow ball to snorkel would be a problem. And to be honest, many people do it at even the busiest of spots.

When doing so (whether diving or snorkeling) try to remember the 90 minute limit.

Great list. Many new places for us. I also like Walt's additions. Thx.

Agreed on that! Common courtesy is always critical. Thanks for the info!

Can you get to the Aquarium from land???

Just printed your report to take along, can't wait to use it. Thanks so much for the info. We experienced the same bait fish/tarpon activity in Cane Garden Bay two years ago. It was fascinating to be in the midst of it all!

With a dinghy, but I wouldn't try swimming to it - I think closest shore is rock, so it would not only be a long swim, but dangerous due to boat traffic in the area.

If you look at an aerial map and look between spanish town and the baths, there's a small section that juts out - I think it is near that. Been a while since we stopped there though. We dove it one trip.

You are correct about where the aquarium is and I would NEVER try to swim there. I almost hit a lady out there last year while dingying from the baths to VGY Harbor... it shocked me to see someone swimming out that far without a boat or a dingy. Everyone enjoy! But mostly, be safe.

Thanks all for the great info on The Aquarium!

Great list! Matching to Frank's map/chart.
Sent it to several friends, and they asked one question....what are the Waypoints? <img src="http://www.traveltalkonline.com/forums/images/graemlins/Clapping.gif" alt="" />

Is there a dinghy mooring?

No, but you could always tie it to the ball. I really don't see where someone would be coming via dinghy though. I guess you could from Spanish town.

So....how DO you get there? Do you anchor there? Fine with that - just need a definitive way to get there which does not seem apparent.

Zero accessibility by land if we're touring the island by car and want to make it a stop next Monday?

If there are mooring balls for a quick stop, even better!

Thank you so much for this great list! We have snorkeled 6 of these spots, and will start on the rest next week. One quick question. Where is #2? It says "Spyglass Hill and the extended snorkel around the tip of Soldier Bay." I know where Spyglass Hill is on Tortola-but cannot find Soldier Bay. It sounds beautiful!

I think the reference is to Soldier's Bay on Norman Island.

Does anyone have the waypoints for The Aquarium? Or know if it is located in Spring Bay, Little Trunk Bay, or Valley Trunk Bay? Wheels up tomorrow morning! We could not be any more excited!!

18° 19.3'N 64° 36.9'W

I had another thought about my list, and would like to add "number 11". I'd add this one not necessarily because it is a top site. (it is a good site), but I'd add this one because of location. When we run your typical seven day charter, it seems like all of the snorkeling is in the channel and on the east end. Once you come around by CGB, there really are not a lot of options for good snorkels, including Jost, which IMO does not have great sites. So, number 11 on the list, primarily because of location, would be the Pinnicles at Brewers Bay on Tortola. Our guest in the past year have loved it. It is seldom used (your always alone), and it gives you a great west end option! Enjoy - Capt Derek

If there isn't a north swell running, the reef on the western side of Sandy Spit if great, one of our top 5 favorites in the BVI. Lots of healthy soft corals.

We snorkeled what I believe is Diamond Reef at the base of Camanoe across from Marina Cay a few days ago. Coral was very healthy there, saw a lobster and an octopus, saw some squid and a small shark at night with our light on the water.

Which way is Flash of Beauty from the Big Bamboo? Thanks for the info on the top 11 snorkeling sites.

It's just east of Loblolly Bay and Big Bamboo. Just before you get to Big Bamboo, turn right and go about another half mile.

In one of the replies, there is mention of "Frank's Map/Chart." Is this publicly available? If yes, where might I find it?

Warmly,
MAU2

http://www.angelinacat.com/SALES.htm

Thank you for the link to the list. Very nice!

MAU2