Moorings
In order for sailors to enjoy the many beautiful sites both above and below the water, The BVI National Parks Trust has installed over 200 mooring buoys (surface buoys attached to stainless steel pins set in bedrock) for day-time use only at many BVI dive sites.
The system has been operating since 1991, and is aimed at protecting the fragile, underwater marine ecology from physical damage, particularly by boat anchors, and at maintaining the pristine reefs for the future.
There is a 90-minute time limit on all moorings, and use is on a first-come, first-serve basis. Vessels over 55 feet in length or over 35 tons are not allowed to use any regular mooring, but they can use the larger yellow buoys, which are 18 inches in diameter.
Please note that in virtually all of the areas where the National Parks Trust moorings are found, the areas can encounter rough and unpredictable seas. In addition, some buoys are in the vicinity of shallow rocks and reefs. The moorings are, therefore, for DAY USE only, and it is illegal to use them overnight.
Sailors must check the integrity of their mooring, its pick-up line, and down-line for safety before tying up or leaving the vessel. They are responsible for the vessel, even when tied to a National Parks mooring.
A small fee is charged for the use of the moorings. This conservation fee provides for the maintenance of the system and installation of new buoys in other high traffic areas.
Sailors must, by law, obtain a National Parks Permit, either from the charter company when Customs is cleared, or from the National Parks Trust Office at 61 Main St. Road Town, Tortola.
The mooring buoys are 13 inches in diameter and are colour coded as follows:
ORANGE BUOYS: Non-diving, day use only
YELLOW BUOYS: Commercial dive vessels only
LARGE YELLOW BUOYS: Commercial vessels or vessels over 55 ft.
WHITE BUOYS: Non-commercial vessels, for daytime dive use only
BLUE BUOYS: For dinghy use only
Anegada: Anegada Reef Hotel
Island: Anegada
http://www.anegadareef.com/ info@anegadareef.com Tel: (284) 495-8002
Anegada: Neptune's Treasure
Island: Anegada
http://www.neptunestreasure.com/ information@neptunestreasure.com Tel: (284) 495-9439
Brewer's Bay Green Cay
Island: Green Cay
National Parks Trust.
Cane Garden Bay: Tortola Rhymer's Beach Bar
Island: Tortola - Cane Garden Bay
Tel: (284) 495-4639
Dead Chest Island The Rhone Marine Park
Island: Dead Chest
National Parks Trust.
Devil's Bay Fort Point
Island: Virgin Gorda
National Parks Trust.
Fallen Jerusalem The Baths
Island: Fallen Jerusalem
National Parks Trust.
Fat Hogs Bay: East End Tortola Penn's Landing
Island: Tortola - East End
http://www.b-v-i.com/FatHogsBay/
penns@mmsbvi.com Tel: (284) 495-1134
Ginger Island Carvel Rock
Island: Carvel Rock
National Parks Trust.
Great Camanoe Great Thatch
Island: Great Camanoe
National Parks Trust.
Great Dog Necker Island (Invisible's)
Island: Great Dog
National Parks Trust.
Little Harbour, Jost Van Dyke: Harris' Place
Island: Jost Van Dyke - Little Harbour
Tel: (284) 495-9302
Little Harbour: Jost Van Dyke Abe's
Island: Jost Van Dyke - Little Harbour
Tel: (284) 495-9329
Manchioneel Bay, Cooper Island: Cooper Island Beach Club
Island: Cooper Island
http://www.cooper-island.com/ info@cooper-island.com Tel: (800) 542-4624
Marina Cay: Pusser's
Island: Marina Cay
www.pussers.com/outposts/marina_cay marinacay@pussers.com Tel: (284) 494-2174
Mosquito Island, North Sound, Virgin Gorda: Drake's Anchorage
Island: Virgin Gorda - North Sound
Tel: (284) 494-2254
Mountain Point, Virgin Gorda, Seal Dog
Island: Virgin Gorda
National Parks Trust.
Norman Island The Indians
Island: Norman Island
National Parks Trust.
North Sound, Virgin Gorda: Bitter End Yacht Club
Island: Virgin Gorda - North Sound
http://www.beyc.com/ binfo@beyc.com Tel: (800) 872-2392
Pelican Island, Peter Island & The Rhone's Anchor
Island: Pelican Island
National Parks Trust.
Prickly Pear Island, North Sound, Virgin Gorda: Vixen Point
Island: Virgin Gorda - North Sound
Salt Island Cooper Island
Island: Salt Island
National Parks Trust.
Scrub Island Guana Island
Island: Scrub Island
National Parks Trust.
The Bight, Norman Island: Norman Island
Island: Norman Island
www.normanisland.com/info.htmTrellis Bay, Beef Island: The Last Resort
Island: Tortola - Beef Island
lastresort@surfbvi.com Tel: (284) 495-2520
West End Tortola: Soper's Hole Marina
Island: Tortola - West End / Soper's Hole
www.sopershole.com/about.html erin@surfbvi.com Tel: (284) 495-4589
Anchorages
The beautiful, clear waters of the British Virgin Islands offer countless anchorages. Sailors should use caution when anchoring to prevent damage to fragile coral reefs. Where mooring buoys are not provided, sailors should anchor in sandy areas and be sure to never sail at night. Nightfall arrives quickly, and even the most experienced sailors in the BVI do not sail past dusk.
Although we have listed several accepted anchorages throughout the islands, it is recommended that current navigational charts be used when cruising and anchoring in the BVI waters. U.S. National Ocean Service (NOAA), U.S. Defense Mapping Agency, British Admiralty and Imray produce charts for the area. Electronic charts are available from C-Map, BSB/NOAA, Garmin G-Map, Laser Plot, Maptech, Navionics and Northstar..
Deadman's Bay, Peter IslandIsland: Peter Island
Eastern tip; long beach at the yacht club; prone to swell particularly in winter.
Great Harbour, Jost Van DykeIsland: Tortola
Well protected harbour bordered by white sand beach and restaurant.
Little Harbour, Jost Van DykeIsland: Jost Van Dyke - Little Harbour
Calm, quiet lagoon, three restaurants on shore.
Machioneel Bay, Cooper's IslandIsland: Cooper Island
Northwest shore; dock for dinghies, beach and restaurant.
Marina CayIsland: Marina Cay
North of Trellis Bay, enter from the north to skirt coral. Moorings, small beach, Pusser's Restaurant and Stores, and the Rob White happy hour bar on the top of the eight acre island.
North Sound, Virgin GordaIsland: Virgin Gorda - North Sound
Eastern tip of the island, surrounded by several islands, a variety of overnight anchorages; northern Caquhoun Reef for drafts greater than five feet; Anguilla Point entrance for shallow drafts in calm weather only; restaurants.
Pelican Islands & The IndiansIsland: Pelican Island
Close to The Bight, good snorkelling and scuba diving.
Road Harbour, TortolaIsland: Tortola - Road Town Area
The BVI's largest harbour bordered by Road Town; immigration and custom facilities; shops, restaurants, grocery store, and marina close by.
Salt IslandIsland: Salt Island
Location of the Wreck of the Rhone II, accessible by moorings at Lee Bay. Both Lee Bay and Salt Pond Bay have rough anchorages - recommended for day use only.
Sandy Cay, Jost Van DykeIsland: Jost Van Dyke
Long white sandy beach; prone to swells.
Soper's Hole, West End TortolaIsland: Tortola - West End / Soper's Hole
One of the main ports of entry, deep and sheltered. Restaurant, ferries, marinas, and immigration and custom clearance.
The Baths, Virgin GordaIsland: Virgin Gorda
Southwestern shore; small grottoes and pools, excellent snorkelling; overnight swells are common.
The Bight, Norman IslandIsland: Norman Island
Uninhabited, hiking to the top of the island; caves reachable by dinghy.
The DogsIsland: Virgin Gorda - North Sound
Between North Sound, Virgin Gorda and Jost Van Dyke; look to anchor on calm days west of George Dog or on south side of Great Dog.
Trellis Bay, Beef IslandIsland: Tortola - Beef Island
Sheltered anchorage across from Marina Cay bordered by semicircular beach; restaurants, water sports, arts and crafts, and cyber café on premises. A short walk to the airport. Great Full Moon Party too.
White Bay, Jost Van DykeIsland: Jost Van Dyke - White Bay
A channel through the reef provides access; subject to swells in the winter; white sand beach and restaurant.