In order for sailors to enjoy the many beautiful sites both above and below the water, The BVI National Parks Trust has installed more than 200 mooring buoys (surface buoys attached to stainless steel pins set in bedrock) for daytime 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 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 may use 18-inch diameter yellow buoys only.
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
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.
Moorings
Anegada Reef Hotel Island: Anegada Website: www.anegadareef.com | Email: info@anegadareef.com | Tel: (284) 495-8002
Neptune's Treasure Island: Anegada Website: www.neptunestreasure.com | Email: information@neptunestreasure.com | Tel: (284) 495-9439
Green Cay Island: Green Cay National Parks Trust.
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.
Penn's Landing Island: Tortola - East End - Fat Hogs Bay Website: www.pennslandingbvi.com | Email: pennslandingmarina@gmail.com | Tel: (284) 495-1134
Ginger Island Carvel Rock Island: Carvel Rock National Parks Trust.
Great Camanoe Island: Great Camanoe National Parks Trust.
Great Dog (Invisible's) Island: Great Dog National Parks Trust.
Harris' Place Island: Jost Van Dyke - Little Harbour Tel: (284) 495-9302
Abe's Island: Jost Van Dyke - Little Harbour Tel: (284) 495-9329
Cooper Island Beach Club Island: Cooper Island - Manchioneel Bay Website: www.cooperislandbeachclub.com | Email: reservations@cooperislandbeachclub.com | Tel: (800) 542-4624
Pusser's Marina Cay Island: Marina Cay Website: www.pussers.com/t-marina-cay.aspx | Email: marinacay@pussers.com | Tel: (284) 494-2174
Mosquito Island, North Sound, Virgin Gorda Island: Virgin Gorda - North Sound Tel: (284) 494-2254
Mountain Point, Virgin Gorda Island: Virgin Gorda National Parks Trust.
Norman Island / The Indians Island: Norman Island National Parks Trust.
Bitter End Yacht Club Island: Virgin Gorda - North Sound Website: www.beyc.com | Email: binfo@beyc.com | Tel: (800) 872-2392
Pelican Island, Peter Island & The Rhone's Anchor Island: Pelican Island National Parks Trust.
Vixen Point, Prickly Pear Island, North Sound Island: Virgin Gorda - North Sound
Salt Island Island: Salt Island National Parks Trust.
Scrub Island Guana Island Island: Scrub Island National Parks Trust.
The Bight, Norman Island Island: Norman Island Website: www.normanisland.com/info.htm
The Last Resort Island: Tortola - Beef Island - Trellis Bay Website: www.lastresortbvi.com | Email: info@lastresortbvi.com | Tel: (284) 495-2520
Soper's Hole Wharf & Marina Island: Tortola - West End / Soper's Hole Website: www.sopersholemarina.com | Email: erinrentals@gmail.com | Tel: (284) 494 2983
Spanish Town, Virgin Gorda Island: Virgin Gorda Tel: (284) 442 6178 or (284) 547-6178
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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 Island Island: Peter Island Eastern tip; long beach at the yacht club; prone to swell particularly in winter.
Great Harbour, Jost Van Dyke Island: Tortola Well protected harbour bordered by white sand beach and restaurant.
Little Harbour, Jost Van Dyke Island: Jost Van Dyke - Little Harbour Calm, quiet lagoon, three restaurants on shore.
Machioneel Bay, Cooper's Island Island: Cooper Island Northwest shore; dock for dinghies, beach and restaurant.
Marina Cay Island: 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 Gorda Island: 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 Indians Island: Pelican Island Close to The Bight, good snorkelling and scuba diving.
Road Harbour, Tortola Island: 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 Island Island: 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 Dyke Island: Jost Van Dyke Long white sandy beach; prone to swells.
Soper's Hole, West End Tortola Island: 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 Gorda Island: Virgin Gorda Southwestern shore; small grottoes and pools, excellent snorkelling; overnight swells are common.
The Bight, Norman Island Island: Norman Island Uninhabited, hiking to the top of the island; caves reachable by dinghy.
The Dogs Island: 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 Island Island: 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 Dyke Island: Jost Van Dyke - White Bay A channel through the reef provides access; subject to swells in the winter; white sand beach and restaurant.
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