BRITISH VIRGIN ISLANDS MAP

 Little Harbor on Jost Van Dyke is an exciting destination. Here we have a barbeque dinner ashore at Sidney’s Peace and Love with the whole fleet. The owner, Strawberry, prepares an authentic Caribbean meal for the whole program to enjoy. After dinner we dance the night away, shop around for some fun souvenirs, and get braids in our hair.

The entirety of this 14 acre island is a nature preserve. Students have the chance to  circumnavigate the island or relax on the white sand beach. Sandy Cay is a popular location for one of Sail Caribbean’s most favorite traditions – Olympics! The huge beach and surrounding shallow water back this little island the perfect destination for the games.

White Bay is a beautiful and untouched Bay on the private Guana Island and just a short dingy ride from Monkey Point, a famous snorkeling spot and protected area in the BVI. Here we enjoy the Caribbean blue water, colorful reef, and calm open bay for watersports.

On the very western end of Tortola is Soper’s Hole. Home to colorful Caribbean shops and restaurants, Soper’s Hole is a charming marina to spend an afternoon. Students have the opportunity to explore, get a smoothie or enjoy some virgin drinks at Pusser’s.

One of the largest marinas on Tortola, Nanny Cay has lots for students to explore! While docked, students have the chance to recharge at beachside Peg Legs or Omar’s Cafe. Students have freedom to explore with the entire fleet while learning how to prepare their boat for the next leg of the journey, they will help re-provision and water up!

Situated in the heart of Tortola at the tip of Road Harbour, Road Town is the capital city of the BVI and the bustling center of activity on Tortola. Visitors dock at Village Cay marina before going to shore to check out the excitement. Favorite spots include La Dolce Vita, a delicious homemade gelato and sorbet spot; HiHo, a Virgin Island based surf-shop, and Pusser’s, the only BVI “chain” restaurant with a great gift shop and island favorites.

Located on the East End of Tortola, Hodges Creek is our home base! All students start and end their voyage here, it is the central hub of all of our programming. Hodges Creek is the primary year-round  location for Sail Caribbean Divers and our Summer office.

The Bight is a popular location on our programs. A famous Sail Caribbean tradition is our ‘heli-hike’ where we hike to the old Helipad on Norman Island. It’s always nice to get a taste of land, the views are incredible up there, and we play some fun ice breaker games to get to know each other.

Little Harbor is a favorite stop on our programs. This little alcove is home to many goats, sea turtles, sting rays – it’s a sure bet you will see one snorkeling. There is also a great historic hike to check out an abandoned hotel and tobacco farm with great views of Little Harbor from above. At this location, we med-anchor the boats, tying a stern line to a rock or tree and are right in the action!

Once known for its three ponds where salt is harvested, Salt Island is also home to the famous wreck of the RMS Rhone. There is a very healthy reef right off the beach at Salt Island. The RMS Rhone is the most visited wreck site in the Caribbean and by far the highlight of any diver’s adventures. The 310-foot ship sank in a storm in 1867 while carrying mail and passengers from Great Britain and is now covered in bright yellow and orange corals. This is a highlight location for marine science seminars and further exploration as there are no commercial buildings on the entirety of the island.

Cooper Island is a frequent location on our programs because most of our dive courses begin here. Sail Caribbean Divers has a small dive shop at Cooper Island Beach Club and Manchioneel Bay has great sandy, clear, shallow beaches to start confined dives and practice technical skills. There is a great reef for snorkeling and finding sleepy sea turtles. Not to mention delicious homemade ice cream ashore!

The Baths is a national park and one of the most famous destinations in the BVI. Here you can climb and explore through the caves and boulders that make up the Baths, take a more scenic and longer walk to picturesque views, and snorkel a vibrant reef. The Baths are usually explored on the final day of program as a memorable way to spend your final hours sailing in the Caribbean.

Bitter End Yacht Club, Virgin Gorda is a famous destination in the North Sound of Virgin Gorda. Here we have a full beach day where students get to explore the yacht club, shop around, get some ice cream, watersport, and of course hop on a hobie cat.

Formed from a reef, rather than volcanic activity with the highest elevation being only 20 feet. Students go on truck tours, explore a shark nursery and see flamingo ponds. Anegada is the one of our furthest destinations, it is about a 4 hour sail from the North Sound, Virgin Gorda. This sail provides a challenge as students need to follow a heading.

Beef Island is Tortola’s neighboring island attached by a small bridge. Years ago there used to be a ‘coconut tax’ to cross the Bridge. Trellis Bay is home to Aragon’s studio, an art store with iconic T-shirts, and Marche’s Sushi restaurant where students get a chance to enjoy a dinner out on the beach! Not to mention, the Mangrove tour Sierra and Foxtrot students get to kayak through is just around the corner.

Home to the Scrub Island resort, students have the opportunity to explore the shops, water trampoline and pool! We often hike to the helipad on one end of Scrub Island where we can see Little Camanoe and Guana Island, at night students have the chance to stargaze and learn about constellations here. This is a popular location for our Truecourse team building games. At night, students take to the end of the docks to feed the tarpon and learn about the night adaptations of local marine life.