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Ocean Calling

Ocean Atlas · Caribbean

Caribbean

British Virgin Islands

Calm sailing waters between many small islands, the RMS Rhone wreck, a long barrier reef at Anegada, and humpbacks passing in late winter.

Green hills of Pleasant Valley on Tortola above the blue sea
Pleasant Valley, Tortola · Photo: Dietmar Lichota on Unsplash
Exploring

Ethics pass, with care. We found a way to visit this country that meets our animal-welfare standard, as long as we work with the right local operator. Checked by Ocean Calling on 26 Sep 2026. Sources: Pew applauds the BVI for permanent shark sanctuary, Pew Charitable Trusts, 2014; Turtle season closed April 1 to November 30, Government of the Virgin Islands; Annual closed season for sea turtles in effect, Virgin Islands News Online.

🧭 Travel advice, checked 30 Sep 2026. The US State Department rates the British Virgin Islands at Level 1, exercise normal precautions, in an advisory issued 22 May 2026. It notes that hurricanes happen regularly, from June to November. Sources: US State Department travel advisory, British Virgin Islands Advice differs by passport: check your own government before you plan.

ScubaSnorkellingWhalesTurtlesSharks

Why British Virgin Islands

The British Virgin Islands are a British Overseas Territory of many small islands around a calm and sheltered channel, so it is one of the easiest places to live on a sailing boat for a week. A small sailing retreat is an idea we are exploring here. The RMS Rhone, a mail ship lost in a hurricane in 1867, lies in a protected marine park at Salt Island, and at Anegada an 18 mile barrier reef is protected and anchoring on it is not allowed. Since 2014 commercial fishing of sharks and rays is banned in all BVI waters. Humpback whales pass from about January to April, and we only watch them from the boat. It is still legal to take some green and hawksbill turtles outside the closed season, and there is a captive dolphin attraction on Tortola, which Ocean Calling does not visit. Hurricanes Irma and Maria hit very hard in 2017, and coral disease has reached many reefs, so we will be honest about reef health. There is no recompression chamber in the territory, so dive plans stay conservative. Hurricane season is June to November, so late winter and spring look best.

Conservation-led. Ocean Calling guests never chase, touch or bait animals.

United States of AmericaHaitiDominican Rep.BahamasMexicoBrazilColombiaPanamaCosta RicaNicaraguaHondurasEl SalvadorGuatemalaBelizeVenezuelaGuyanaSurinameFrancePuerto RicoJamaicaCubaTrinidad and TobagoSalt Island and the RMS Rhone, British Virgin IslandsNorman Island and the Indians, British Virgin IslandsVirgin Gorda, British Virgin IslandsAnegada and Horseshoe Reef, British Virgin Islands

When to go

Feb-May. Timing changes by place and by animal, so check each place below.

We have researched this place and keep learning about it. There is no trip here yet.

Our ethics check

Can we travel here ethically?

Ethics pass, with care

Good with the right operator. Here is how we choose.

Since 2014 all BVI waters are a shark and ray sanctuary, and reef, wreck and turtle snorkels can be done in a calm and respectful way. Some green and hawksbill turtles may still be legally taken outside the closed season, and captive dolphins are sold to visitors on Tortola. We never visit captive dolphins, we do not eat turtle, and we watch humpbacks only from the boat.

Checked 26 Sep 2026. Places change, so we look again every year.

Sources for this check
Places we are exploring

Where in British Virgin Islands

Short notes from our research. Wildlife is never guaranteed.

Salt Island and the RMS Rhone

Exploring

A marine park around the wreck of the RMS Rhone, a mail ship lost in a hurricane in 1867, now covered in coral and fish.

🤿 In the water: Wreck life on the RMS Rhone, Reef fish and corals, Turtles (possible), Barracuda

When: Feb-May. The wreck lies in about 6 to 24 m of water, so snorkellers see the shallow parts and divers see the bow and engines. Anchoring and fishing are not allowed in the park, boats use the park moorings with a permit.

Norman Island and the Indians

Exploring

Small islands at the south of the channel with sea caves and rocky pinnacles for easy snorkelling and diving.

🤿 In the water: Reef fish in the caves and on the pinnacles, Turtles (possible), Southern stingrays and eagle rays (possible)

When: Feb-May. Sheltered water most of the year. Popular with day boats, so early or late visits are calmer. Park moorings only, no anchoring.

Virgin Gorda

Exploring

A quieter island with granite boulder bays, reefs on the north side and a protected sound for sailing.

🤿 In the water: Reef fish among the granite boulders, Turtles (possible), Nurse sharks resting on the reef (possible)

⛵ From the boat or shore, never in the water: Humpback whales from the boat, about January to April

When: Feb-May. Winter north swell can make some bays rough. The famous boulder bays get busy with day visitors, so early visits are calmer. Only a clinic on the island, the hospital is on Tortola.

Anegada and Horseshoe Reef

Exploring

A flat coral island ringed by an 18 mile barrier reef, with flamingos in the salt ponds and very few people.

🤿 In the water: Shallow reef fish and corals near shore, Turtles (possible), Southern stingrays and eagle rays (possible)

⛵ From the boat or shore, never in the water: Humpback whales in the passage, about January to April, Flamingos in the salt ponds, Anegada rock iguanas on land

When: Feb-May. Horseshoe Reef is protected: anchoring on it is not allowed and the reef has caused hundreds of shipwrecks, so only experienced local skippers go close. Only a small clinic on the island and flights or ferries a few times a week.

Animals

Animals recorded in British Virgin Islands

Tap an animal to learn how it lives, where it travels and how to meet it respectfully.

Land animals
Humpback whale swimming close with long pectoral finHumpback whaleMegaptera novaeangliaeSeen in 87 countries in the AtlasLeast ConcernGreen turtle resting on the reef, shell and head pattern in sharp detailGreen turtleChelonia mydasSeen in 103 countries in the AtlasLeast ConcernHawksbill turtle swimming, pointed beak in profileHawksbill turtleEretmochelys imbricataSeen in 88 countries in the AtlasCritically EndangeredLeatherback hatchling crossing the sand toward the seaLeatherback turtleDermochelys coriaceaSeen in 76 countries in the AtlasVulnerableLoggerhead turtle at the surface feeding on Portuguese man o' warLoggerhead turtleCaretta carettaSeen in 89 countries in the AtlasVulnerableNurse shark swimming over a reef at Fernando de Noronha, BrazilAtlantic nurse sharkGinglymostoma cirratumSeen in 38 countries in the AtlasVulnerableLemon shark seen from above, gliding over a pale sandy seabedLemon sharkNegaprion brevirostrisSeen in 16 countries in the AtlasVulnerableSouthern stingray resting on white sand, St John, US Virgin IslandsSouthern stingrayHypanus americanusSeen in 33 countries in the AtlasNear ThreatenedWhitespotted eagle ray gliding over reef and sand in BelizeWhitespotted eagle rayAetobatus narinariSeen in 58 countries in the AtlasEndangeredGreat barracuda cruising in open blue water, showing jagged teethGreat barracudaSphyraena barracudaSeen in 84 countries in the AtlasLeast ConcernCommon bottlenose dolphin swimming over a seagrass bedCommon bottlenose dolphinTursiops truncatusSeen in 89 countries in the AtlasLeast ConcernRed lionfish with spread fins over sand in Dauin, PhilippinesLionfish (red and common lionfish)Pterois volitans and Pterois milesSeen in 80 countries in the AtlasLeast ConcernMale magnificent frigatebird perched on a mangrove branchMagnificent frigatebirdFregata magnificensSeen in 52 countries in the AtlasLeast ConcernCaribbean reef shark swimming close over a reef in the BahamasCaribbean reef sharkCarcharhinus pereziSeen in 19 countries in the AtlasEndangeredAmerican flamingo wading in shallow water with its head lowered toward the surface, Yucatán, MexicoAmerican flamingoPhoenicopterus ruberSeen in 47 countries in the AtlasLives on landLeast ConcernAnegada rock iguana among dry leaf litter and scrub on AnegadaAnegada rock iguanaCyclura pinguisSeen in 1 country in the AtlasLives on landCritically EndangeredMasked booby on Ascension IslandMasked boobySula dactylatraSeen in 80 countries in the AtlasLeast ConcernQueen conch with a reddish spiny shell resting on seagrass over sandy seabedQueen conchAliger gigasSeen in 32 countries in the AtlasNear ThreatenedAdult brown booby standing on a rock with its bill open against blue sky, PrincipeBrown boobySula leucogasterSeen in 104 countries in the AtlasLeast ConcernScarlet ibis in flight against a pale blue sky, photographed in Georgetown, GuyanaScarlet ibisEudocimus ruberSeen in 22 countries in the AtlasLives on landLeast ConcernClose view of a red-footed booby head with blue, pink and red bill and throat skin among green leavesRed-footed boobySula sulaSeen in 91 countries in the AtlasLeast ConcernTarpon swimming in open blue water with a dense school of small fish behind it, off St John in the US Virgin IslandsAtlantic tarponMegalops atlanticusSeen in 24 countries in the AtlasVulnerableCrowd of brown pelicans packed together on a coastal roost, one adult with a pale head and coloured bill facing the cameraBrown pelicanPelecanus occidentalisSeen in 48 countries in the AtlasLeast ConcernCaribbean spiny lobster at the edge of a reef overhang with long antennae trailing across sandCaribbean spiny lobsterPanulirus argusSeen in 30 countries in the AtlasData Deficient
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