Anguilla snorkeling – Best 12 Spots to visit
The small British Overseas Territory, Anguilla is a not-so-known gem in the Caribbean Sea consisting of one main island and several smaller islets. Year-round perfect weather provides visitors fantastic conditions to explore beautiful white sandy beaches and enjoy various activities. Although this destination is not the most famous for underwater sports, the clear waters and colorful sea life still make it suitable for snorkeling. Should you look for the best spots to explore the island’s coral reefs and marine life, here we tell you what places to visit!
Overview
With its warm, clear waters and shallow reefs, Anguilla offers good snorkeling for novice and intermediate snorkelers. However, the reefs are less vibrant, and the aquatic life is not as rich as at other popular Caribbean snorkeling destinations such as Roatan, Bonaire, and St. John, so experienced snorkelers should consider one of these islands.
The best snorkeling spot in Anguilla is Prickly Pear Island, but it is accessible only by boat. For off-beach snorkeling, Shoal Bay East offers the best conditions. The ideal time to visit is between February and May when the weather is dry and the room rates are lower.
Prickley Pear Cays
Prickly Pear Cay consists of two uninhabited small islands about six miles north of the main island. For snorkeling, you should choose the Eastern Cay. The island’s southern shoreline is very rocky, but there is a beautiful, long sandy beach on its northern side with a reef running just offshore.
We didn’t find the corals exceptionally nice, but in the shallow, clear water you can see a lot of sea life, including shoals of Blue Tang fish and even nurse sharks if you are lucky. The best thing we loved about this spot is the on-site restaurant (Prickly Pear Bar), where you can grab some snacks and chilled drinks. I don’t know how it is with you, but we are always super hungry after snorkeling 🙂 Besides offering food, this is where you can rent paddleboards and kayaks.
Shoal Bay East
Shoal Bay East has been ranked as one of the top ten beaches in the world because of its beauty. This large beach on the northwest, lee side of the island, has soft white sands and crystal blue water. This is the best snorkeling beach in Anguilla for beginners and families with kids because the reef is easily accessible from the shore.
We found the best area to snorkel in front of the Elodias Resort. There is a lot of sea life to see in the shallow water, including fish species and stingrays. We were told that occasionally, you can see hawksbill turtles too, but unfortunately, we were not lucky to see one. We swam a little further out to the outer edge, too; the corals are in better condition than close to the shore. However, we recommend this site only for advanced snorkelers who are very confident in the water, as the current can be tricky.
Shoal Bay is one of the most developed beaches on the island. There are food vendors, equipment rental, restaurants and resorts nearby, so you can have a comfortable beach day here. Another thing that we enjoyed here (and I’m sure you will do too) is that the food stalls and shops play cheerful Caribbean music, which gives the area a very laid-back atmosphere.
Junks Hole – Savannah Bay
Savannah Bay, also known as Junks Hole lies on the southeast coast of the island. The beach is very isolated, and there is little development in the area; this makes it a great spot for those who like under-the-radar beaches, but not for those who prefer having developed sites. Although, there is a beach shack here (Palm Groove Barbeque) which should be open daily, but we found it closed so we can’t comment on it.
Still, we went snorkeling. Accessing the water was easy, you just walk in from the shore. The sea is very shallow for a few meters, but if you swim a little further out, it is deep enough just to float over the reef and admire the marine life.
However, you should know that the beach got the nickname Junks Hole for a good reason. It is in a jet stream, and sometimes a lot of ocean debris (junk) washes up on the shore.
Meads Bay
Meads Bay is a trendy beach on the western side of Anguilla. The area has several resorts, so we expected it to be busy, but the beach was relatively empty. We don’t know why, because it is a fabulous beach to visit, but we liked it because we could spend the day relaxing, just soaking up the sun and cooling off in the water while snorkeling.
We found the best spot in Four Seasons. The water was clear and calm and filled with an abundance of tropical fish and sea life, such as angelfish, butterflyfish, and moray eels.
Crocus Bay
Many people say that Crocus Bay has some of the best snorkeling in Anguilla, so of course we checked it out. It is located on the northwestern part of the island, only a few miles from The Valley, which is the capital of Anguilla. The beach itself is long and has soft sand, so it truly looks beautiful.
To get to the reef, we entered the water in front of Da Vida’s restaurant and swam along the cliff’s edge. We saw various Caribbean fish such as trumpet fish, banded butterflyfish, surgeon fish, and groupers, and also some other interesting creatures like sea cucumbers, feather dusters, and Christmas tree worms.
These fluttery, colorful creatures look like small flowers underwater, but you will know that they are worms if they disappear when you put your hand in front of them (remember, never touch them!). For a few second, we also spotted a hawksbill turtle, but he was shy and swam away. It is said that even a manta ray visits the bay frequently. Unfortunately, we didn’t see him, but you might be lucky, so keep your eyes open!
We want to draw attention to the presence of boats and yachts in this area; sometimes, the bay gets very busy, so be extremely careful and don’t swim near them. Also, keep in mind that the area is not overly developed; although there are many villas and apartments for rent nearby, there is only a canoe rental and one bar/restaurant (it is called Da Vida as mentioned above). We didn’t rent sunbeds, but we saw some in front of the restaurant. We tried the restaurant, though (we had a grilled chicken salad and a pizza) and the food was delicious. It turned out later that it is one of the island’s most popular beachfront restaurants, so we recommend trying it out!
Sandy Hill Bay
Sandy Hill Bay is a beautiful crescent-shaped beach with gorgeous white sand and clear waters. Local families often visit for a picnic and a day at the beach.
The surrounding area is not developed (no shops or vendors), so you will need to bring snacks and drinks with you. Thanks to the protecting outer reef, the water is always calm and clear here, making Sandy Hill Bay a beginner-friendly snorkel spot.
Swimming along the inner side of the reef, we found healthy corals and a great variety of Caribbean fish species, mostly parrotfish and sergeant majors. We couldn’t check out the outer side as the water was too choppy.
Tip: Anguilla’s neighboring island, St Maarten also features rich marine life. If you are considering visiting that other dreamy Caribbean destination too, read our St Maarten snorkeling guide!
Limestone Bay
Limestone Bay is another local favorite, located on the island’s northern end. It is a wide beach, so there is plenty of room for picnics and sunbathing.
Snorkeling here is recommended only for strong swimmers. There are currents and rocks on both ends of the beach, therefore, enter the water only if you find the water conditions good enough and you are very confident in the water. Around the rocky area, there are many fish and beautiful soft corals like gorgonians, sea rods, and sea fans.
Corito Bay
The beach in Corito Bay has crystal white sand and a large area where you can sunbathe or play. Frankly, this was one of our favorite beaches on the island; the water was super calm, and there were hardly any boats docked in the bay, so we could freely swim around without worrying about boats. It felt like a tropical paradise because of the laid-back atmosphere and beautiful landscape. However, the area is not built up; there are only a few private homes around, so ensure you have all your supplies when you visit the beach.
The reef lies about 200 yards from the shoreline and is teeming with life. We saw all kinds of Caribbean reef fish and even turtles!
Katouche Bay
If you are looking for a super snorkel spot in Anguilla that even locals don’t know, visit Katouche Bay! It is a small beach hidden behind beautiful cliffs and a tropical forest. Here, you find nothing but soft sand and iguanas sunbathing on the rocks. The water at this beach is very calm and shallow for a good distance out, making it great for snorkeling.
There is one small resort on top of the cliff area, no other structures. If you visit this spot, make sure you bring some good hiking shoes to get to the beach and enough refreshments for the day to enjoy this (almost) private paradise!
Barnes Bay Beach
Barnes Bay, on the West End, is one of the most popular beaches in Anguilla. It is a huge, family-friendly beach with gorgeous white sand. The water is very calm, making it great for swimming and water activities.
There is one restaurant here, Mango Seaside Grill, but it is open for dinner only, so come prepared and bring your beach necessities, snacks and drinks. Although this place is very popular, we didn’t find it crowded and would love to come back again.
Dropsey Bay
Dropsey Bay (also known as Jobsie Bay) is perhaps one of the most picturesque beaches on the island. It is also a fantastic place to go snorkeling and swim with turtles. You can explore a large reef at the bay, a cave, and even an underwater bridge. However, make sure that you swim with a buddy and have powerful flippers because the currents can be strong here.
This is a very secluded spot; do not be surprised if you are the only one there. The beach is small, but it is still very nice. Bring all your necessary supplies for the day because it is a distance to any store or resort.
Little Bay
Little Bay is the most secluded beach in Anguilla; it is tucked away and can only be reached by kayak or boat. Well, in fact, it is possible to access Little Bay from land, too, but you need to climb down on a rope through a rocky area, so we skipped this option and chose the boat transfer, which costs approximately 20 USD in return.
We enjoyed our snorkeling in Little Bay; the water was perfectly clear, and there were so few people at the beach, if any, so we didn’t need to worry about the sea life being scared off by swimmers or boats. However, we heard this spot is getting very popular with many boats bringing people, so the situation might be different now. Pack everything you need during the day if you visit this beach because there is nothing there but sand, sun, and a couple of palm trees. To get to Little Bay, go to Crocus Bay and look for Calvin’s Boat near the giant tamarind tree!
About the climate and best time to go
Thanks to its tropical climate with year-round pleasant air and water temperatures, snorkeling in Anguilla is possible in all seasons. However, certain months are more advisable than others, which we discuss now.
The recommended travel period is a dry season between December and early June. There is a wet season from June till October. During this period, the weather can be rainy and stormy, causing poor visibility in the water. Therefore, we say it is better to avoid these months if exploring the underwater world is your main priority. September and October are the peak of the rainy season and the Caribbean hurricane season when even hotels and resorts close due to the possible bad weather conditions.
Travelers seeking good vacation deals should visit the island from November till early December, too, just right before the high season starts. There is still a chance of rain at this time, but room rates are lower (hotels can be insanely expensive during the holidays!), and you might be lucky to have good weather.
To sum it up, the best time for an Anguilla snorkeling vacation is the second half of the dry season (from mid-February till the end of May), when you can expect good weather with little rain and no strong winds. Accommodation prices are lower during these months than in the high season and the island is less crowded. The sea never gets too cold (the lowest water temperature is 26C/79.8F during January and February), but from April, it warms up to 28-29C (82.4-84.2F), so you can stay longer in the water without feeling cold.
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