Manchioneel Bay

Manchioneel Bay is Cooper Island’s main anchorage and one of the most beautiful stretches of water in the BVI. Good protection, excellent water, and some of the best sunsets in the islands — Cooper Island Beach Resort sits on the north end of the bay with the Rum Bar and brewery drawing boats in for evening. The bay is a great spot to snorkel or float off the back of the boat: the sea grass is protected and it brings in real marine life — starfish, rays, tarpon, and turtles in numbers you won’t see everywhere. Because that sea grass is protected, anchoring outside the mooring field is difficult and larger boats often end up in deeper water offshore, which is not ideal. Popular at the start and end of charters as a first or last stop — for a quieter visit, aim for the middle of the week when most boaters are on the north side of Tortola.

Good to know

• Sea grass is protected. If you can’t get a mooring, anchoring is genuinely hard — larger boats usually end up in deeper water offshore, which is not ideal in a stiff trade.
• One of the best sunsets in the BVI. Plan dinner ashore or bring cocktails topside.
• Snorkel or float off the boat — the sea grass brings in turtles, rays, tarpon, and starfish.
• Busiest at the start and end of charters. Middle of the week is quieter when most boats are on the other side of Tortola.