Cooper Island and Manchioneel Bay
Aquanimity stops at Cooper Island most weeks. It sits along the south side of Sir Francis Drake Channel, an easy sail from Tortola and a natural last night before the run back.
We pick up a mooring in Manchioneel Bay, on the island’s northwest side. The island itself blocks the trade winds that blow out of the east all week, so the bay stays flat when the channel outside is not.
That shelter is the reason we come. It makes for a settled night and swimming straight off the steps.
What Is Ashore
The Rum Bar
The beach club is known for an unusually deep Caribbean rum list. If rum is your thing, this is the stop to take your time over.
The Beach
The beach runs the curve of the bay directly in front of the mooring field — sand, palms, loungers, and water shallow enough to stand in a long way out. It is a short dinghy ride from the boat to the dock.
Sunset
The bay faces west. That is the whole reason Cooper Island has the sunset reputation it does. Nothing between you and the horizon, and you are already pointed at it.
Snorkelling Straight Off the Boat
Cistern Point, the rocky point on the south side of the bay, is the one to swim toward. Turtles feed on the seagrass beds between the point and the beach and are commonly seen there. Eagle rays pass through.
Anchoring over the seagrass and coral is not permitted, which is exactly why the turtle grazing is as good as it is. We take a mooring ball instead.
Because the bay is sheltered and shallow near shore, it suits people who are not confident swimmers. You can be a few feet from the swim steps and still have something to look at.
Diving from Cooper Island
Salt Island is the next island along, and the wreck of the RMS Rhone lies off its southwestern end. She is the best-known dive in the British Virgin Islands.
Scuba is not included in the charter. We arrange rendezvous diving with a local operator who meets the boat, at additional cost. Whether the Rhone is diveable on a given day comes down to the swell and your captain’s read of the conditions.
Visibility
Water clarity in this part of the channel is generally good, and better on days without much swell running.
The Rhone
She went down in a hurricane in 1867 and lies broken across two depths, which is why both newer and experienced divers can dive her.
What You See Down There
Barracuda, reef fish, coral heads, and on the Rhone herself a great deal of encrusting growth after more than a century and a half on the bottom.
How the Stop Usually Goes
Moorings in the bay can fill up during the season, so arriving earlier in the day improves your chances of getting one.
Then swim, snorkel toward Cistern Point, or paddleboard around the bay. Ashore there is the beach club, a coffee shop and a small boutique — that is the whole island.
If you would rather go ashore for a drink and the sunset, or eat ashore that night, that is easy to arrange; meals ashore are at your own expense rather than included in the charter.
The Night
After dark the bay goes quiet. This is not Norman Island. There is no floating bar and no sound system.
What you get instead is the mooring lights of the other boats, the smell of somebody’s dinner across the water, and the hulls ticking over in the shelter of the island.
Why Cooper Island Earns Its Night
Cooper Island is the quiet one. There is no cruise-ship traffic, no ferry dock, and nothing ashore beyond the beach club, a coffee shop and a boutique. What it has instead is shelter from the trades, water clear enough to see the turtles from the boat, and a west-facing bay. It is the stop guests are most surprised by, because on paper there is not much there.
Many Aquanimity guests stop at Cooper Island while sailing between Norman Island, Peter Island, Virgin Gorda, and Jost Van Dyke. As a result, Cooper Island often becomes one of the easiest islands to enjoy because guests can paddleboard directly from the yacht, swim in protected water, and relax without heavy crowds or rushed schedules.
In addition, Cooper Island pairs especially well with a private catamaran charter because guests are not limited to ferries, resort schedules, or day-trip timing. Instead, guests can enjoy sunset cocktails onboard, early morning snorkeling, floating in calm turquoise water, and peaceful overnight anchoring directly off the island.
What Guests Remember About Their Aquanimity Charter
“Each day was filled with snorkeling, breathtaking sunsets, wonderful food, and meaningful conversation.”
— Jack & Cheryl N.“The boat was clean with nice pillows, lots of fun water floats and many places to sit in the boat to just relax.”
— Planning Our Next Trip Already!“Thank you for taking us to those secret secluded places away from crowds.”
— Keith & Teresa H.Build Cooper Island Into a Larger BVI Catamaran Itinerary
Cooper sits in the middle of the southern chain, so it slots in easily beside Norman Island, Peter Island, Salt Island and the run up to Virgin Gorda. It works as a first night out of Tortola or as a last one before heading back. Your captain will decide which on the day, based on the wind and where everyone wants to be.
“What really stood out was how he found stunning, quiet anchorages each night, away from the crowds.”
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