Wildlife· Dog Island· Leeward Islands
Dog Island (Anguilla)
18° 16.7′ N · 63° 15.2′ W
A low, rocky, uninhabited 207-hectare island about 13 km NW of Anguilla, with three outlying cays (West Cay, East Cay, Mid Cay). It hosts one of the Caribbean's great seabird colonies, with over 100,000 pairs of sooty terns, plus tropicbirds, frigatebirds, masked and brown boobies and noddies.
Practical
Marine park: anchoring is prohibited or severely restricted and there is no fishing. The local agent lists it as a daytime stop only (overnight at your own risk). Open-ocean exposure, so go in very settled weather. Rats were eradicated in a project from 2011, and boats (especially any that stay overnight) are the main reinvasion risk: never land with food or gear that could carry rodents, and do not take pets ashore. Diving here is for experienced divers only because of strong currents. Tour operators can arrange visits.
Best for
Seabird spectacle in settled weather
Season
Seabird nesting peaks in spring-summer; settled weather only