Anchorage· Water Island· Virgin Islands (BVI, USVI and Spanish Virgins)
Elephant Bay Anchorage (Water Island)
18° 19.4′ N · 64° 57.1′ W · approximate
The anchorage on Water Island's north side, half a mile across from Crown Bay Marina, where many cruisers lie for easy fuel, groceries and the airport.
Practical
Position approximate: in Elephant Bay near the OpenStreetMap label, checked to be in the water. Noonsite: about 0.5 nm from Crown Bay Marina, the preferred anchorage after the 2017 hurricanes because there were fewer sunken vessels; there are sunken objects in the deeper areas, some marked by private buoys, so buoy your anchor. Coast Pilot: Sandy Point Rock, an elongated shoal with 3 ft least depth, runs 300 yards northwest from the north end of Water Island; the Ruyter Bay pier approach carries about 8 ft with local knowledge. Several dinghy/outboard thefts from yachts here are reported on Noonsite: lift and lock. Designated DPNR anchorage. USVI anchoring rules: DPNR requires an Anchoring Permit for recreational vessels anchoring in USVI waters without a mooring permit, and charter vessels not registered in the USVI need a Cruising Permit for overnight anchoring; pollution and refuse discharge fines run to US$10,000 per offense (DPNR site, 2026). DPNR enforces a 14-day limit in any one designated anchorage in a six-month period (Noonsite, 2018); move bays to restart the count or apply for a long-term permit (up to 30 days).
Best for
Cheap staging for Crown Bay fuel, PriceSmart and the airport
Nearby
- Phillips Landing (Water Island Ferry Dock)0.4 NM away
- Dinghy's Beach Bar & Grill (Honeymoon Beach)0.5 NM away
- Honeymoon Beach (Water Island)0.5 NM away
- Krum Bay (Hurricane Shelter)0.5 NM away
- Supermarket Reef (Limestone Bay, Water Island)0.5 NM away
- Crown Bay Marina0.6 NM away
- Crown Bay Marina Fuel Dock0.6 NM away
- Druif Bay / Honeymoon Bay Anchorage (Water Island)0.6 NM away
Place data includes © OpenStreetMap contributors (ODbL).