Buck Island, British Virgin Islands

Buck Island, British Virgin Islands

 

Buck Island comprises approximately 43 acres with a landbase of 1.37 acres on adjacent Tortola. The main house on Buck Island was completed in the summer of 2006 incorporating finishes to the highest standard.

The island has three hills, each with 360° views and level house sites. You can go swimming and snorkeling from the beach. Beach facilities include the clubhouse and sports hut. Extensive dock and marine facilities exist on the island. The landbase comprises a two bedroom house and gatehouse. Buck Island is situated near the world's finest deep-sea fishing grounds, in the middle of Sir Francis Drake Channel surrounded by waters from shoal to 15 fathoms. The Sir Francis Drake Channel is a sheltered sailing ground for yachts. Buck Island lies in the path of continual easterly trade winds sweeping in off 3000 miles of Atlantic Ocean, yet completely protected in the lee of Tortola, Beef Island with its commercial airport and Virgin Gorda.



The snorkeling is legendary at this uninhabited satellite island off St. Croix, where an elkhom coral reef lies in crystal-clear waters (think 100-foot visibility) at an average depth of 13 feet. Off Buck’s northeast end,
a meandering snorkeler’s trail is marked with explanatory plaques so you’ll surface knowing the difference between one forest of sculpture-shaped coral and another. The reef abounds with more than 250 species of fish, including queen angelfish, parrotfish, iridescent blue tangs, sergeant majors, and a host of other colorful creatures who remain remarkably nonplussed in your presence. Much of the reef is protected as an underwater national park.


WHAT: experience, site.
 WHERE: 1.5 miles/
2.5 km off the northeast coast of St. Croix.
HOW: a half-dozen tour operators offer snor-keling boat tours. Big Beard’s Adventure Tours offers full-day tours on a glass-bottomed boat (allowing even the water-phobic to enjoy), as well as half-day snorkeling trips, both departing from Christiansted, St. Croix; includes beach barbecue. Tel 340/773-4482; fax 340/773-2245/7977; in the U.S., tel 866773-4482; info@bigbeards.com; www.big beards.com. COST: full day $70, half day $45. BEST TIMES: Nov-Mar.