Cooper Island is a small island with few inhabitants, just a short distance across the Sir Frances Drake Channel from Road Town on Tortola.
The island was once a plantation back in the 19th century. Look closely and you’ll find remnants including an old cistern used for watering the livestock on the plantation, and thick-walled relics of an old fort once used to protect the island’s residents from pirates.
Manchioneel Bay, the island’s main harborage, is regarded as the perfect overnight protected harbor for overnight charter guests. While moored here guests can enjoy the island’s magnificent sunset views and the popular eco-resort known as the Cooper Island Beach Club nestled on the bay’s northwest side. The resort is a stark contrast to the otherwise remote island. Charter guests who moor here are encouraged to explore the resort including a casual fine dining restaurant (where reservations are highly recommended), onsite brewery, newly expanded rum bar, and even a boutique for souvenir shopping. The Beach Club also has an excellent gourmet coffee shop which opens at 8:00 a.m. for that early morning espresso before you sail!
If you are fortunate enough to catch a mooring here for the day (which we recommend as they fill up quickly) you’ll have a plethora of things to do. We recommend jumping in your dinghy and heading south along the shore to Cistern Point and Little Carvel Rock for snorkeling. Don’t let the shallow depth of the water fool you; the point attracts an abundance of sea life including turtles and lobsters that like to hide under the rocks on the sloping wall. Weather conditions vary at this location so if you are not a strong swimmer, just make sure to keep your dinghy close by at one of the available dinghy moorings. If some of your guests aren’t interested in snorkeling, the nearby shoreline provides some fun exploring along rocks and boulders.
Cooper Island is also in close proximity to some excellent dive sites including the famous Rhone wreck and Wreck Alley. Some others that you might not have heard about but are quite beautiful are Vanishing Rocks, Devil’s Kitchen and Cistern Point—all of which are suitable for new to intermediate divers.
