Deep Bay
Deep Bay Anchorage · Fort Barrington
17°06.6'N 61°52.4'W
Depth
5–12m
Bottom
sand
Alarm Radius
70m
Holding
Excellent
Recommended Anchor Alarm Radius
70m
70m alarm radius for 5–12m on excellent sand. Holding is very good — anchors set immediately. N and NW exposure: in winter swell conditions (December–February) increase alarm to 80m and prepare to relocate to Five Islands or Jolly Harbour if conditions deteriorate overnight.
About This Anchorage
Deep Bay is a beautiful natural bay on Antigua's northwest coast, formed by the dramatic headland of Fort Barrington — an 18th-century British fortification at the southern entrance to St. John's Harbour. The bay has excellent sand holding, clear water, and is close enough to St. John's (2nm) for dinghy access to shops, restaurants, and the Heritage Quay duty-free shopping. The highlight for visiting yachts is the wreck of the Andes — a 1905 merchant vessel that sank in the bay after dragging its anchor in a gale; it now rests in 18m of crystal-clear Caribbean water and is one of the most accessible wreck dives in Antigua, also excellent for snorkelling in the upper 6–8m section. Fort Barrington on the headland is accessible via a trail and offers exceptional views over St. John's Harbour and the approaches.
Protected From
S · SE · E · SW · W
Exposed To
N · NW · NE
Anchoring Rules
- Anchoring fee
- Port Authority fee ~US$2/night
- Maximum stay
- 30 days
- Permit required
- No
Restrictions: No anchoring on the Andes wreck or within 10m of it — protected historic site; no anchoring on coral; St. John's Harbour shipping channel to the north — give way to commercial traffic; no diving on wreck without proper dive equipment and buoy.
Hazards
- !N and NW winter swell enters bay December–February — can become very uncomfortable overnight; monitor forecast
- !Andes wreck (18m) is an obstacle in the middle of the bay — do not anchor over the wreck; position carefully
- !St. John's commercial shipping channel to the north — give way to ferries and cargo vessels
- !Fort Barrington headland trail: steep and rocky in places — wear proper footwear
- !St. John's is a busy commercial port — anchor watch recommended at night
Skipper's Tips
- →The Andes wreck is one of Antigua's best snorkelling sites — the upper section in 6–8m is accessible without scuba in calm conditions
- →Fort Barrington hike takes 30 minutes from the beach — the views over St. John's Harbour and northwest Antigua are exceptional
- →Deep Bay is the ideal anchorage for a day visit to St. John's — dinghy up the harbour to Heritage Quay for duty-free shopping and restaurants
- →Anchor with the Andes wreck to the north and Fort Barrington headland to the NE — the wreck makes a good bearing mark
- →The bay is completely empty on most weekdays — arrive Monday–Thursday for guaranteed solitude
Facilities
No facilities at anchorage. St. John's (2nm N by dinghy or sail): Heritage Quay duty-free shopping, Big Banana restaurant, Redcliffe Quay restaurants, Market Street provisions.
Nearest provisions: St. John's (Heritage Quay area) (2nm)
Best Months & Season
Dec, Jan, Feb, Mar, Apr, May
December–May. Avoid overnight December–February if NW weather systems are forecast — northerly swell makes the anchorage uncomfortable. Best March–May for most settled trade wind conditions.
Recommended Anchor Types
Nearby Anchorages
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