Little Harbour, Jost Van Dyke
Little Harbour JVD · Harris' Place anchorage
18°26.82'N 64°43.60'W
Depth
3–8m
Bottom
sand
Alarm Radius
65m
Holding
Good
Recommended Anchor Alarm Radius
65m
65m for good holding on sand in 3–8m. Small bay — swinging room limited; position carefully to avoid other vessels. NPS moorings preferred where available. Reduce to 50m in settled calm conditions.
About This Anchorage
Little Harbour on the east end of Jost Van Dyke is the quieter, less-visited alternative to Great Harbour and White Bay on the same island — a small, intimate bay with a handful of boats and a genuinely local feel. Sydney's Peace and Love bar is the only establishment, operated by the Harris family, and offers lobster and fresh fish when available. The bay is within the Jost Van Dyke National Parks Trust marine park so the same no-anchoring-on-coral rules apply. The NPS has also placed mooring buoys here. Little Harbour makes an excellent first stop on Jost Van Dyke before the more social scene at Great Harbour and White Bay. The snorkelling off the rocky headlands is good. Diamond Cay NPS (a small island at the eastern tip of Jost) is accessible by dinghy and has excellent snorkelling.
Protected From
N · NE · NW · W
Exposed To
S · SE · E
Anchoring Rules
- Anchoring fee
- NPS mooring balls ~$30/night; anchoring in sand only
- Permit required
- No
Restrictions: NPS marine park — no anchoring on coral or seagrass; small bay — maximum speed in anchorage 3 knots; Diamond Cay NPS is day-use only.
Hazards
- !Small bay with limited swinging room — anchor positioning critical; use moorings where available
- !Open to south and east — in unusual southerly conditions or SE swell, exposed
- !No facilities — carry all provisions; nearest provisioning at Road Town (8nm)
- !Diamond Cay reef requires careful dinghy approach — snorkel fins and a clear dinghy lane between reef heads
Skipper's Tips
- →Little Harbour is the least-crowded anchorage on Jost Van Dyke — best choice if Great Harbour and White Bay are full
- →Sydney's Peace and Love serves fresh lobster — call ahead via VHF 16 to confirm availability and reserve
- →Dinghy to Diamond Cay NPS (10 minutes east) for excellent snorkelling on the reef surrounding the small island
- →Little Harbour to Great Harbour by dinghy is 15 minutes westbound along the island's south coast
- →The views from the ridgeline above Little Harbour over the Sir Francis Drake Channel to Tortola are outstanding — 20-minute walk
Facilities
Sydney's Peace and Love bar and restaurant — local fish and lobster when available. Basic and genuine local atmosphere. No fuel, water, or provisions.
Nearest provisions: Road Town, Tortola (8nm E by sea) (8nm)
Best Months & Season
Dec, Jan, Feb, Mar, Apr
December–April. The quietest anchorage on Jost Van Dyke — a good choice for those wanting the island experience without the crowd of Great Harbour.
Recommended Anchor Types
Nearby Anchorages
Set Your Anchor Alarm to 65m
In BVI waters, anchor drag toward coral reef can cause serious damage — to the reef and your vessel. Safety Anchor Alarm monitors your GPS position continuously so you can enjoy the beach bars with confidence.
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