How many dive sites are in Salt Island & Cooper Island?

Salt Island & Cooper Island has 36 dive sites and 3 dive centres in British Virgin Islands.

Is diving in Salt Island & Cooper Island suitable for beginners?

Salt Island & Cooper Island has 2 intermediate, 1 beginner dive sites. With 1 beginner-friendly sites, it's a good option for new divers.

What marine life can you see in Salt Island & Cooper Island?

504 marine species have been recorded in Salt Island & Cooper Island's waters, including fish, corals, invertebrates, and marine mammals.

What is the water temperature in Salt Island & Cooper Island?

Water temperatures in Salt Island & Cooper Island range from 27°C in December to 27°C in December.

Diving in Salt Island & Cooper Island

Explore 36 dive sites in Salt Island & Cooper Island, British Virgin Islands. Ocean conditions, marine species, and dive centres.

Best Time to Dive in Salt Island & Cooper Island

The warmest water temperatures in Salt Island & Cooper Island occur in January, averaging 27.1°C. The coolest conditions are in December at 27.1°C.

Monthly Water Temperatures

January: 27.1°C (air: 25.5°C)
February: 27.1°C (air: 25.1°C)
March: 27.1°C (air: 25.2°C)
April: 27.1°C (air: 25.7°C)
May: 27.1°C (air: 26.8°C)
June: 27.1°C (air: 27.6°C)
July: 27.1°C (air: 27.8°C)
August: 27.1°C (air: 28.1°C)
September: 27.1°C (air: 28.3°C)
October: 27.1°C (air: 28.0°C)
November: 27.1°C (air: 27.1°C)
December: 27.1°C (air: 26.3°C)

Marine Life in Salt Island & Cooper Island

Home to 504 recorded species including 410 reef fish, 39 hard corals, 13 sharks & rays, 9 other, 7 whales & dolphins, 6 seagrass & algae.

Dive Site Difficulty in Salt Island & Cooper Island

Salt Island & Cooper Island has 1 beginner, 2 intermediate dive sites - suitable for divers of all levels.

Recommended Packing List for Salt Island & Cooper Island

Based on average water temperature of 27.1°C.

Shorty or Rashguard - warm 27°C water needs minimal exposure protection
Mask - essential for every dive
Fins
BCD - buoyancy compensator
Regulator - your most safety-critical piece of gear
Dive Computer - tracks depth, time, and NDL
Surface Marker Buoy (SMB) - essential for boat pickups
Dive Torch - useful for crevices and colour at depth
Underwater Camera - capture your diving memories

Marine Protected Areas in Salt Island & Cooper Island

Wreck of the Rhone - Marine Park (IUCN Category II)
West Dog Island - National Park (IUCN Category II)
The Dogs - Landscape/Seascape (IUCN Category V)
Little Jost Van Dyke - Landscape/Seascape (IUCN Category V)
Norman Island - Marine Park (IUCN Category II)
North Sound - Marine Park (IUCN Category II)
Anegada Island - Landscape/Seascape (IUCN Category V)
Cane Garden Bay - Habitat Management Area (IUCN Category IV)
Guana Island PA - Fisheries Protected (IUCN Category IV)
Cooper Island - Marine Park (IUCN Category II)
Ginger Island - Landscape/Seascape (IUCN Category V)
Cockroach Island - Species Management Area (IUCN Category IV)
Mosquito Island - Habitat Management Area (IUCN Category IV)
Peter Island - Marine Park (IUCN Category II)
The Seal Dogs - Species Management Area (IUCN Category IV)
Dead Chest Island - Landscape/Seascape (IUCN Category V)
Sandy Cay - Habitat Management Area (IUCN Category IV)
Horseshoe Reef - Fisheries Protected (IUCN Category IV)
Diamond Cay, Jost van Dyke - National Park (IUCN Category II)
Broken Jerusalem - Natural Monument (IUCN Category III)
East Seal Dog - Species Management Area (IUCN Category IV)
Beef Island - Fisheries Protected (IUCN Category IV)
Smugglers Cove - Marine Park (IUCN Category II)
Great Thatch - National Park (IUCN Category VI)
Beef Island - Marine Park (IUCN Category II)
Frenchmans Cay - Fisheries Protected (IUCN Category IV)
Green Cay - Habitat Management Area (IUCN Category IV)
Anegada south west - Fisheries Protected (IUCN Category IV)
Ginger Island - Fisheries Protected (IUCN Category IV)
Great Harbour - Landscape/Seascape (IUCN Category V)
Great Thatch - Managed Resource (IUCN Category II)
Sopers Hole - Fisheries Protected (IUCN Category IV)
Virgin Gorda - Landscape/Seascape (IUCN Category II)
Great Thatch - Marine Park (IUCN Category II)
Virgin Gorda - Marine Park (IUCN Category IV)
Virgin Gorda South - Landscape/Seascape (IUCN Category V)
Sandy Spit - Natural Monument (IUCN Category III)
Thomas George Bay - Marine Park (IUCN Category II)
Shark Bay - National Park (IUCN Category II)
Anegada west - Landscape/Seascape (IUCN Category V)
Green Cay, Sandy Cay, Sandy Spit - Marine Park (IUCN Category II)
Tobagos - Landscape/Seascape (IUCN Category V)
Lee Bay - Managed Resource (IUCN Category VI)
Long Bay - Marine Park (IUCN Category II)
The Indians - National Park (IUCN Category II)
Virgin Gorda north - Fisheries Protected (IUCN Category IV)
Norman Island - Landscape/Seascape (IUCN Category V)
Tortola - Species Management Area (IUCN Category IV)
Watsons Rock - National Park (IUCN Category II)
RMS Rhone anchor - Marine Park (IUCN Category II)
Scrub Island - Landscape/Seascape (IUCN Category V)
Virgin Gorda - Fisheries Protected (IUCN Category V)

Getting to Salt Island & Cooper Island - Nearest Airports

Terrance B. Lettsome International Airport (EIS), Beef Island - 8 km away, approx 24 min travel time
Cyril E. King Airport (STT), Charlotte Amalie - 43 km away, approx 62 min travel time
Luis Munoz Marin International Airport (SJU), San Juan - 151 km away, approx 180 min travel time

Dive Sites

Alice in Wonderland, BVI (18.3862, -64.4853)
Alice in Wonderland, BVI (18.3862, -64.4853)
Angelfish Reef (18.3096, -64.6282)
Angelfish Reef - 5-20m (18.3096, -64.6282)
Beata - 25m (18.3698, -64.5109)
Blue Chromis Reef (18.3728, -64.5101)
Blue Chromis Reef (18.3728, -64.5101)
Cane Garden Bay (18.4280, -64.6590)
Carval Rock (18.3722, -64.4890)
Chromis Reef (middle) (18.3716, -64.5100)
Cistern Point (18.3797, -64.5170)
Cistern Point - 10-30m (18.3850, -64.5100)
Devil’s Kitchen (18.3751, -64.5063)
Diamond Reef (18.4642, -64.5271)
Dip n Scrub (18.4657, -64.5189)
Dry Rocks East (18.3834, -64.5014)
Gingers Backside (18.3890, -64.4856)
Ginger Steps (18.3840, -64.4802)
HMS SANTA MONICA? - 4m (18.3417, -64.6766)
ISLAND SEA - 25m (18.3700, -64.5112)
Jeff Rocks (18.3262, -64.5691)
LIVEABOARD SEARCH (18.4200, -64.6200)
Monkey Point (18.4638, -64.5707)
PORT BOUGENVILLE - 55m (18.5500, -64.7500)
RMS Rhone (18.3687, -64.5356)
RMS Rhone Bow - 5-15m (18.3900, -64.6100)
RMS Rhone Stern - 15-28m (18.3880, -64.6080)
Spyglass Wall (18.3400, -64.5800)
STANDFAST II - 6m (18.3800, -64.7000)
The Indians (18.3280, -64.6280)
Virgin Islands Coral Reef National Monument (18.2900, -64.7068)
Willy T - 11m (18.3457, -64.5985)
Willy T (Wreck) (18.3456, -64.5968)
WORKING GIRL - 0m (18.3656, -64.5611)
Wreck Alley (18.3707, -64.5104)
Wreck of the RMS Rhone (18.3500, -64.6780)