Alice in Wonderland, BVI - Salt Island & Cooper Island

Alice in Wonderland gives you a real feel for how the reefs grow here, pushing up from the seafloor. It's not one of those sites where you drop down and immediately get swarmed by fish, but rather a place to explore the architecture of the reef itself. We love the massive mushroom-shaped boulder corals that give the site its name, creating these deep canyons and overhangs you can weave through. It feels like navigating a maze, and that’s the real appeal. Keep an eye out for Pearl Blennies peeking from small holes, or Mimic Blennies darting across the coral heads. We often find Dusky Jawfish hovering over the sand patches, their heads bobbing, and in the shallower sections, families of Yellowhead Jawfish are almost always there, tending their burrows. The maximum depth is around 21 metres, making it comfortable for most divers. While the current description mentions sharks and rays, we’ve found them to be pretty rare here, so manage your expectations on that front. It’s a site for those who appreciate the subtle beauty of reef structures and the smaller, more cryptic critters.

Location: Salt Island & Cooper Island, British Virgin Islands, Caribbean
Coordinates: 18.386200, -64.485300
Type: reef

Marine Protected Area: Ginger Island

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)

Nearby Dive Sites in Salt Island & Cooper Island

Nearest Dive Centres to Alice in Wonderland, BVI

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.

Notable Species

Mustard hill coral (Porites astreoides) - Hard Corals
Massive Starlet Coral (Siderastrea siderea) - Hard Corals
Gutong (Sparisoma aurofrenatum) - Reef Fish
Great star coral (Montastraea cavernosa) - Hard Corals
Parrotfish (Thalassoma bifasciatum) - Reef Fish
Finger Coral (Porites porites) - Hard Corals
Blue Doctor (Acanthurus coeruleus) - Reef Fish
Yellowhead Wrasse (Halichoeres garnoti) - Reef Fish
Lettuce Coral (Agaricia agaricites) - Hard Corals
Barber (Acanthurus bahianus) - Reef Fish
Dark Green Parrotfish (Sparisoma viride) - Reef Fish
Bicolor Damselfish (Stegastes partitus) - Reef Fish
Gutong (Scarus iseri) - Reef Fish
Sammy Johnson (Scarus taeniopterus) - Reef Fish
French grunt (Haemulon flavolineatum) - Reef Fish
Longspine Squirrelfish (Holocentrus rufus) - Reef Fish
Butterfly (Chaetodon capistratus) - Reef Fish
Sharpnose Pufferfish (Canthigaster rostrata) - Reef Fish
Blushing Star Coral (Stephanocoenia intersepta) - Hard Corals
Barred Hamlet (Hypoplectrus puella) - Reef Fish

Recommended Packing List for Alice in Wonderland, BVI

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