Dip n Scrub - Salt Island & Cooper Island
We love Alcatrazes for its sheer feeling of discovery. After decades of closures, diving here still feels like exploring somewhere truly new. Drop into the sheltered cove off Ilha do Farol and the first thing you notice is the colour of the water – that almost unbelievable blue-green that only comes from deep, clean ocean currents. It’s relatively shallow, maxing out at 14 metres, which means you get excellent light penetration, illuminating the rocky slopes. Keep an eye out for the smaller stuff here. We’ve seen plenty of Delalande blennies darting into crevices, and the goldspot gobies are always a treat. Those large schools of black margate are a common sight, and if you’re patient, you might spot an eyed flounder camouflaged against the sand. Visibility averages around 11 metres, which is decent for the region. It’s a calm, easy dive, perfect for photographers or anyone who just wants to soak in the atmosphere of a truly protected space.
- Location
- Salt Island & Cooper Island, British Virgin Islands, Caribbean
- Coordinates
- 18.465700, -64.518900
Marine Protected Area: Scrub 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
- Alice in Wonderland, BVI (reef)
- Alice in Wonderland, BVI (cenote)
- Angelfish Reef (muck)
- Angelfish Reef - 5-20m (reef)
- Beata - 25m (wreck)
- Blue Chromis Reef (reef)
- Blue Chromis Reef (reef)
- Cane Garden Bay (reef)
- Carval Rock
- Chromis Reef (middle) (reef)
- Cistern Point (reef)
- Cistern Point - 10-30m (wall)
- Devil’s Kitchen (reef)
- Diamond Reef (reef)
- Dry Rocks East (wreck)
Nearest Dive Centres to Dip n Scrub
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 Dip n Scrub
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