Gravenor Bay

Gravenor Bay scoops a wide, mile-and-a-half curve across the southern tip of Barbuda, its shoreline running east to west between Coco Point and Spanish Point. This is the bay that cruising sailors talk about for years afterward: a sheltered anchorage of glassy turquoise water, a long ribbon of white sand, and reefs that sit close enough to swim to from the beach. Because it faces south and is screened by its own headlands, the water here stays calm and clear on most days, which is exactly what makes the snorkelling so good.

The reefs are the headline. Coral heads scatter across the bay floor in clusters, and the unpolluted water keeps visibility high, so even casual snorkellers see reef fish, sea fans and the occasional ray drifting over the sand. Bring your own mask and fins, because there is no kiosk renting gear out here. If you are weighing up where to get in the water on the island, snorkelling around Antigua and Barbuda is at its most rewarding in quiet, reef-rich spots exactly like this one.

Gravenor Bay is wild and undeveloped, with no facilities, no shade beyond what you carry, and no lifeguards, so come self-sufficient with water and sun cover. Most visitors arrive by boat as part of a wider exploration of Barbuda, often anchoring for a swim before continuing on. The peninsula running out to Spanish Point at the eastern end rewards a walk, with views back across the anchorage.

The easiest way to reach this corner of the island is on a guided Barbuda day trip, which handles the ferry or flight from Antigua and the local transport that scattered beaches like this one require. Every beach in Antigua and Barbuda is public by law, so the sand and the snorkelling are open to all who make the journey south.