South-west BVI
Norman Island Diving Pinnacles and Pirate Caves
Norman Island diving combines easy, sheltered sites with a few more adventurous ones. The island sits at the south-west end of the BVI chain, a short sail from Tortola and the US Virgin Islands, and its legends of buried pirate treasure only add to the fun.
- 15-100 ftdepth range
- 4headline sites
The island
Treasure Island of the BVI
Norman Island is small, steep and largely undeveloped. Its sheltered harbour, the Bight, is one of the most popular overnight anchorages in the BVI, which makes Norman a natural stop for divers on charter yachts. Local stories tell of pirate treasure hidden in its sea caves, and the island is often said to have inspired Robert Louis Stevenson's Treasure Island.
Underwater, Norman offers boulders, pinnacles and sloping reefs, with healthy fish life and good visibility. Most sites are on the sheltered western and southern sides.
Getting there
Diving from a boat
Dive boats from Tortola visit Norman Island most days, often pairing it with the nearby RMS Rhone wreck dive or Pelican Island. If you are sailing, you can dive from the moorings at the Indians and the Caves; see BVI yacht charter diving for permits and rules.
The sites are protected by the BVI National Parks Trust's mooring system. Pick up a mooring and never anchor on the reef.
Norman Island dive sites
The Indians
Four jagged pinnacles rise out of the sea between Norman Island and Pelican Island, from about 50 feet to above the surface. Their sides are covered in fire coral, brain coral, sea fans and sponges, and the gaps between them are full of schooling fish. It is a site for every level: divers can circle the pinnacles at depth while snorkelers explore the shallow tops.
The Caves
At Treasure Point, on Norman's western shore, a series of sea caves runs into the cliff. They are mainly a snorkel, in a few feet of water, though dive boats often visit the reef in front of them. Inside, the caves are dark and full of glassy sweepers and silversides; outside, the reef drops gently to sand.
Angelfish Reef
Off Norman's western point, a reef slopes down to the sand at around 60 to 90 feet. As its name suggests, it is known for French and gray angelfish, and stingrays are often found on the sand below. It can have current, so it is often dived as a drift.
Santa Monica Rock
On the southern side of Norman, Santa Monica Rock is an open-water pinnacle that rises from around 100 feet. It is more exposed to the ocean than the other Norman sites, and that is its appeal: eagle rays, nurse sharks and larger pelagic fish are more likely here. It suits experienced divers on calm days.
Tips for Norman Island diving
- Go early. The Caves and the Indians are popular with snorkel boats and yachts. Mornings are quieter.
- Watch for surge. Southerly swell can push into the Caves and around the pinnacles. Stay clear of the rock on rough days.
- Mind the fire coral. The Indians are covered in it. Good buoyancy keeps you clear of a painful sting.
- Bring the snorkelers. Few places in the BVI work as well for mixed groups of divers and snorkelers. See our BVI snorkeling guide for more spots like this.
For more sites near Norman, including Painted Walls and Alice in Wonderland, see our full list of BVI dive sites.
Norman Island diving FAQ
Is Norman Island good for beginners?
Yes. The Indians and the reef in front of the Caves are sheltered and shallow enough for new divers. Santa Monica Rock is better for experienced divers.
How deep are the Indians?
The pinnacles rise from about 50 feet to above the surface, so you can choose your depth.
Can you dive the Caves at Norman Island?
The Caves are mostly a snorkel in shallow water. Dive boats usually explore the reef in front of them.
Marine life around Norman
Norman Island's reefs are busy. On a typical dive you will see blue tang, sergeant majors, parrotfish, French and queen angelfish, trumpetfish and squirrelfish around the coral, with schools of grunts and snappers in the shade of the rocks. Look under ledges for spiny lobster and moray eels, and on the sand for southern stingrays.
Hawksbill and green turtles are common visitors, often seen resting on the reef or feeding. Eagle rays glide past the deeper edges, especially around Santa Monica Rock, and reef squid hover near the shallows. Divers who slow down can find smaller life too: flamingo tongue snails on the sea fans, arrow crabs in the sponges and tiny gobies on the brain coral.
Please look without touching. Many of these animals, including turtles, are protected, and the corals they live on are slow to recover from damage.
Next: the RMS Rhone
Norman Island and the Rhone are a short boat ride apart. Read the wreck guide.