Home to one of the most protected anchorages in the region (known as The Bight), Norman Island, British Virgin Islands, is located on the Flanagan Passage and Sir Francis Drake Channel (south of Tortola). A favorite of sailors, it's an uninhabited, mountainous island with beautiful beaches, caves, good snorkeling and several good dive sites, including some underwater caves. Said to be the setting for Robert Louis Stevenson's Treasure Island, stories of hidden fortunes are still traded about. It's accessible only by private or charter boat.
If you go there, be sure to snorkel into The Caves, one of the region's most-visited snorkeling destinations. Some of the caves extend deeply into the island, and the reduced amount of sunlight makes the experience more like a night dive. Take an underwater flashlight if you want to do it right.
Near both Norman and Peter Islands, an area called the Indians is a great place for both snorkeling and diving. Four large rock formations jut out of the water, marking the spot where you'll find innumerable varieties of fish and coral. Charter boats regularly visit, and the surrounding mooring balls are often full, so don't expect to have the place to yourself.
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