Things to do nearThe Indians

The Indians take their name from the feathered headdress the four pinnacles are said to resemble when viewed from a distance. Rising abruptly from Sir Francis Drake Channel just off the southwestern tip of Norman Island, they have drawn sailors and underwater explorers to this corner of the British Virgin Islands for generations. The site sits within a designated mooring field, and visiting boats must pick up an official mooring ball rather than anchor, a rule that protects the fragile coral communities below.

Beneath the surface, the pinnacles are encrusted with orange elephant ear sponges, sea fans, and hard corals that shelter an extraordinary density of reef fish. Snorkeling here puts you face to face with French angelfish, blue tangs, squirrelfish, and the occasional hawksbill sea turtle drifting through the surge. Divers can follow the walls deeper to find lobster tucked into crevices and large pelagic fish patrolling the edges of the structure. Guided snorkeling excursions and scuba diving trips depart regularly from Road Town and from nearby Norman Island.

Above water, the setting is equally memorable. The channel sparkles in every shade of turquoise and navy, with green hills of Tortola visible to the north. The Indians are worth visiting for the rare combination of dramatic topside scenery and world-class underwater life packed into a single compact site.