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Marooned on Marina Cay

© Linda Gettmann

Gilligan would have loved to be stranded on Marina Cay. The tiny island is just minutes from Beef Island Airport, across Sir Francis Drake Channel from Virgin Gorda, yet is truly a picture postcard island paradise. Surrounded on two sides by a large coral reef, Marina Cay provides a protected anchorage for cruising yachts on the west side next to Great Camanoe Island. At the top of the hill stands the White house, built by American author Robb White and his bride Rodie. Fishermen occasionally inhabited the island before 1936 when Robb purchased the island and built a lovely home. Marina Cay became the subject of White's book "Our Virgin Island" which was made into a 1950's movie "Two on the Isle" starring Sidney Poitier and John Cassavettes. The Robb and Rodie White house is open for viewing daily. Their story is told photographically on the wall of the Pusser's restaurant and his book is available at Pusser's Company Store.

Beginning in 1960 the present day facilities were constructed and provide wonderful accommodations in two two-bedroom villas and four deluxe rooms. They are roomy and comfortable with tile floors, fans, and tropical decor. The views are unbelievable out over the reef and channel. They run a free ferry between Marina Cay and Beef Island all day long until 7 PM. In addition to the scrumptious Pusser's restaurant, and intriguing Pusser's Company Store, Dive BVI has a dive shop with snorkeling, sailing, and kayak rentals in addition to their regular dive trips. Enjoy a game of croquet on top of the hill among the landscaped grounds and flowering bougainvillea.

Put on your fins, mask and snorkel and take a leisurely swim around the island. Lots of coral reef to explore, teeming with juvenile tropical fish, hard and soft corals, sea fans and gorgonians. Diving with Dive BVI is easy -- they'll pick you up at the dock and deliver you back after a morning or afternoon dive around the area. You could head off to Ginger Island and Alice's Wonderland, The Indians, Great Dog Island, the wreck of the Rhone, Monkey Point, Cooper Island, or Blonde Rock. All these dive sites are good for beginning divers, depth is usually above 60 feet with good visibility and little current. You'll see schools of snappers, grunts, and blue tangs, as well as lots of parrotfish, angelfish, butterflyfish, wrasse, and the occasional stingray, moray eel and barracuda.

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