ISLAND ADVENTURES

Anguilla's visitors are surrounded by a haven of tranquility. The island harbors 12 miles of white-sanded beaches and crystal clear water. Of the 45 beaches stretched along the coast, the majority is protected by a ring of coral reefs and offshore islands. Day trips along the breathtaking coast are a great way to see the spectacular wildlife.
Shoal Bay is the most popular beach and said to be the most beautiful in the Eastern Caribbean. A snorkeler's dream, the closer of two magnificent reefs measures only 10 yards from the shore where you can rent equipment for snorkeling or a fun-filled day in the sun.
Snorkel at Crocus Bay which is flanked with rocks allowing for incredible underwater panorama.
Other snorkeling options include challenging the occasional rough waters of Limestone Bay and Scilly Cay, a small cay off Island Harbour.
Road Bay/ Sandy Ground is the starting point for most day trips, dive tours and a popular docking location for yachts. Watersports equipment can be rented there as well. There are good dives just off the coast, but keep in mind that most of the reefs around Anguilla have some red coral that could burn you. Off Sandy Island sits lots of soft corals and sea-fans. There is a wall that falls from 15 to 60 feet at Sandy Deep and several shipwrecks, nine of which were deliberately sunk as dive sites. Continuing west, Paintcan Reef with a depth of 80 feet supports several acres of coral and large turtles. Close by, Authors Deep is 110 feet deep with black coral, turtles and schools of small fish. However, this dive is for the more experienced diver.
On the north side of the Prickly Pear Cays, you can swim through an underwater canyon with ledges and caves. You can sometimes find nurse sharks resting inside.
Windsurfing and sailing are readily available and some of the hotels offer water skiing, paddle boats and fishing. There are also glass bottom boats.
For the land lovers, tennis, horseback riding and bird watching are nice alternatives to the many watersports offered throughout the island.
Ninety-three species of birds have been recorded on Anguilla, including the blue-faced booby, kingfisher and the great blue heron. The turtledove is the national bird and heavily protected. Little Bay, Crocus Bay's northern most point, and surrounding ponds and coves are the best nesting spots for bird watchers. However, just getting to Little Bay is an adventure in itself. You have to hire a boat or climb down a rope and fishing ladder attached to the cliff top. The bay is 100 meters of beach surrounded by high cliffs on three sides. It offers an intimate and private getaway for the romantics at heart.
The summer in Anguilla proves to be filled with music, dancing and art. The Annual Carnival and Boatracing Week starts the Friday before the first Monday of August. The island comes to life with dancing in the streets, the Calypso Monarch Competition, the Carnival Queen Pageant, the Parade of Troupes, nightly entertainment in The Valley and beach barbeques.
The Anguilla International Arts Festival is held every other year during the summer and includes workshops and contests.
And if you still get a little stir crazy after all of that, you can hop on a 20-minute ferry ride to cosmopolitan St. Martin, an island famous for its designer boutiques and French Creole nouvelle cuisine.