Norman Island

It was named after a pirate and inspired Robert Louis Stevenson’s novel Treasure Island. And even though it is privately owned today, lovely little Norman Island is an escape from real life

allows visitors stop, snorkel, dive and dine. Even though it’s only 600 acres and less than three

miles long, there’s a restaurant, caves, hiking trails, and snorkeling in crystalline waters.

No one is really sure about Norman’s pirate past. Many old stories tell of pirates hiding their

booty in the hidden coves. What is known is that the island’s large harbor was a great place to

anchor pirate ships and mutineers were regulars here. Stolen treasure from a Spanish galleon

buried on the island was recovered by the British Navy around the same time as Robert Louis

Stevenson wrote his famous tale.

Fast forward from Treasure Island to 1894 when Henry Creque purchased the island for 40

pounds from the British crown. Legend has it that he sought refuge in one of the caves in a storm

when his boat was bashed against the cliffs and rocks and doubloons (the gold currency of the

time) fell into his boat. After his good fortune, the family picked up, moved to St. Thomas and

opened a store. Even though the story has never been officially verified, his sudden change of

fortune makes it likely that the doubloons were part of the haul from the Spanish galleon, "Nuestra Senora de Guadalupe".

The Caves

Today, Norman is privately owned by Henry Jarecki who purchased the island from the Creque

family for 8 million dollars in 1999. No one except wild goats lives here full time, which is why

the island has been made accessible to visitors. In fact, some have called the caves, filled with

calm water, one of the best spots for snorkeling in the entire British Virgin Islands. Carved deep

into the rocky cliff, the caves are dark, and legend has it that Blackbeard himself kept stolen

treasure here.

Two of the three caves go back a good bit into the island, and one has an entrance right from the

beach. You can snorkel right into the caves and don’t have to hold your breath. Brightly colored

tropical fish and other underwater wildlife awaits. The walls of the cave are covered with life

forms, and you can see all the spectacular colors, so be sure to bring all the needed equipment for

dark caves.

Swimming, snorkeling, or soaking

You can also snorkel in deep water at the Indians, named for their 60-foot rock formations. On

one side incredible coral formations plunge 40 feet down to the seafloor and on the other, there

are acres of shallow water.

There is even a great beach with crystal clear waters for swimming, snorkeling, or soaking right

in front of the Pirates Bight, an open-air restaurant serving a range of dishes with Caribbean

inspired flavors and plenty of fresh seafood. Better yet, you can be served right on the beach.

If you want to stay on dry land, head out on one of the nearly 12 miles of hiking trails. You can

start right behind Pirate’s Bight on a trail that takes you to a small mountain peak which delivers

views of the Sir Francis Drake Channel, looking out over deep blue water.

After hiking the rather dry, and sometimes dusty island, quench your thirst at the Willy T, an old

fishing boat named the William Thornton II that was converted to a floating pirate ship bar, and

restaurant. If you’re so inclined, savor the mystery shot invented by a pirate and join in some

innocent revelry. It seems that drinking on a dilapidated, converted ship makes people drop their

inhibitions. Dinner ashore at Pirates is always pleasant and on weekends there may be a jump up

with a band from Road Town.