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Prickly Pear Cays, Anguilla

The chart and following text is from The Leeward Islands Guide by Stephen J. Pavlidis

The Prickly Pear Cays lie about 2½ miles east/southeast of Dog Island, and a bit over 4 miles northwest of Sandy Island and are home so some very interesting rock formations with several tidal pools and blowholes.  Overnight anchoring is not permitted.

Navigational Information
As shown on Chart ANG-7, a waypoint at 18º 15.55’ N, 63º 10.70’ W, will place you approximately ¼ mile south of the anchorage at the southwestern tip of Prickly Pear East.  If you are approaching from Dog Island, pass well south of Dog Island heading a bit south of east to the waypoint given.  If you are approaching from Road Bay or Sandy Island pass west of Sandy Island to arrive at the waypoint.  From Anguillita Island or Mead Bay it’s a straight shot to the Prickly Pear Cays with no dangers.  From Crocus Bay, head north of Sandy Island to make your way to the Prickly Pear Cays keeping an eye out for Seal Island and her long reef that lies east of the Prickly Pear Cays.

From the waypoint head north to enter the designated anchorage area that lies between Prickly Pear East and the orange buoy as shown on the chart.  There are several moorings available and it is best to make use of one of these, if no moorings are available you’ll have to drop the hook in about 15’-30’ of water over a sand and rock bottom.  Make sure you anchor is set before you go exploring, and also make sure that you can remove it later when you decide to leave, it might get hung in a rocky crevice.  This anchorage is fine in calm to moderate trade-wind conditions, but not if northerly swells are running or if the wind is up from the southeast. 

What You Will Find Ashore
You can land your dinghy here, but most prefer to dinghy around to the long, curving, lovely beach on the northern shore where some of the day-charter cats from St. Martin visit.  If you’re hungry, visit Agatha’s Prickly Pear Bar and Restaurant or Johnno's for ribs, chicken, and cold beverages.  Agatha's, which is now run by her son Alan and is open Tuesday through Saturday at 1000, also serves lobster with advance notice and accepts Visa and Mastercard.  Johnno's is usually open on Wednesdays and Saturdays, or on days when there is a large group of tourists from Anguilla.

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