Leaving from West End, Tortola: a departure guide

Where you start the day decides how much of it you spend travelling. NautiGal is based at West End, Tortola, which is the western tip of the island and the short way to Jost Van Dyke, the quick way down to Norman Island and a sensible start on the longer run east to Virgin Gorda.

From West End the first beach of the day is about fifteen minutes away. That is the whole argument for the place.

Where we meet

West End, Tortola. We send you the meeting spot with your booking confirmation and there is a map link on our contact page, so nobody is standing on the wrong dock on the day.

If West End is not convenient, we can also collect you at Nanny Cay, or at Village Cay Marina in Road Town if you are arriving by cruise ship. Neither costs extra.

Pickups further out carry a surcharge: Jost Van Dyke $75, Scrub Island $100, Virgin Gorda $150. We tell you the number before you book.

What time

Full days start in the morning and we confirm your time when we confirm your date. We do not publish a fixed departure time because the right one depends on your route, the sea state and what your group wants out of the day.

Cruise ship pickups are the exception and run from 7am, timed to when your ship comes in, from Village Cay rather than West End.

The first ten minutes

You arrive, you meet Captain Phil, you step aboard. The cooler is already iced. The gear is already stowed. There is no queue, no ladder to share and no roll call, because the whole boat is yours and up to 12 guests is the only number that matters.

The plan can change once you are moving, and often does: stay longer where you are happy, skip what you are not, and follow the calm side of the islands.

Sort these out before the morning

Your numbers. We buy cruising permits from customs for the exact number of guests booked, so if someone joins at the last minute we need 48 hours notice, or we may end up waiting at customs.

Your waiver. Every guest signs our snorkelling and boat passenger waiver and it comes with the booking confirmation, so it is done before you arrive.

Your payment. A deposit holds the date and the balance is paid on the day. Cash and Zelle cost you nothing extra and card payments carry a 4% fee.

What to bring to the dock

Swimwear, sunscreen, a towel and cash for lunch and the bars. Everything else is on the boat: masks, snorkels, fins, float noodles, life jackets, shade, seating and a six-speaker Bluetooth stereo. Lunch ashore is not included, so bring an appetite and let Phil take you where the good food is.

Where you can get to from here

Norman Island and the caves, Cooper Island, White Bay and Foxy’s on Jost Van Dyke, North Sound and The Baths on Virgin Gorda, and the Willy T. Pick one of our private tours or tell us where you want to go and we will build the route around it.

Send us your date and your group size and we will confirm the boat and come back with one all-inclusive price.