Dog Islands

The Dog Islands (often called The Dogs) are a small group of uninhabited islets in the British Virgin Islands in the Caribbean. They are known for their exposed rocky shorelines and surrounding coral reefs.

Day visitors typically come by boat for snorkeling, scuba diving and short landings on the larger islets; the underwater terrain includes shallow reefs and swim-throughs. There are five principal islets often identified in guides and nautical charts.

The islets have no permanent settlements and historically were used intermittently by local fishermen and passing sailors. They are administered as part of the British Virgin Islands.

The group lies off the northern coast of Tortola in the northeastern Caribbean and is reached by short boat trips from nearby larger islands and marinas.

• Diving and snorkeling: Popular for snorkeling and scuba diving because of shallow coral reefs and good visibility around the islets.

What to See #

• Great Dog: The largest of the group, a small rocky islet offering the most extensive reef fringe and common boat landing area for day trips.
• Little Dog: A small, rocky outcrop with reef access that is often visited by snorkel and dive boats rather than permanently occupied.
• East Dog: One of the minor islets in the group, frequently mentioned among dive and snorkeling points due to nearby coral formations.
• West Dog: A minor rocky islet forming part of the group; like the others it has no permanent population and is primarily of interest to visiting boats.
• George Dog: A small islet included in the cluster; locally named and uninhabited, it contributes to the group's sheltered reefs and channels.