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The Top 7 Best Photo Op Places in the BVI
- sarabeth52
- Feb 27
- 7 min read
So you are off to the BVI? But how to capture this perfect vacation? We have documented some of our favorite photo opportunities and have put together this list so you know where to get the best spots.
The Baths (The Caves at Devil’s Bay)
Norman Island caves
White Bay
Sandy Spit
The RMS Rhone
The Bubbly Pool
Copper Mine Ruins
1) 🌊 What Are The Baths?
The Baths are a stunning collection of giant granite boulders that create a maze of caves, tunnels, and tidal pools along the southern coast of Virgin Gorda. This natural wonder was formed by volcanic activity millions of years ago, leaving behind these dramatic rock formations.
📸 Why It’s a Great Photo Spot
These Rock formations are nothing short of astounding. The massive boulders create surreal landscapes perfect for artistic shots. The shallow, turquoise pools are ideal for dreamy, tropical captures. There is no good way to describe just how perfect it is.
📷 Photo Tips
The best time to visit is in the early morning or late afternoon for fewer crowds and the best natural lighting.
The most iconic shot is in the the famous Cathedral Room—a cavern where beams of light shine through a gap in the rocks.
Use a Wide-Angle Lens to capture the scale of the boulders and the beauty of the pools. If you have a waterproof camera, try split shots that capture both underwater life and the towering rocks above.
📍 Bonus Nearby Spots
Devil’s Bay: A secluded beach with soft white sand just beyond The Baths—perfect for a serene beach shot.
The Crawl: Another section of shallow pools surrounded by boulders, offering more intimate, tucked-away photo ops.
2) 🏴☠️ What Are the Norman Island Caves?
Located at The Bight on Norman Island, these are a series of sea caves that inspired Robert Louis Stevenson’s "Treasure Island." It is filled with their pirate lore and stunning underwater scenery, they offer a mix of history, mystery, and natural beauty.
📸 Why It’s a Great Photo Spot
Pirate Legends: The caves are rumored to have once hidden pirate treasure—adding a sense of adventure to your shots.
Crystal-Clear Water: Perfect for underwater and snorkeling photos.
Dramatic Cave Interiors: The play of light and shadow inside the caves creates a moody, cinematic vibe.
Marine Life: Colorful fish, coral, and the occasional sea turtle make for incredible underwater shots.
📷 Photo Tips
Best Time to Visit is around midday for the best natural light inside the caves. The sun reflects off the water, illuminating the walls beautifully. Capture the entrance to the cave from the water with its dark foaming mouth swallows turquoise sea.
Underwater Photos are also an excellent idea. Bring a waterproof camera or GoPro to capture the vibrant marine life. This is a great place to snorkel and spot fish, turtles, even little crabs, octopus, and more!
While you’re at it, a great place for a photo op might be from inside the cave. The caves create a a mysterious silhouette against the bright sea.
📍 Bonus Nearby Spots
The Indians: Just a short boat ride away, these rocky islets offer some of the best snorkeling and dramatic above-and-below water photo ops.
Pirates Bight: A beachfront restaurant where you can snap a laid-back tropical vibe after exploring the caves.
It’s only accessible by boat, so many visitors add it to a snorkeling day trip.
3) 🏝️ What is White Bay?
White Bay is a stunning half-mile stretch of powdery white sand bordered by crystal-clear, turquoise waters. The beach is framed by lush, green hills, creating a breathtaking contrast of colors. A barrier reef shelters the bay, ensuring calm waters ideal for swimming and snorkeling.
📸 Why It’s a Great Photo Spot
Home to the legendary Soggy Dollar Bar, where the famous Painkiller cocktail originated. Capturing the lively atmosphere and colorful drinks adds a dynamic element to your photos. The west-facing orientation offers mesmerizing sunset views, perfect for golden-hour photography. The combination of white sand, turquoise water, and verdant hills provides a quintessential Caribbean backdrop.
📷 Photo Tips
The Best Time to Visit is in the Early morning for serene, crowd-free shots, or late afternoon to capture the vibrant energy of beachgoers and the warm hues of sunset. Photograph the Soggy Dollar Bar with its patrons enjoying drinks, framed by the azure sea in the background. But the most iconic shots are of the water and sand itself.
📍 Bonus Nearby Spots
Great Harbour: Just a short distance away, this harbor offers a more laid-back vibe with additional dining options and picturesque views.
Foxy’s Bar: Located in Great Harbour, it's another iconic spot known for its lively music scene and unique décor, offering great photo opportunities.
White Bay's blend of natural beauty and vibrant local culture makes it an essential stop for anyone looking to capture the essence of the British Virgin Islands.
4) 🏝️ What is Sandy Spit?
It's a small, uninhabited island—basically a sandbar with a few palm trees—surrounded by crystal-clear water and a ring of soft, white sand. It’s the ultimate tropical paradise and a favorite spot for boaters and beach lovers.
📸 Why It’s a Great Photo Spot
You can capture endless blue water from every angle. The tiny size of the island makes it feel like your own private oasis. The contrast between the bright turquoise sea, white sand, and green palms is stunning. It’s one of the best spots in the BVI for aerial shots if you have a drone.
📷 Photo Tips
The Best Time to Visit is in the early morning for calm waters and golden-hour lighting, or midday for the brightest blues.
Iconic shots include capturing the whole island from above—its tiny, circular shape is breathtaking from a drone. But also, try a panorama! Stand on the shoreline and photograph the curve of the island with the sea stretching to the horizon.
📍 Bonus Nearby Spots
Little Jost Van Dyke: Just a short boat ride away, this secluded spot is ideal for quiet beach photos.
Green Cay: Another tiny, uninhabited island nearby with lush greenery and shallow snorkeling spots.
5) 🚢 What is the RMS Rhone?
The RMS Rhone was a British Royal Mail steamship that sank during a hurricane in 1867. The wreck lies in two main sections at depths ranging from 30 to 80 feet (9 to 24 meters), making it accessible to both beginner and advanced divers. It’s now part of the Rhone Marine Park and is famous for its historical significance and marine biodiversity.
📸 Why It’s a Great Photo Spot
This is an iconic shipwreck. The preserved propeller, deck, and bow section offer dramatic, eerie places to get a photo. Like many ship wrecks, the Rhone presents an opportunity to photograph a lot of marine life including coral, sponges, and sea fans, attracting sea turtles, eagle rays, and schools of fish.
This mystery and historic wreck, with it’s rusted remains, is nothing short of breathtaking, even through the camera’s lens. It is massive, and completely shocking. These pictures are sure to wow every viewer.
📷 Photo Tips
The best time to visit is the morning for the best visibility and natural light—especially for deep sections.
Capture the massive propeller (a signature image of the wreck) or the porthole, which legend says still brings good luck if you rub it. These are iconic shots and not ones you will want to miss.
Use a dive light or underwater strobe to highlight details and bring out the vibrant colors of coral.
📍 Bonus Nearby Spots
Dead Chest Island: Another pirate-infused site nearby with rugged cliffs and clear waters.
Salt Island Shoreline: After your dive, the island’s remote beaches offer peaceful, windswept landscapes for above-water shots.
6) 🌊 What is the Bubbly Pool?
It’s a natural sea pool formed by waves crashing through a narrow rock opening from the ocean. When the waves rush in, the water foams and bubbles—like a natural jacuzzi. It’s a fun, unique spot to both experience and capture on camera.
📸 Why It’s a Great Photo Spot
The rocks here create bubbly, dynamic water that makes it perfect to relax, play, or, of course, for eye-catching motion photo ops. Not to mention the vivid, turquoise water stunningly set against the powerful rock formations.
This area is surrounded by beauty and greenery. And there is a good chance that you will find other photo spots along the way!
📷 Photo Tips
The best time to visit the bubbly pool is during high tide or even after a storm for the most dramatic bubbling effect, though storms are not very common in the BVI.
It’s a bit of a hike from Foxy’s Taboo restaurant, but the scenic walk adds to the adventure. Definitely a must-visit if you want a unique photo!
7) 🏚️ What Are the Copper Mine Ruins?
The ruins are the remains of a 19th-century copper mining operation established by Cornish miners in the 1800s. While the mine is no longer operational, the site features stone ruins of the engine house, smokestack, and other structures perched on a rugged coastline.
📸 Why It’s a Great Photo Spot
The weathered stone ruins against the blue Caribbean Sea create a stunning contrast. Not to mention the dramatic coastline with jagged cliffs and the crashing waves below add a wild, untamed feel to your shots.
There is nothing like golden hour here. The location is perfect for sunrise or sunset, casting a warm glow over the ruins.
📷 Photo Tips
Best time to visit is right after sunrise for soft, golden light and fewer crowds, or sunset for a moody, dramatic effect. Frame the engine house ruins with the ocean in the background for a striking composition. Capture the weathered stone walls and the textures left behind by time.
📍 Bonus Nearby Spots
The Baths: Just a short drive away, these famous granite boulders offer another iconic Virgin Gorda photo op.
Devil’s Bay: A secluded beach nearby, ideal for capturing serene, postcard-perfect beach scenes.
The Copper Mine Ruins are both historically significant and visually striking, offering a perfect blend of culture and natural beauty.
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