Half Moon Bay

• Location: Cat Island
• Lat / Lon: N 24° 35.030' / W 075° 57.720'
• Depth: 10'-15'
• Tide: 2.5'-3.75'
• Description:

  Little San Salvador has been transformed into a self-contained cruise ship destination where passengers can disembark for a day on the beach. Part of the transformation was the adoption of the name Half Moon Cay, which is deemed to be more appealing than Little San Salvador. 

  Names aside the bay is a shallow crescent that has extensive shoreside facilities built on the south end. It is not uncommon to find 2 large cruise ships anchored at the mouth of the bay with an accompanying fleet of small boats shuttling passengers back and forth from the beach. For the most part the beach clears by 3:30  and the ships themselves are gone 5:00PM.

  The anchorage on the north end of the bay offers acceptable protection from the NE-E with good holding but there is no possibility of going ashore, at least not until the cruise ships leave for the day. The anchorage is almost always subject to a gentle swell which is not objectionable in easterly winds, but will become uncomfortable if the winds rise above 15 knots. A good plan for using this anchorage is to arrive later in the day and to depart for first thing in the morning, otherwise if will be tricky maneuvering between the ships, their tenders and the multitudes of jet skis and kayaks.

  DISCLAIMER: Before committing to an anchorage, you should confirm that the location is not governed by a regulation that may conflict with your plans. An increasing number of states and municipalities are enacting laws that define where and how long you may anchor.