We'll be travelling to Anegada in February, staying at the Anegada Reef Hotel and renting a car.

Where are the best places for snorkelling? Are there any places where you can snorkel right off the beach? Are there any beaches with more dangerous currents, for more experienced swimmers? (We are relative beginners and would like to avoid these - don't want to be carried out to sea!)

Any other recommendations for activities?

Thanks-

I hate to tell you that due to global warming, pollution from ships dumping waste, etc muvh of the coral is dead or dying. Therefore the number of fish has diminished to ~25% last year compared to our trip in 1999. It is said that in the US and British V.I. on average approx. 40% of the coral is dead with some places as much as 60-70%. Anegada is pretty close th o that based on spending 4 hours snorkeling there in Dec. 2006. Having said all that for beginners it is probably o.k. Ludlubby Bay is the best area, of course because of the calm waters. (Something) WRECK has the best snorkeling but even for experienced snorkelers and strong swimmers it can be chancy, in my opinion.The locals can probably point you to good spots not in books that will be fine.
The beaches are beautiful without many visitors except the tour boats with a few dozen folks for a few hours a few days a week. It is certainly a place to relax and eat lobster.

Both Loblolly Bay and Cow Wreck beach are excellent for snorkling right off the beach. There are also good beach bar/restaurants on both. The snorkling is outstanding. Just beware of the current direction and walk up the beach and snorkle down with the current. There is no good snorkling on the South side of the island where the hotels are. There is minimal shopping.
The island is flat but does have a lagoon where flamingos congregate. Quite a site to see them take off together. The ski turns pink.
Eat at Neptune's Treasure (just down the beach from ARH.)

There is a forum called traveltalkonline. It is probably the best forum for the BVIs. They will be able to help, especially Walker!

That said, you may not need to rent a car. Anegada is pretty dang small and it may be cheaper to taxi.

Thanks. Anyone else?

I have to 100% agree with DavefromCa. The BVI forum of TTOL is THE forum for info on the BVI's. They are friendly folks who travel there alot as well as some locals. Info is always up to date.

Thanks - registered there this evening!

I spent a day at Cow Wreck Beach once. It was a phenomenally beautiful place. And I had a great conch stew at the little restaurant there. There's a huge coral reef just off the shallow beach, too, but most of the reef was so shallow that I couldn't really swim over it. And there were almost no fish to be found. Basically, lousy snorkeling, but a phenomally beautiful beach.