Has anyone overnighted at Buck Island recently? Website says special permit is required to overnight at West Beach, which I was aware of, but NPS office emailed saying day use only.

NPS office response:

"The 2012 anchoring permit application is still valid. There is no overnight anchoring at Buck Island. It is day-use only. Please fill out the application and email it back to me. I'll need a copy of a valid ID and registration of the vessel. Let me know if you have any more questions. No notarized letter needed."

Thanks for any insight.

We were there at the end of April and were under the assumption that our anchor permit allowed for an overnight stay. But the park police came by at 4:30 and kicked us out so we headed back to Christiansted. When I looked at the email from the park service again, I realized that it did say no overnight anchoring.

Agree with Swifty. No overnight stays as of April.

Well dang. Thanks for the reply.

Go there for the day and stay in Fredericksted (that's what we did). Admittedly, it isn't as nice but is acceptable.

The pier in Fredericksted is very cool to snorkel. And we really enjoyed hanging out at The Fred for happy hour!

Interesting... I see boats overnighting off west beach @ Buck Island nearly every night. DPNR is/was allowing overnight anchoring just south of Buck at Coakley Bay which is a LOT calmer than anything around Buck.