So, we are in the very south of the Caribbean, 4 miles north of Grenada. Some of you may have heard of Kick-’em-Jenny. It is a 4,000-foot (1,300 m) high mountain towering above the surrounding seabed, hollowed out by a crater... The whole structure represents a spectacular underwater feature since the top of the volcano is only 500 feet (160 m) below the surface! The first documented eruption dates from July 1939. Since 2017, the volcano seems to have woken up for good: dozens of scientists rushed to the place to witness the potential birth of an island - one which will never emerge from the water... but anyway, I’m going off on a tangent here, especially since the area is regularly closed to navigation over variable distances depending upon the level of alert.
I would rather talk to you about the island which is only 2 miles away from this underwater crater: Ronde Island.
Nowadays, it is more and more popular, but it is still a beautiful place to escape from the crowded bays of southern Grenada.
There is everything to enjoy here by combining snorkeling, barbecuing on the beach and walking in the forest.
Fishermen have settled in the south of the island. They have created a path that you can follow from the beach where you drop anchor. You still have to find it though, and then avoid getting cactus spines stuck in your skin - they abound on the island.
Make a fire on the beach at night and you will be amazed by the number of fireflies in the trees!
And here we are in lobster heaven! Make sure you are in the right season to catch them. Rock lobsters are very common, although sometimes difficult to catch because they will nestle in the most incredible cavities!
Anchorage
We read several comments on Navionics mentioning the swell that can be uncomfortable in the main anchorage, in the western hollow of the island. Honestly, I don’t find the place to be any more exposed than Tyrell Bay in Carriacou or many other bays in Grenada. The bay is large, and you can easily fit about 20 boats in it. I recommend getting as close as possible to the beach at this GPS point: 12°18.785’N 61°35.233’W It is only sand, and the water is translucent. The current tends to disturb the area farthest from the anchorage area and that can become annoying.
Weather
I don’t need to teach you anything about the weather in this tropical area. We all know the Caribbean hurricane season, that ends in November. Although this area in the very south of the West Indies is in principle spared from hurricanes, some serious systems have been known to develop in this area and have passed over Grenada in 2022. It goes without saying that the climate is changing, that the seasons are being shaken up and that hurricanes are becoming more and more threatening. Otherwise, Ronde Island is very well protected from the prevailing easterly wind and the anchorage is excellent. I saw many boats taking refuge there during strong gales.
