Six Hills Cays
Six Hills anchorage · Caicos Banks Six Hills
21°37.50'N 71°58.68'W
Depth
1–3m
Bottom
sand
Alarm Radius
60m
Holding
Good
Recommended Anchor Alarm Radius
60m
60m for good holding on sand in 1–3m. CRITICAL TIDAL WARNING: The Caicos Banks 0.6–0.9m tidal range is the defining safety factor at Six Hills Cays. At low water on spring tides, depth can fall below 0.5m in the shallowest areas around the cays. Your anchor alarm is your primary safety tool — set at 60m and monitor depth readings continuously. Shoal-draft vessels only. Do not let the boat range into areas where the chart shows less than 1m at MLLW.
Caicos Banks Tidal Warning
Tidal range 0.6–0.9m. Maximum draft 1.2m at low water. Navigate in good light only. Anchor alarm is essential — set immediately on anchoring and monitor depth readings continuously.
About This Anchorage
Six Hills Cays is a group of small mangrove-fringed cays on the northern Caicos Banks — part of the vast shallow water environment that defines this extraordinary region. The area is named for the six low sandy hills visible on the main cay. The surrounding water is crystal-clear and typically 1–3m deep, with clean sand bottom, scattered coral heads, and seagrass beds. The bonefishing around Six Hills Cays is exceptional — the bonefish flats here are among the least-disturbed in TCI. Bird life is rich — the mangroves harbour frigatebirds, herons, and various shorebirds. This is remote Caicos Banks territory accessible only to shoal-draft vessels with experienced crews comfortable in 1–3m tidal water. No facilities, no services, no assistance available.
Protected From
S · SE · E
Exposed To
N · NW · W
Anchoring Rules
- Anchoring fee
- Free anchoring
- Permit required
- Yes
Restrictions: Caicos Banks — anchor in sand only; no anchoring on coral or seagrass; shoal draft only (max 1.2m at low water); no night navigation on the Banks; DECR protection of mangroves and reef.
Hazards
- !CRITICALLY SHALLOW — 1–3m at high water; some areas dry at low water; shoal-draft vessels only
- !Caicos Banks tidal range 0.6–0.9m — anchor alarm is primary safety tool; depth monitoring mandatory
- !Coral heads throughout the Banks — approach in excellent light only; bow watch essential
- !Most remote anchorage on the northern Banks — emergency assistance 6+ hours away
- !No night navigation — do not arrive or depart in darkness; coral head positions unpredictable
Skipper's Tips
- →Six Hills Cays is the definition of remote Banks gunkholing — perfect solitude, perfect water, perfect bonefishing
- →Bring a fly rod — the bonefish flats around the cays are extraordinary; one of the top bonefishing spots in TCI
- →Navigation on the Banks requires constant visual confirmation — use Navionics or Garmin BlueChart with current updates AND your own eyes
- →Time arrivals and departures for high water — the extra 0.6–0.9m of tidal height makes all the difference in these shallows
- →The water colour at Six Hills in morning light is extraordinary — countless shades of turquoise over the sand
Facilities
No facilities. Nearest any services at South Caicos (28nm S) or Providenciales (40nm W).
Nearest provisions: South Caicos (28nm S) (28nm)
Best Months & Season
Dec, Jan, Feb, Mar, Apr
December–April. Remote Banks exploration for experienced shallow-water sailors only. Full self-sufficiency mandatory.
Recommended Anchor Types
Nearby Anchorages
Set Your Anchor Alarm to 60m
On the Caicos Banks, in 1–4m of water with a 0.6–0.9m tidal range, the anchor alarm is not optional — it is your primary safety tool. Safety Anchor Alarm monitors your GPS position continuously, night and day.
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