Anguilla: No Filter Needed

Instagram needs a new filter to turn any picture into a Caribbean island paradise.   They should call it "Anguilla."   I'm here for a few days to explore its dive sites, and learn a little about this understated, off-radar island that attracts celebrities, honeymooners and urban escapees with opulent villas, lavish resorts, and 13,500 inhabitants who are so laid back even their trigger fish are uncoiled.  
Westjet flies direct from Toronto to San Maarten, and it's a short 20-minute boat ride to the British Overseas Territory of Anguilla.  The tax haven is only 26km long by 5km wide, with one main road running through the middle.  There are no mountains, and hardly any traffic.  What it does have is 33 mind blowing beaches, dreamy tropical weather, fat mangos and proudly, no chain hotels, burger joints or coffee shops. 
"This is what everyone wants the Caribbean to be," says Patrick Lynch, who owns Roy's Bayside Grill.  "White sands with nobody on it."    
The sentiment is echoed by Jim, a television director who's been visiting the island with his family for 15 years.   Celebrities love the island's lack of pretentiousness and relative privacy, which explains why actress Annie Potts gave me her sunscreen.  A strong summer sun was baking my back onboard Dougie's boat, returning from our incredible couple dive at Dog Island.  Every dive delivered the goods, be it the 200ft wreck of the MV Sarah, the dozen turtles who played with us on the 75ft Oosterdiep wreck, or the lobster, barracuda and countless fish feeding off the MV Commerce. The island's three dive companies - Shoal Bay Scuba, Special D and Vigilint - were knowledgeable, professional and fun to hang out with. Like other locals  I met, these guys love what they do, and love where they live.   Dive sites, including a half dozen amazing wrecks, were easy to get to, and ideal for recreational divers like me.  
Anguilla has three, pricey five-star resorts that are extraordinary:  The Viceroy, Cap Juluca, and the sprawling CuisinArt, owned by the same chap behind the appliances.  Picture infinity pools, white brushed villas, expensive cocktails and swept powder beaches.  I stayed at the more affordable Anacoana Boutique Hotel, centrally located, comfortable and rather less flashy.   Their packages are worth checking out. 
I'm not exactly sure how Anguilla came to be a foodie island because I spent too much time eating to find out.  Standout meals were at the Straw Hut, Jacala (my new friend and fabulous underwater photographer Nadia Aly swears their mahi-mahi is the best thing she's ever had), CuisinArt's Le Bistro (the lobster was sensational) Roy's Bayside Grill, Smokey's and the Firefly.  Deep fried Johnny cakes,  fresh fish, peas and rice and that sweet hot Caribbean sauce...no wonder locals are always smiling.  
I found myself swimming under the stars, and scuba diving with bioluminescence under a bright supermoon. At the exotic Birds of Paradise villa, I lived like the 1%, for a couple hours at least. I also found great companionship, true local characters, a new appreciation for air conditioning, and late night fun with banana rum.   Each photo I posted to Twitter or Instagram screamed:  Don't you wish you were here?   No photoshopping, just a little something I call the Anguilla filter.  ​

Find out more about visiting Anguilla here.  ​