This report details shallow-water, sandy-bottom locations suitable for early-stage tension-leg seastead prototypes utilizing mooring screws. The primary focus is on areas within Anguilla's territorial waters/EEZ that are hidden from the main island, as well as an analysis of equivalent international waters.
If seasteads are placed on a 500 ft x 500 ft grid, each seastead requires 250,000 square feet of ocean footprint (approx. 5.74 acres).
1 Square Mile = 27,878,400 sq ft.
Capacity: ~111 seasteads per square mile.
Anguilla sits on the Anguilla Bank, a relatively shallow submarine plateau that it shares with St. Martin and St. Barts. Because the island is quite flat (highest point is Crocus Hill at 240 feet, though most beaches have a viewing elevation of <10 feet), hiding a low-profile seastead behind smaller islands or simply pushing it "over the horizon" is highly feasible. (Note: For a person standing on a beach, the horizon is about 3 miles away. From high ground, it is about 15-18 miles).
| Location Details | Area 1: East of Scrub Island | Area 2: Northwest of Dog Island | Area 3: Sombrero Bank (Over Horizon) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Coordinates (Center) | 18.295° N, 62.936° W | 18.305° N, 63.285° W | 18.570° N, 63.420° W |
| Direction & Distance | ~3.5 miles ENE from Anguilla mainland | ~11 miles NW from Anguilla mainland | ~35 miles NW from Anguilla (Fully out of sight) |
| Visibility | Hidden by Scrub Island landmass. | Hidden by Dog Island landmass. | Over the curvature of the earth. |
| Depth | 60 - 90 feet | 50 - 80 feet | 75 - 100 feet |
| Bottom Composition | Coarse sand, coral rubble | Extensive sandy flats | Sand over limestone hardpan |
| Estimated Usable Area | ~2.0 Square Miles | ~3.0 Square Miles | ~5.0 Square Miles |
| Seastead Capacity (500 ft grid) |
~222 seasteads | ~333 seasteads | ~555 seasteads |
| Normal Wave Heights | 4 to 6 ft (Exposed to trade wind chop) | 3 to 5 ft (Slightly shadowed by bank) | 5 to 8 ft (Highly exposed open ocean) |
| Winter/Swell Conditions | 8 to 12 ft (North Atlantic groundswells) | 8 to 12 ft | 10 to 15+ ft (Requires robust tension leg) |
You asked if there are any locations in international waters (outside any country's 200 nm Exclusive Economic Zone) within 2,000 miles of Anguilla that are less than 100 feet deep with sandy bottoms.
Why is this the case?
If you wish to deploy offshore but maintain a depth of under 100 feet, you must operate within the EEZ of a nation. Anguilla (UK) is an excellent choice due to its extensive offshore bank.
For your initial Caribbean prototypes, Area 2 (Northwest of Dog Island) is highly recommended. It offers the best combination of slightly mitigated wave action, a highly reliable sandy bottom suitable for mooring screws, and complete visual blockage from mainland Anguilla's tourism centers.
Should the prototypes prove successful and require expansion without taking up local coastal space, jumping to Area 3 (Sombrero Bank) provides an "over the horizon" open-ocean environment while still allowing you to anchor into less than 100 feet of sand.