White sails flit across the brilliantly bright horizon, clouds are fleeting and high, the sound of the sea soothing and sultry ? visitors to The British Islands are often hard pressed to rouse themselves from rum drinking and silky sand to snorkel silently past some of the world's best undersea scenery. The islands promise a way of life that is unhurried, sunny and resplendent.

Tangled tropical foliage curls around the waterfalls and rivers of Puerto Rico's interior, thinning to palm trees and soft white sand at the perimeter beaches. San Juan, the island's hub and main port, accommodates visitors to the city with a range of tourist amenities. The adventurous won't want to sail away from Puerto Rico without first exploring some of the less-beaten paths that penetrate the island's rural side.

Lush tropical greenery comes alive with bright blossoms on St Croix, scenting the sea-air with the fragrance of flowers. Long stretches of pale sand are the matting on an island framed by sparkling seas. The largest island in the US Virgin Islands, St Croix has much of the same amenities ? plenty of aquamarine water and powdery beaches ? as St Thomas and St John but with fewer visitors and more room to roam, the island may offer more solitude.

Brilliant blue waters lap the sandy edges of St. John, beckoning swimmers, sunbathers and the overworked. Most of the tangled tropical foliage that blankets the island's interior is part of the Virgin Islands National Park, but don't let that fool you into thinking St. John is just one long walk in the park. Whether you're checking out the nightlife and a bright red sunset or exploring the island's hidden sands there is plenty to do on the island to keep you relaxed for a few days, with the British Virgin Islands just a quick trip away.

Green fringed trees follow the elevated contours of Tortola, dropping off at island's edge to meet white powdery beaches and warm surf. Road Town is Tortola's big city, stacked up along hills rimming the harbor. Cruise ships dock just across from the shops and restaurants fronting Road Bay, while charter catamarans and sailboats set off from nearby Village Cay Marina or The Moorings. Sign on for a day on deck with one of the operators here, and then chart your course towards one of the spectacular snorkeling and scuba sites hidden beneath the British Virgin Island's blue water.

Bleached coral protrudes from the sandy blanket padding the ocean floor of Virgin Gorda's famous ?Baths', brightened by darting schools of color and activity. Here, the warm water is home to a rainbow of sea-life. Preoccupied with the world beneath, it is easy to get happily lost in the maze of rocks and pools that are home to this thriving undersea community.