I have a windlass control at the helm, also a wireless control for it. The bower anchor is a Spade which is self-launching off the sprit once it is untied. Drive up to the spot, stop, drop the anchor as I back up, pay out the chain as needed all from the helm. I do it this way even when there is plenty of crew on board. To up anchor, under benign conditions I use the wireless windlass control while standing on the bow. With the engine idling, pull the boat up to the anchor with the windlass. I do this because I can watch the slack in the chain and hose the mud off as it comes up. If the anchor breaks out easily, bring it on up then amble aft. If its stuck, go back and shear around a bit to break it out. Then idle ahead with the wireless autopilot control in the other pocket. Or if plenty of room, just drift, or if there is wind I would already have set the mizzen so it will stay pointed more or less the same way and start backing down.

I haven't used it that much yet (it was on the blink last fall) but I have a video camera mounted on the mast pointing down at the bowsprit. On my boat a nice aerial view since the mast is 4' aft of the stem. This picture appears on the Raymarine chartplotter at the helm. I don't think it would help much with spotting coral heads, but it should give a reasonable view to retrieve and park the anchor, especially if the water was clear.

I'd be interested in how others tackle all this stuff.