Soft starfish, red sea urchins, and bristle worms can be seen under the rocks in shallow areas. Salt Pond When it comes to snorkeling in St. John, Salt Pond is #1 on our list. The best area for this is along the coast on the northern side of the bay and out to the big rocks at Maho Point. From the Salt Pond Bay Parking lot, take the short trail downto the bay. Cinnamon Bay. Trunk Bay Beach is also quite famous for the Underwater Snorkeling Trail, which makes it one of the premier spots in the U.S Virgin Islands National Park for snorkeling. Rebecca lives next to the Adriatic Sea in Croatia, where she guides kayaking, stand up paddleboarding, and snorkeling tours. My husband is awesome at picking out the little creatures! The reef extends out about 20 yards from shore. The best snorkeling in St John, USVI can be discovered at beautiful Trunk Bay, part of the Virgin Islands National Park. The parking lot fills up quickly! I would highly advise wearing tennis shoes or water shoes since you are navigating over rocks and a dirt path. Do You Have What It Takes to Become a Kittitian RumMaster? You will almost certainly see parrotfish, angelfish, grunts, damselfish, and schools of blue tang, along with a vast assortment of invertebrates such as sponges and plume worms. The beach is rocky and there are often spiny sea urchins lurking in the shallow water at the shore, so step carefully. Despite damage from the 2017 hurricanes, Buck Islands coral reef continues to be one of the best in the Caribbean, with elkhorn coral reaching heights of up to 30 feet.1. READ CURATED LIST OF BEST ST. JOHN VACATION RENTALS, READ 8 THINGS TO KNOW BEFORE YOU GO TO TRUNK BAY, READ MY PERSONAL TRAVEL SNORKELING GEAR PICKS. Put on your gear and enter the water from the sand on the southernend of the beach. Required fields are marked *. Because of its secluded location, Watermelon Cay rarely gets too crowded. Head counter clockwise to use the current to round the Cay. Turtle and a remora (suckerfish) at Hansen Bay in St. John USVI. Copyright 2023 Islands. Best for: Swimming, snorkeling, and beach parties. Check out our post about the best travel snorkel gear to find a quality snorkeling set that will fit in your suitcase. You can see the beach right from the parking lot. When we snorkeled to the left of Hansen Bay, there were plenty of tropical fish, coral outcroppings, and some larger Jacks. There is also supposed to be excellent snorkeling on the eastern (right) side of the beach as you face the water, but we did not have time to snorkel there. Honeymoon Beach This hidden spot provides a relaxing atmosphere thats perfect for those seeking solitude. In addition to swimming and snorkeling, visitors can explore the ruins of the 18th-century Annaberg Sugar Plantation nearby. The area boasts an incredible diversity of marine life, with plenty of opportunities to view conch, starfish, sea turtles, sea fans, blue tangs, bluehead wrasses, parrotfish, and more. Waterlemon Bay and Waterlemon Cay This bay (and the small island that sits in it) is one of our favorite spots to snorkel around St. John. The Caves are accessible only by boat, so youll need to book a private charter or guided tour or visit with your own vessel. Staff Pick for Best Snorkeling on St John! You can park in the large lot located directly across from the eastern side of the beach. My mask would fog, and I would get a bunch of water in my snorkel. 14 Best St. John Beaches. Because it is off-the-beaten-path, this beach does not appear to get much use. There is a good deal of fire coral encrustation, but true hardcoral varieties are also plentiful. Food trucks are also parked all over the Beach. Even if you're seeking a beach day, this is a phenomenal choice. According to Tripadvisor travellers, these are the best ways to experience Sapphire Beach: Parasail Experience in St Thomas (From C$185.80) 50' Luxury Yacht. After you park, walk down a dirt uneven path for about 7 minutes until you reach a beautiful crescent-shaped beach with gorgeous clear water. The protected bay has calm, clear waters with ample opportunities to view parrotfish, sea turtles, manta rays, angelfish, barracuda, and porcupine puffers. Brain coral, soft coral, and sea fans at Little Lameshur Bay in St John USVI. However, there was not a lot of information out there, so I decided to provide a resource detailing all the nitty-gritty details of the 11 snorkeling spots we discovered all over the island. STJ has amazing offshore snorkeling. Easy access, shallow water, shade and a good chance youll see turtles, rays and lots of fish! In the underwater grasslands just seaward of the reef, snorkelers are likely to come upon large green sea turtles, often accompanied by stuck-on remora or bar jacks that follow along just inches above the turtles back. Snorkel along the western shore toward the point and around the offshore rocks called the blinders. Northwest of St John Island. St John is the smallest of the 3 US Virgin Islands located in the Caribbean. I would advise starting this adventure early in the morning. She is passionate about outdoor activities and enjoys writing pieces that inspire others to get outside. Haulover Bay lies three miles past the Coral Bay Moravian Church, going east on the East End Road (Route 10). Close up of sea turtle at Maho Bay in St John USVI, Yellowline arrow crab at Maho Bay in St John USVI, Beaugregory Damselfish at Maho Bay in St John looking right at me. Youll find directions to each location along with an informative snorkeling report, St John beach map and local tips so you can decide which spots are right for you; and where to stay on St John. She also provides chairs, portable bathrooms, kayaks, and paddleboards. If youre new to snorkeling, visiting an area prone to stronger currents, or snorkeling at a more remote site, wearing a snorkel vest will make your outing safer and more comfortable. The beach has a sandy bottom and an easy shallow entry. And just like other St John beaches youll find white sand, palm trees, seagrapes for shade and some good shallow water snorkeling. Located on the East End of St. Thomas, Secret Harbor Beach Resort offers prime snorkeling conditions right off of the hotel beach. About halfway (0.4 miles) down the Leinster Bay Trail lies a small sand and coral rubble beach, which provides excellent snorkeling for intermediate and advanced snorkelers. Reproduction in whole or in part without permission is prohibited. Full or Half Day Charter - Sail, Beach, Snorkel. More info on Haulover North NOTE: Conditions at Haulover North depend on wind and waves. Parking is catch-as-catch-can along the left hand side. Dont forget your waterproof snorkeling bag to keep your valuables safe. Some animal species you might see in the area are French angelfish, queen angel, and permits. You can relax in a hammock on the white sand beach and snorkel close to shore or rent kayaks and stand up paddleboards and paddle to nearby Caneel Bay Beach, Henley Cay, or Hawksnest Beach. Salt Pond and Drunk Bay are actually two hikes on the south shore of St John. Trunk Bay is the only beach on St. John with an amenity fee, which is $5 per entrant. Honeymoon Beach (located next to Salomon Beach) is one of the most beautiful and popular beaches in Virgin Islands National Park on St. John. St Johns most popular, most photographed, and most visited beach is Trunk Bay. Snorkeling with schools of blue tang at Haulover Bay North in St John USVI, Beautiful coral at Haulover Bay North in St John USVI, Stingray at Haulover Bay North in St John USVI. Begin by snorkeling around the large rocks at the corner ofthe beach. The best snorkeling is on the western side of the bay (left side of the bay as you face the water). Swim out just past where the motorboats are tied up to find rope sponges, vase sponges and eel grass. You'll find underwater signage that helps you identify the common fish and coral in front of you. We arrived around 10 am, and there were only a handful of parking spaces left. Cane Bay (St. Croix): One of the island's best diving and snorkeling sites is off this breezy, north-shore beach. Always snorkel with a buddy and never exceed your physical ability or experience. Its possible to visit both sites in a single day. 99.9% of travelers come to St John by boat ! Trunk Bay Beach - One of the Globe's Best Description. Snorkel out along the east coast toward the point. Entry into the water is easy. Dont forget your waterproof snorkeling bag to keep your valuables safe. This is one of the best beaches on St. John for foraging along the shoreline and discovering what the tide washes up. Maho Bay Beach 2,799 Beaches By Flahe Beautiful beach Good service is delicious Drinks are also available Taxis are plentiful as are gift shops 2022 3. Always snorkel with a buddy and never exceed your physical ability or experience. On the north side of the point, there is asmall cave with an exit to the surface. The best reef corals and fish as to the left as you face the water. Site by Adagio Digital Arts | Powered by WordPress, Protected by the Virgin Islands National Park. Protected under Virgin Islands National Coral Reef Monument, the underwater landscape . Maho Bay also offers good reef snorkeling for those looking to explore the sea life on a coral reef. Access is easy due to the shallow entry and sandy bottom. .5 mi EW, or take a taxi to Caneel and ride the Honeymoon Beach Huts golf cart to Honeymoon Beach. You can enter the water at the rock beach at the end of the trail. You'd do yourself well to visit this glorious white sand beach even if you don't snorkel. Most of the reef lies in calm shallow water, with some sections even rising above the surface at times of extreme low tides. If you are coming from Coral Bay on Centerline Road, take a left on Route 107 and follow it down PAST Concordia. Entry can be a little tricky due to the cobblestone beach, sargassum (seaweed), and sea urchins. Parking spots fill up quickly, so get there early! Trunk Bay is a long stretch of white sand with a rock island just off the shore. 2023 SeeStJohn.com | Sombrero Publishing Company PO Box 1031, St. John, VI 00831 |, Whether you stay in Cruz Bay or Coral Bay. The white sand is super soft, and the waters are a mesmerizing aquamarine color. Blue Cobblestone Beach offers the opportunity toexplore an underwater environment that usually occurs furtheroffshore and in deeper waters. Try to identify all the differentcolors of sponges found here. 2022 adagio digital arts. #10 - Lovango Cay Virgin Islands . Terri Clemmons photos. Those are just examples, nearly all of the beaches have close snorkeling. We snorkeled along the rocks on the right side of the beach as you face the water. Once youve crossed the Durloe Channel youll find a protected sandy cove on the western side of the cay. I like to wear dive booties with my snorkeling fins to offer a little more protection. Coki Beach, or Coki Point, is one of the most popular beaches on the island thanks to its calm waters, convenient amenities, and classic Caribbean views. The satellite view was too cloudy, so I included this map instead. The coral reef here is in relatively good condition, and the reef community is colorful and diverse. Look under ledges and in holes to see lobsters, eels, and small fish seeking protection in their little hiding places. From hidden coves to must-see reefs, these are the best snorkeling spots in St. John. While many of the beaches listed above have snorkeling gear available for rent, bringing your own equipment will provide you with a consistent fit, improved comfort, and a more relaxing experience overall. Parking is plentiful by St John standards with marked parking areas by the pavillion and a larger lot at the eastern end of the beach. We also saw a moon jellyfish, but it was easy to navigate around. The beach is narrow and lined with towering coconut palms and seagrape trees for shade. Guests can enjoy white sand, towering palms, crystal clear water, the Underwater Snorkeling Trail, food, drink, showers/bathrooms and snorkel gear and chair rentals. Thalia, the owner of the land in front of the beach, very kindly upkeeps the beach through donations. Most people love the magnificent north shore beaches like Trunk Bay, Maho Beach, Cinnamon Bay, and Honeymoon Beach, which are protected from the big surf and have long stretches of . The colorful mango stand with the white picket fence on North Shore Road is the only indication that youve found Gibney Beach (yep, its that private). If youre looking for a more eco-friendly option, active travelers love this three-hour multisport tour featuring snorkeling, hiking, and kayaking in Virgin Islands National Park. . With arguably the best shallow water snorkeling in all of the Virgin Islands youre sure to have a great experience. Park on the south side of the road alongside the small sand and coral rubble beach. A good plan is to snorkel west (to the left) over the shallow portion of the reef first and then return along the deeper reef edge. Right side of Cinnamon Bay Beach (this is the entry point to snorkeling out to the Cay). Find out where to go snorkeling on your Virgin Islands vacation. The seagrass beds that are about 30 yards off the beach are a great place to see sea turtles, rays, conch and tarpon. Great to know. Like many areas in the Virgin Islands, Smugglers Cove is still recovering from hurricanes Maria and Irma. Here, the environment is sand and coral rubble. 2. In the British Virgin Islands, the island of Tortola makes a great base for snorkelers. Located with the Caneel Bay Resort visitors can either hike the Lind Point Trail from Cruz Bay; park at Caneel Bay Resort and walk the approx. If you make a purchase through these links, we may receive a small commission at no extra cost to you. Yawzi Point There are patches of reef on both the right and left sides of the bay, but the right side (as you face the water) is supposed to be better. But the snorkeling is some of the best on the island. Smugglers Cove is located on the west end of Tortola, and you can get there by boat, taxi shuttle, or car. You will have to walk over the pebbly beach and avoid the sporadic sea urchins as you launch off into the water. As you continue north around the point, you will start to seeunderwater channels known as spur and groove systems, and thefringing reef along the rocky coast gets larger, deeper, and morecolorful. . The eastern wall of the second room is encrusted with sponges and cup coral. Trunk Bay The hike to Salt Pond Beach is fairly short, being about .8 miles. There can be a moderate current here which sets to the west, as well as the possibility of a strong breeze blowing in the same direction. Several varieties of hard coral, including star, brain, elkhorn, staghorn, and pillar coral, can be found here as well as gorgonians, such as sea fans, sea plumes, and dead mans fingers. This beautiful environment continues out and around the point. At the end of the road at the split, take a left. But its a fun sight in 8 or less of shallow water. Bring diluted baby shampoo to help keep your mask clear. There is also more current, so you need to be a strong swimmer. I could spend hours swimming with these adorable guys. Our list of BEST SNORKELING IN ST JOHN provides first-hand knowledge on the best places to visit while you are on-island. The area can get crowded, so plan to arrive early for the best experience. document.getElementById( "ak_js_1" ).setAttribute( "value", ( new Date() ).getTime() ); Copyright 2023 Enriching Pursuits. Waterlemon Cay hike leads you through a short section of forest in the beginning, And then the trail dumps you on the rocky coastline for the remainder of the hike. Its shallow over the top of the reef but deep enough for experienced and confident snorkelers to negotiate safely. The southern side of Haulover Bay, St John, lies just off the side of Route 10. 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