The currents can be strong. Honeymoon Beach: Best for Luxury Mixed With Laid Back Vibes. To the right facing the water, there is a formation of black rocks that separates Hawksnest Beach from Gibney Beach. Since most people consider December to April the best time to travel to the Caribbean, many snorkelers visit the Virgin Islands during the North American winter. Be aware the water can get rough along the far side of the Cay due to exposure to the wind. This section of the reef tends to attract larger predators such as blue runners, mutton snapper, and yellowtail snapper. There are also many colorful spongesand various types of hard coral in this area. The best snorkeling area can be found as you approach Beehive Cove, as everything becomes more colorful. There are patches of seagrass when you enter, so you may see some turtles and rays although we did not see any when we went. Looking forward to checking it out. In fact, Hurricane Hole has been my favorite snorkel spot in the US Virgin Islands since moving here! Known as The Indians, this area is a popular diving and snorkeling site with plentiful coral, fish, and other sea creatures. 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. Snorkeling in 5 to 15 of water youll discover beautiful rocky patch reefs covered in corals. Its shoreline is a mix of wind-swept sand and pebbles. Scrawled filefish can sometimes be seen making their way along the bottom hunting for food. 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. Visitors will argue about which one is their favorite. Lush v. Love my Ugo! Honeymoon is one of the best beaches on St. John for day trippers from St. Thomas. 99.9% of travelers come to St John by boat ! Sail to St John National Park (the very best, least crowded beaches) where you will enjoy fantastic snorkeling & swimming stops, gourmet lunch, drinks, and great company! In addition to swimming and snorkeling, visitors can explore the ruins of the 18th-century Annaberg Sugar Plantation nearby. Because there is low light within the room, some of the coral animals may have their tentacles extended as if it were night on the reef. https://www.nps.gov/buis/learn/nature/naturalfeaturesandecosystems.htm, https://oceanservice.noaa.gov/news/sunscreen-corals.html, https://www.bbc.com/news/world-asia-50963080, Tips for snorkeling in the Virgin Islands. After you hike the dirt path to Salt Pond Bay Beach, walk all the way to the far left of Salt Pond Bay Beach and follow the trail along the shoreline. Read on to find all the details of each snorkeling spot we visited. 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. Trunk Bay is the most famous beach in Virgin Islands National Park, often listed among the most beautiful beaches in the world. The award-winning resort has an onsite dive center with watersport rentals, snorkeling gear, and guided excursions. I would highly advise a snorkel vest if you are not a strong swimmer like me. The snorkeling is great along the reef on the left side (as you face the water). Virgin Islands National Park snorkeling trail and a lifeguards. When youve had your fill of music, stuffed French toast, and spicy Bloody Marys, head to Lameshur Beach. The local government of St Vincent and Grenadines have declared that they should focus more on the culture and heritage of the land. Park in the Salt Pond Bay Beach parking lot. Coral Bay, St. John USVI - A Snorkeling Paradise By Terri Clemmons Concordia Cafe Open Mic Night on Mondays from 4:30-6:30 on the East End. Check out our list of the best islands for snorkeling. Entry is rocky and snorkelers should be aware of urchins. 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. The area can get crowded, so plan to arrive early for the best experience. The fry is extremely sensitive to minute changes in water currents and can sense the approach of the hunters. You first need to hike to Salt Pond Beach, and then on to Drunk Bay. This is the first and only sandy beach that you pass on the trail before arriving at the beautiful beach across from Waterlemon Cay. Depths around the formations range from around 10 to 50 feet.2. Along the shoreline that connects to Caneel Bay youll find huge schools of Sergeant Major Damsels, wrasse, French Angelfish, sea turtles, rays and a wide variety of hard and soft corals. Close to the shore are patches of sand and grass with scattered coral heads. I went to the left and saw nice fans, fish. Entry is not easy. There are not many spots. Protected under Virgin Islands National Coral Reef Monument, the underwater landscape . You can see many large, purple sea fans and other gorgonians, as well as hard corals, such as star, elkhorn, and brain coral. The waves can be rough. Entry into the water is easy. The hike to Salt Pond Beach is fairly short, being about .8 miles. I always wear a snorkel vest. It's a top spot to go snorkeling in St John from the beach. We saw a few turtles in the middle of the bay where the seagrass beds are located. You'd do yourself well to visit this glorious white sand beach even if you don't snorkel. The island of St John is best known as home to Virgin Islands National Park, beautiful beaches, long hiking trails, scrumptious food, and historical places.The coast around the island has been designated as Virgin Islands Coral Reef National Monument, so snorkeling is one of the best activities and you can find great opportunities at any beach.. You can also go kayaking, boating, or explore . We have all the details including the world famous north shore beaches- including maps! The local museum brings the best elements that can show you the history of the place. Ivette - Jul 21, 2018 - St John July 2018 We were in St John back in July of 2016 and the beauty of the island and reefs was wonderful. You can swim from the sandy beach out to the Cay, which is quite a long swim. Sea cucumbers are particularly plentiful here. The snorkeling in St John USVI surprised me. Haulover Bay (St. John): A favorite with locals, this small bay is rougher than Leinster, with a pebbly beach. Magen's Bay Beach (One Of The Most Beautiful) Another popular beach among tourists and locals is Magen's Bay Beach. The liveliest underwater activity happens to the east among the rocks on the way to Maho Point. St John island is one of the top Caribbean destinations for snorkeling. Cinnamon Bay. Henley Cay - Staff Pick for Best Snorkeling on St John - requires kayak or charter Haulover (North) - Some of the most dramatic underwater structure and corals on the island. Snorkeling off the eastern end of the beach and youll find a large table reef in 5 to 15 of water. There are busy ferry routes that connect St John to St Thomas, St Croix, Tortola and the BVIs. But the fact is that the top of the list is always Trunk Bay Beach, Cinnamon Bay Beach, Maho Bay Beach, Hawksnest Beach, Salomon Beach, Gibney Beach, Caneel Bay or Honeymoon Beach. I would not attempt this road after a lot of rain. Your email address will not be published. One point of interest is the sunken plane wreckage just off of Little Cinnamon Beach. Rebecca lives next to the Adriatic Sea in Croatia, where she guides kayaking, stand up paddleboarding, and snorkeling tours. You will have to walk over the pebbly beach and avoid the sporadic sea urchins as you launch off into the water. The result is literal forests of gorgonians and sea fans, brain corals, fire coral and healthy populations of reef fish. Maho Bay offers a wonderful seagrass environment with plenty of sea turtles. The small beach is less than 5 minutes away from Red Hook and is easily reached by car or taxi. STJ has amazing offshore snorkeling. 1. Add snorkeling to the mix, and you've got the perfect day! Sergeant major and school of French grunt fish at Cinnamon Bay in St John USVI. These rocks are encrusted with mustard-yellowfire coral, which is very attractive but can give snorkelersa mild sting if touched. You are exposed to the full sun. She is passionate about outdoor activities and enjoys writing pieces that inspire others to get outside. I was actually pleasantly surprised by the quality of snorkeling here. The snorkeling, however, is dramatic, with ledges, walls, and nooks to explore. There is an underwater snorkeling trail along the Cay, which requires a short swim out from the beach. You can see up to 12 different species of sea turtles roaming the seagrass beds, as well as stingrays, spotted eagle rays, dolphins, sea fans, tropical fish, elkhorn coral, cuttlefish, blue tangs, and nurse sharks. Despite the damage, there are many opportunities to view diverse marine life, including coral, tropical fish, octopus, and sea turtles. Unfortunately, I have not seen any without signs of coral bleaching, as evidenced by the white areas on the coral, so enjoy it while you can. The farther you get out to the point, the more challenging it will become. Be prepared for a more difficult return to the beach, as you will be going against the chop and the current. Maho Bay offers a chance to swim with sea turtles. 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. Snorkeling is a can't miss activity when visiting the island. A beautiful beach with an underwater snorkeling trail! Do not overestimate your swimming ability. This hidden spot provides a relaxing atmosphere thats perfect for those seeking solitude. It's on the smaller side and is found near Trunk Bay Beach, which takes most of the tourists away from it. No hike required. While Honeymoon Bay, Caneel Bay, Hawks Nest Bay, Peter Bay, and Cinnamon Bay all make for enjoyable beach visits when trying to figure out which U.S. Virgin Island has the best beaches, we would like to introduce you to our top 3 beaches on St. John: Maho Bay Beach Do not overestimate your swimming ability. You will come to several splits in the poorly maintained road. Most of the reef lies in calm shallow water, with some sections even rising above the surface at times of extreme low tides. Keep an eye out for brain corals, seafans, gorgonians, Blue Bell Tunicate corals, and a large variety of tropical fish including French Angelfish, Yellowtail Snapper, Puddingwife Wrasse, Blueheaded Wrasse, Jeweled Damsels, Queen Triggerfish, Blue Runners and Beau Gregory Damsels. Soft starfish, red sea urchins, and bristle worms can be seen under the rocks in shallow areas. When I first started to snorkel almost a decade ago, I would rent basic gear from a local shop. In this area, one may also see southern stingrays, conch, trunkfish, and others. It is located right off of North Shore Road. Once youve crossed the Durloe Channel youll find a protected sandy cove on the western side of the cay. Always snorkel with a buddy and never exceed your physical ability or experience. This is the closest entry point to get to Waterlemon Cay, which is the route we chose. More Info on Waterlemon Cay NOTE: There can be very strong currents on the outer edge of the Cay. Cane Bay at sunrise, St. Croix. The other option is to keep walking past the sandy beach to the far edge of the beach where the coastline becomes rocky again. I could spend hours swimming with these adorable guys. 10 Reasons Why Saba Should Top Your Caribbean Travel List this Year, History is in the Making at the Iconic Grand Wailea Maui, Its the Dawn of a New Day at Aurora Anguilla Golf Resort and Spa. Its arguably the most beautiful beach on St John; if not all of the Caribbean! And theyre all located along St Johns North Shore! Cane Bay (St. Croix): One of the island's best diving and snorkeling sites is off this breezy, north-shore beach. Food trucks are also parked all over the Beach. .5 mi EW, or take a taxi to Caneel and ride the Honeymoon Beach Huts golf cart to Honeymoon Beach. Put in Annaberg Sugar Plantation in GoogleMaps. But the trip is well worth it. This is a considerable distance also, so pace yourself, or to decrease the distance, take the Ram Head Trail to the beach and snorkel towards Salt Pond Bay. Our ultimate printable guide to Trunk Bay snorkeling in St John have snorkel dive descriptions, maps, lodging recommendations and contact information. The first step is to get toGreat Lameshur Bay on St. Johns south coast. This location is best for experienced snorkelers since you'll need to swim a few hundred feet out away from shore to reach the best spots. 2022 adagio digital arts. I would highly advise wearing tennis shoes or water shoes since you are navigating over rocks and a dirt path. The trip begins and ends at Honeymoon Beach, one of St. Johns best snorkeling spots. When we first visited, we accidentally drove into the Concordia Resort. Its a Must-See on many visitors STJ Bucket List. That aforementioned place is also one of the best spots for buying souvenirs because of the beach shop there. There are two rooms or chambers with rock walls on three sides. Cinnamon Bay is a lot like Trunk Bay with its beauty and amenities, but bigger and more spacious. Once I was properly fitted with the correct snorkeling gear that actually fit my face and feet, a whole new underwater world opened up to me. We snorkeled to the left (as you face the water) across the small bay to the larger patch reef. I like to wear dive booties with my snorkeling fins to offer a little more protection. Because of the Covid-19 pandemic, many people feel uneasy about sharing snorkeling equipment with others. The Tektite snorkel is one of the absolute best snorkeling spotson St. John, and contrary to popular belief, itcan be accessed by land with relative ease. Honeymoon Beach is an off-the-beaten-path destination offering excellent snorkeling and other watersports in a secluded area within Virgin Islands National Park. A good family beach for snorkeling exists at Coki Point Beach on St. Thomas, while a more demanding site, requiring a 45min boat trip, can be located off the Cow and Calf Rocks. There are many deep water crevices and canyons to explore. Located at the eastern end of Leinster Bay, Watermelon Cay is known as the top snorkeling spot on St. John. A Boomer and Millennial Board a Virgin Voyages CruiseWill They Both Enjoy It? We saw several turtles in the seagrass beds. The highlight was seeing a lemon shark. We also saw a few stingrays. Snorkeling in Hurricane Hole is a MUST do on any trip to St. John. Try to identify all the differentcolors of sponges found here. Snorkeling is one of the most popular activities among visitors to the Virgin Islands. 14 Best St. John Beaches. The seagrass beds that are about 30 yards off the beach are a great place to see sea turtles, rays, conch and tarpon. St. John is the most natural of the islands and has numerous easy access snorkeling spots. Can get a bit crowded but offers some nice snorkeling especially center of the bay. I love to snorkel but. We went around 9 am and had no problem. 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. Thus, snorkelers should make an extra effort to avoid situations where the water is too shallow for them. Thalia, the owner of the land in front of the beach, very kindly upkeeps the beach through donations. Trunk Bay The water is a bit rougher since it can get quite choppy with high currents and waves since the winds around the area are strong. Northwest of St John Island. We were glad we decided to rent a Jeep! 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