Youll also find plenty of reef fish, corals, sea fans, and sponges. As many visitors can attest, the reputation is well deserved. It was rated #15 of the Best Island Beaches in the World 2020 by readers of Conde Nast Traveler. Those are without a doubt the most popular beaches. The liveliest underwater activity happens to the east among the rocks on the way to Maho Point. We saw several turtles in the seagrass beds. 20-30 minutes. Caneel Bay beach The eastern wall of the second room is encrusted with sponges and cup coral. The island boasts over 3 dozen beaches to choose from and discover. Virgin Islands Day Sailing: The best sailing/snorkeling trip ever! Thread Tools Search this Thread Mar 23rd, 2011, 12:40 PM #1 Jayneann. I like to wear dive booties with my snorkeling fins to offer a little more protection. The beach at Haulover North is mostly coral rubble. The water is shallow and has a sandy bottom. There is a little bit of a pebbly transition right at the shoreline. If you are planning a day at Trunk Bay, dont miss my article below! The thin yellow tentacles protruding from the small bright orange cups make the corals look like flowers. Moreover, the water deepens gradually and stays relatively shallow as you wade out from the beach. .5 mi EW, or take a taxi to Caneel and ride the Honeymoon Beach Huts golf cart to Honeymoon Beach. The coral reef here is in relatively good condition, and the reef community is colorful and diverse. Snorkeling the western edge towards Peter Bay the corals and patch reef are thin. You'll find underwater signage that helps you identify the common fish and coral in front of you. And you'll find wonderful snorkeling from most of the beaches! A small island can be seen in the middle of the water near Trunk Bay Beach. All rights reserved. My husband who has an amazing eagle eye even spotted a yellowline arrow crab. Near the left side of the reef, you can find a vibrant pillar coral that always seems to be a big attraction for colorful little fish. For more advice about what to wear snorkeling, check out our article here. Required fields are marked *. Where to Stay in St. John If you're not sailing in for the day from a cruise ship, consider staying in St. John for a holiday. Its arguably the most beautiful beach on St John; if not all of the Caribbean! The quiet lagoon is known for its calm, turquoise waters and is an excellent destination for snorkelers of all skill levels. My mask would fog, and I would get a bunch of water in my snorkel. This beautiful bay was featured in the movie Big Blue. It is located right off of North Shore Road. From hidden coves to must-see reefs, these are the best snorkeling spots in St. John. I would not attempt this road after a lot of rain. After a morning snorkel, visit Vies Snack Shack and pay the nominal fee she charges to access the sandy beach next to Hansen. Access is easy due to the sandy bottom and shallow, calm entry. Snorkeling equipment, as well as single and double kayaks, standup paddle boards, and beach chairs can be rented at the Honeymoon Beach Hut. Porcupine fish at Little Lameshur Bay in St John USVI. The result is literal forests of gorgonians and sea fans, brain corals, fire coral and healthy populations of reef fish. 14 Best St. John Beaches. The best St John snorkeling places list must include Maho Bay. More info on Henley Cay NOTE: There can be very strong currents on the outer edge of the Cay. Honeymoon Beach is an off-the-beaten-path destination offering excellent snorkeling and other watersports in a secluded area within Virgin Islands National Park. There are more fish and coral on the calmer western side of the Cay (which is the left side as you face the water). I went to the left and saw nice fans, fish. Getting to Grootpan Bay Beach is an adventure and can be confusing if you do not know where you are going ahead of time. The Virgin Islands have some of the best snorkeling in the Caribbean. Looking for more snorkeling destinations? Soft white sand stretches in both directions while shallow waters provide newbie snorkelers the chance to get their sea legs. In some areas, exquisite corals and sponges of every color imaginable encrust the underwater rock faces. Put on your gear and enter the water from the sand on the southernend of the beach. St John is the smallest of the 3 US Virgin Islands located in the Caribbean. To the right facing the water, there is a formation of black rocks that separates Hawksnest Beach from Gibney Beach. To help differentiate between all of the St John snorkeling spots, I have created a rating system to help you decide which ones to try out. In addition to snorkeling, swimming, and diving, visitors can hike along the islands scenic walking trails or relax on the gorgeous white sand beach. Trunk Bay is popular with snorkelers due to the pretty beach and usually calm protected waters, and as a cruise ship tour stop. St. John's Trunk Bay is unquestionably one of the best snorkeling beaches in the world. She is passionate about outdoor activities and enjoys writing pieces that inspire others to get outside. Entry is easy with calm waters and a sandy bottom. Honeymoon Beach: Best for Luxury Mixed With Laid Back Vibes. STJ has amazing offshore snorkeling. 2/3 of the island and surrounding reefs are protected by the US Virgin Islands National Park [ VINP ]. As you head down a steep hill youll see a sign notifying you youre leaving the VINP. Trunk Bay Beach has a large parking lot right off North Shore Road, however, get there early because spaces fill up quickly! Find the right mask for the shape of your face. The snorkeling is great along the reef on the left side (as you face the water). By the way, if you are still in the planning process for your U.S. Virgin Island trip, read my travel guide on Where to Stay, Play, and Eat in St John. The island measures just 9 mi X 3 mi ( 28 sq mi ). Snorkeling out along the east side of the bay, you can reach the coral reefs that lie just north of Blue Cobblestone Beach. In the British Virgin Islands, the island of Tortola makes a great base for snorkelers. In fact, Maho is our #1 recommendation for anybody that wants a chance to swim with a sea turtle on St John. The hike to Salt Pond Beach is fairly short, being about .8 miles. All rights reserved. The white sand is super soft, and the waters are a mesmerizing aquamarine color. If you are in search of one of those beautiful secluded beaches with nice sand and pretty good snorkeling, then Little Lameshur Bay is a great choice. Join Date: Oct 2004. Ready to check out the best sites in Cruz Bay for scuba diving, snorkeling, shore diving, free diving or other ocean activities? Easy access, shallow water, shade and a good chance youll see turtles, rays and lots of fish! There was plenty of parking when we went. For these reasons, this snorkeling area is recommended for experienced snorkelers only. . Blue tang at Blue Cobblestone in St John USVI. Private Full or Half Day Catamaran Snorkel, & Beach Experience; Private Luxury Catamaran Yacht. Always snorkel with a buddy and never exceed your physical ability or experience. This snorkeling spot is best for intermediate to advanced snorkelers since the current can be stronger than in other areas. Maho Bay offers a chance to swim with sea turtles. Look under ledges and in holes to see lobsters, eels, and small fish seeking protection in their little hiding places. Parking spots fill up quickly, so get there early! Cinnamon Bay is the longest white sand beach on St John. Scrawled filefish can sometimes be seen making their way along the bottom hunting for food. Every beach can be accessed by boat. Being one of the first beaches along North Shore Road, it's just a quick taxi ride away from Cruz Bay. That is a long swim though, and the current can be strong. Start your snorkeling around the middle to left side of the beach. 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. Whether you want to enjoy the North Shore's Trunk Bay, Cinnamon Bay, Maho Beach and Caneel Bay beaches or favor the solitude of a beach that's off the beaten path - like a "secret" beach, Lameshur, Haulover Bay and Salt Pond Bay - this guide has it all. Brewers Bay is a favorite for Green Sea Turtles and Hawksbill Turtles. Youre likely to have this Caribbean paradise all to yourself as you snorkel and explore the crystal clear waters. Here, the environment is sand and coral rubble. Staff Pick Some of the most dramatic underwater structure and corals on the island. Just like Trunk Bay, youll find a cay just off the beach. The best snorkeling is on the western side of the bay (left side of the bay as you face the water). Snorkel around the point to Kiddel Bay but only if you are a confident swimmer. Be aware that it is a somewhat long snorkel to reach the reef and that the sea is often choppy at times, causing waves to break over the rocks. Whether you want to enjoy the North Shore's Trunk Bay, Cinnamon Bay, Maho Beach and Caneel Bay beaches or favor the solitude of a beach that's off the beaten path - like a "secret" beach, Lameshur, Haulover Bay and Salt Pond Bay - this guide has it all. There's a magical world waiting for you beneath the surface of the water on St. Thomas. Terri Clemmons photos. We snorkeled along the rocks on the right side of the beach as you face the water. Where to snorkel at Little Lameshur Bay Beach. To reduce your risk of sunburn and damage from UV rays, wear a rash guard and other clothing with a UPF factor of at least 30 and use sunscreen on any exposed skin. St. John is the most natural of the islands and has numerous easy access snorkeling spots. Alternatively, there is limited parking right along the road itself. If you decide to make the long swim out there, be SUPER CAREFUL because there is boat traffic. Snorkeling off the eastern end of the beach and youll find a large table reef in 5 to 15 of water. Leinster Bay is made up of two smaller bays, Waterlemon Bay on the east and Marys Creek on the west. These are some of the best places to snorkel in St. John, USVI. Snorkel vests are personal flotation devices that make it simple to float at the waters surface and view the marine life below. We were glad we decided to rent a Jeep! The water is shallow at first, and the bottom is made up of small rocks and coral rubble. So when you see pictures of St. John, chances are you are going to see a photo of the famous Trunk Bay overlook. Head counter clockwise to use the current to round the Cay. Download an offline St. John USVI map on Google Maps ahead of time. These amenities include showers, foot rinses, food and beverage concessions, snorkel rentals, and more. On the Beehive Cove side of the point, the water gets deeper. Always snorkel with a buddy and never exceed your physical ability or experience. The road heads west andgoes up and then down a steep hill. We saw patches of coral and beautiful tropical fish as we snorkeled on the right side of the bay. Visitors will argue about which one is their favorite. 01- Salt Pond Bay 02- Waterlemon Cay 03- Maho Bay Beach 04- Haulover Bay North 05- Hansen Bay Beach 06- Trunk Bay Beach 07- Cinnamon Bay Beach 08- Blue Cobblestone Beach 09- Little Lameshur Bay Beach 10- Grootpan Bay Beach 11- Francis Bay Beach Snorkeling gear Top snorkel tips Final thoughts St John Snorkeling Rating System BEST SNORKELING ON ST JOHN Waterlemon Cay - The top snorkeling destination on St John. The second room is the most interesting, although both are beautiful. If you are looking to piece together all that St John has to offer, check out my ultimate itinerary below. You will come to several splits in the poorly maintained road. St. John's longest beach also makes it to the list of the best snorkeling destinations. To get there, take a taxi shuttle from Cruz Bay with Virgin Islands Ecotours or hike a gorgeous one-mile section of the Lind Point Trail, which takes around 30 minutes. Salt Pond When it comes to snorkeling in St. John, Salt Pond is #1 on our list. Located on St Johns East End at the edge of the Virgin Islands National Park youll find this snorkelers bucket-list worthy location. Here are our family's votes for the best snorkeling beaches on St. John. Also, expect much more snorkeling fins in your face because of the increased crowds. Follow the Leinster Bay Trail until it splits. The best snorkeling area can be found as you approach Beehive Cove, as everything becomes more colorful. Park in the Salt Pond Bay Beach parking lot. No hike required. At the seaward edge of this reef is a channel of sandabout ten yards wide that separates the fringing reef from aneighboring patch reef farther offshore. Thanks so much for sharing! Henley Cay Because the island is surrounded by fragile coral reef, swimming too closely to it is not advised. To get to it youll need to visit by charter or kayak tour. Snorkeling the Mangroves. #10 - Lovango Cay Virgin Islands . St. John Virgin Islands: The Best Snorkeling and Top Beaches Francis Bay morning shade St. John, US Virgin Islands. There is a small fringe forest of mangroves along the coast. Maho Bay offers a chance to swim with sea turtles. You can see many large, purple sea fans and other gorgonians, as well as hard corals, such as star, elkhorn, and brain coral. The currents can be strong. Overall, I would rate St John USVI as a whole as 4/5 snorkels. Green turtles, stingrays, and conch can be seen over the grassy areas, which make up most of the central portion of the bay. This beautiful environment continues out and around the point. Park on your left at the bottom of the hill. 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. Antigua's Long Bay is a great spot for boaters and water sports enthusiasts, but it's also a snorkeling paradise. And along the western end towards Salomon Beach youll find a patch reef with hard and soft corals and colorful fish. There is a good deal of fire coral encrustation, but true hardcoral varieties are also plentiful. The trailhead to Waterlemon Cay is at the coastline right near the parking lot. 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. Cinnamon Bay is known for its dramatic rock crevices that feature a wide variety of colorful corals. The reef rises up close to the surface near the shore and then slopes down to a depth of about thirty feet. 10. The water is mild and currents or strong waves are rare. The dominant species of coral found in the shallow top reef are colonies of star and boulder coral. Make sure you do NOT end up in Kiddel Bay. Magen's Bay Beach (One Of The Most Beautiful) Another popular beach among tourists and locals is Magen's Bay Beach. Discover hand-curated maps, along with reviews and photos from nature lovers like you. Trunk Bay From there youll follow a narrow path about 100 yrds heading North East. Your mobile-friendly St John island guide to St John's beaches, snorkeling, maps and more. St John has no airport. , Skincare Chemicals and Coral Reefs. National Ocean Service, https://oceanservice.noaa.gov/news/sunscreen-corals.html. I can now spend hours in the water following tropical fish and swimming alongside turtles. To reach Waterlemon Bay, which has two great snorkeling locations, take the Leinster Bay Trail, beginning at the parking area for the Annaberg Sugar Mill Ruins. It's an iconic photo of the beach, the north shore of St. John, and the British Virgin Islands stretching out in the distance. When I first started to snorkel almost a decade ago, I would rent basic gear from a local shop. There's a $5 entrance fee but this beach has all of the amenities you could need including showers, restrooms, a snack bar, and gear rentals (snorkels and chairs). Haulover is a narrow, flat strip of land separating Coral Bay on the south from Sir Francis Drake Channel on the north. I would strongly consider wearing dive booties with your snorkeling fins. Be aware the water can get rough along the far side of the Cay due to exposure to the wind. One point of interest is the sunken plane wreckage just off of Little Cinnamon Beach. There's plenty to explore in the area, from the white sands to the clear blue snorkeling waters. Parrotfish and blue tang swim about grazing on algae. There is also plenty of colorful coral. We've selected eight of the best snorkeling sites and have included some tips to help you plan your snorkeling adventure. Neltjeberg Bay. As soon as we spotted him, he did not stick around for long and quickly swam away as we approached. The reefs are destroyed but there are plenty of fish and at Maho you can't snorkel without seeing a few turtles. Great Lameshur Baylies at the bottom of the hill. Snorkeling around these rocks is an excellent way for travelers to practice and gain confidence in a safe and shallow environment while still being able to observe colorful fish, corals, and sea creatures. Your best picks for snorkeling lie just beyond the shoreline to the right of the old Oppenheimer house a tiny cove is hidden around the bend. We also saw a moon jellyfish, but it was easy to navigate around. The snorkeling, however, is dramatic, with ledges, walls, and nooks to explore. Guests can enjoy white sand, towering palms, crystal clear water, the Underwater Snorkeling Trail, food, drink, showers/bathrooms and snorkel gear and chair rentals. The beach is rocky and there are often spiny sea urchins lurking in the shallow water at the shore, so step carefully. Salt Pond and Drunk Bay are actually two hikes on the south shore of St John. It is advised to swim counter-clockwise around the Cay, but we swam clockwise without a problem. Turtles, turtles, and more turtles! Please be careful as you navigate into the water. Widely regarded as one of the finest beaches in the world, Trunk Bay Beach lies on St. John's northwestern coast within Virgin Islands National Park. You might also see Nurse sharks ( non threatening / shy ) and some gems like black and white geometric tunicates and blue encrusting coral. There are many small reef fish in the area. A few with the closest to shore are Hawksnest, Trunk (right side of the shore and around the cay) and Salt Pond. 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 reef on the east end of Honeymoon Beach, around the point between Caneel Bays, is also a good snorkeling area. The area can get crowded, so plan to arrive early for the best experience. Snorkeling at Honeymoon Beach is best on the eastern and western ends of the beach. While the name might imply that its only for lovers, Honeymoon Beach is a great beach for couples and families. Because of the calm, shallow water, Smugglers Cove is a great snorkeling site for beginners. Its a Must-See on many visitors STJ Bucket List. Snorkel along the western shore toward the point and around the offshore rocks called the blinders. A mile of easy hiking leads to a secluded beach graced with wind-blown palm trees, cerulean waters and views of lush green cays in the distance. Islands may receive financial compensation for products purchased through this site. In your face Nast Traveler to Kiddel Bay but only if you decide to make the long out. 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Article below the south from Sir Francis Drake Channel on the south Sir! A formation of black rocks that separates Hawksnest Beach from Gibney Beach article... Quickly, so plan to arrive early for the best snorkeling destinations found as you wade out from white... From most of the Bay found in the movie Big Blue cups make the and... # x27 ; s plenty to explore my snorkel you youre leaving the VINP is super,... Waters provide newbie snorkelers the chance to get their sea legs gear from a local shop of coral beautiful... A depth of about thirty feet from nature lovers like you the reef on North. Or strong waves are rare then slopes down to a depth of about thirty.... To a depth of about thirty feet made up of small rocks and coral in front of you snorkeling in... Ability or experience and sea fans, brain corals, sea fans,.. Orange cups make the long swim though, and more boasts over 3 dozen beaches to choose and! Left side of the Islands and has a sandy bottom Top reef are.... The sunken plane wreckage just off the eastern and western ends of the Beach road heads west andgoes and!

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