Jumbie Bay Beach is one of St. John's hidden gems. document.getElementById( "ak_js_1" ).setAttribute( "value", ( new Date() ).getTime() ); Copyright 2023 Enriching Pursuits. Snorkeling at Honeymoon Beach is best on the eastern and western ends of the beach. . The western side of the cay is better protected from waves and wind. Theres plenty of parking. To the right facing the water, there is a formation of black rocks that separates Hawksnest Beach from Gibney Beach. 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. 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. 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. Thank you for your support. The latest articles, guides, and resources, sent to your inbox monthly. There are many deep water crevices and canyons to explore. We snorkeled to the left (as you face the water) across the small bay to the larger patch reef. Its an easy path about 100 yards long that goes over flat terrain, passing by a small salt pond about halfway along the trail. Best beach to snorkel on St John. Full or Half Day Charter - Sail, Beach, Snorkel. Our ultimate printable guide to Trunk Bay snorkeling in St John have snorkel dive descriptions, maps, lodging recommendations and contact information. 1. In addition to swimming and snorkeling, visitors can explore the ruins of the 18th-century Annaberg Sugar Plantation nearby. As soon as we spotted him, he did not stick around for long and quickly swam away as we approached. This beautiful bay was featured in the movie Big Blue. Always snorkel with a buddy and never exceed your physical ability or experience. For more information about the benefits of wearing a snorkel vest and some recommended products, you can read our detailed snorkel vest article here. This section of the reef tends to attract larger predators such as blue runners, mutton snapper, and yellowtail snapper. Shallow entry, calm waters and plenty to see close to shore. Our spacious catamaran takes your group of 4-12 people for a day of making memories. Turtles, turtles, and more turtles! Salt Pond Please see the key below. You move effortlessly, unencumbered by gravity, and experience the wonderful and colorful world of the coral reefs, seagrass beds, and mangrove lagoons that surround the Virgin Islands National Park. The island boasts over 3 dozen beaches to choose from and discover. 99.9% of travelers come to St John by boat ! 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. For more advice about what to wear snorkeling, check out our article here. There is also more current, so you need to be a strong swimmer. A living aquarium waits just offshore, where vibrant coral reef swirls with a vivid palette of blue tang, damselfish, and sergeant majors. Whether you stay in Cruz Bay or Coral Bay, you need to visit Maho Bay Beach. Snorkeling is best on calm days when there is good visibility underwater. Its shallow over the top of the reef but deep enough for experienced and confident snorkelers to negotiate safely. Brightly-colored coral at Salt Pond Bay in St John USVI. Honeymoon Beach is an off-the-beaten-path destination offering excellent snorkeling and other watersports in a secluded area within Virgin Islands National Park. Cinnamon Bay is also one of the few places to camp on St John. The trail eventually cuts inland over a few hills before it dumps you onto Blue Cobblestone Beach. The liveliest underwater activity happens to the east among the rocks on the way to Maho Point. I would not attempt this road after a lot of rain. Neltjeberg Bay. The U.S. Virgin Islands has some amazing beaches, and today we are headed into Virgin Islands National. This is the closest entry point to get to Waterlemon Cay, which is the route we chose. Consistently voted as the favourite beach on the island by visitors, Maho Bay Quarter sits tucked away on the northern side of the island. The island measures just 9 mi X 3 mi ( 28 sq mi ). We just returned from there again in July of 2018. , Palau is first country to ban reef toxic sun cream. BBC News, 1 January 2020, https://www.bbc.com/news/world-asia-50963080. 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. Whether youre heading to St. Thomas, St. Croix, or Tortola, youre sure to find stunning places to enjoy this exciting underwater activity. Known as The Indians, this area is a popular diving and snorkeling site with plentiful coral, fish, and other sea creatures. This blog post contains affiliate links from Viator and TripAdvisor, which means we receive a small commission on any sales made via those links. The water is warm and tranquil, plus its normally easy to get in and out of the water. The coral reef here is in relatively good condition, and the reef community is colorful and diverse. If you try to park there, you will be trespassing across private property to get to the beach. St John island is one of the top Caribbean destinations for snorkeling. The Virgin Islands have some of the best snorkeling in the Caribbean. When entering the shallow water, take care to avoid sea urchins and coral. When youve had your fill of music, stuffed French toast, and spicy Bloody Marys, head to Lameshur Beach. You can choose from various beach, snorkeling, and diving packages or book accommodation only. I didnt realize you could snorkel right there. 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. As you swim through the series of caves, youll see schools of colorful tropical fish, pelicans, gulls, ferns, orange cup coral, and red sponges. I was not expecting much, but there was quite a bit of beautiful coral and Caribbean fish. The first step is to get toGreat Lameshur Bay on St. Johns south coast. This top-notch snorkeling spot is easy to access. 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. The reef extends out about 20 yards from shore. A small island can be seen in the middle of the water near Trunk Bay Beach. Ready to check out the best sites in Cruz Bay for scuba diving, snorkeling, shore diving, free diving or other ocean activities? A Boomer and Millennial Board a Virgin Voyages CruiseWill They Both Enjoy It? 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. As you face the water, snorkel to the left out to Yawzi Point. Haulover Bay lies three miles past the Coral Bay Moravian Church, going east on the East End Road (Route 10). In fact, Maho is our #1 recommendation for anybody that wants a chance to swim with a sea turtle on St John. It's an iconic photo of the beach, the north shore of St. John, and the British Virgin Islands stretching out in the distance. These rocks are encrusted with mustard-yellowfire coral, which is very attractive but can give snorkelersa mild sting if touched. The area is protected as a UNESCO Biosphere Reserve and is rich with sea life. . Drive PAST the Greater Lameshur Bay to reach Little Lameshur Bay Beach. Once you pass Concordia, the road will turn sharply right and the dirt parking lot will be on the left. When we snorkeled to the left of Hansen Bay, there were plenty of tropical fish, coral outcroppings, and some larger Jacks. Snorkel vests are personal flotation devices that make it simple to float at the waters surface and view the marine life below. 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 . Trunk Bay is the most famous beach in Virgin Islands National Park, often listed among the most beautiful beaches in the world. 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. Not far from Norman Island lies a group of uninhabited rocky islets rising from the sea. *Links in this post contain Amazon and CJ affiliate links. Trunk Bay: St. John's most famous beach (most visited and most photographed) doesn't disappoint. 1. Honeymoon is one of the best beaches on St. John for day trippers from St. Thomas. I cannot stress this enough invest in good snorkeling gear! Although we did not do it, you could technically swim all the way over back to Salt Pond Bay Beach. 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. With crystal clear water, beautiful white sand, and little islands scattered around, you'll want to explore them all. 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. 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 . Also . Youll discover a wide variety of fish species including large Permit and Jacks, Queen Angelfish, French Angelfish, Blueheaded Wrasse, Pork Fish, French Grunts and more. Check out our list of the best islands for snorkeling. From hidden coves to must-see reefs, these are the best snorkeling spots in St. John. 2/3 of the island and surrounding reefs are protected by the US Virgin Islands National Park [ VINP ]. Its a relatively easy entry, but be careful where you step while putting on your gear to avoid contact with any sea urchins or live coral. Cinnamon Bay. Corals tend to be hard corals like maze brain corals, fire coral, mustard coral, staghorn coral and Pillar corals. The name Haulover came about because it was often easier to just haul small boats over this stretch of land than to make the long sail around East End, notorious for strong currents, gusty winds, and rough seas. If youre lucky, you might also catch sight of some sea turtles. What I loved about snorkeling in St John was that all of our snorkeling spots could be accessed from the beach. .5 mi EW, or take a taxi to Caneel and ride the Honeymoon Beach Huts golf cart to Honeymoon Beach. Parrotfish and blue tang swim about grazing on algae. Entry can be a little tricky due to the cobblestone beach, sargassum (seaweed), and sea urchins. Make sure you do NOT end up in Kiddel Bay. The NPS actually has a great map showing where the reefs are along the beaches. When we first visited, we accidentally drove into the Concordia Resort. On the Beehive Cove side of the point, the water gets deeper. Great Lameshur Baylies at the bottom of the hill. You can find all kinds of entertainment while you're exploring Coki Beach. There are also some patches of reef on both sides of the bay, but the right side of the beach (as you face the water) is supposed to be slightly better and better suited for advanced snorkelers. There is a good deal of fire coral encrustation, but true hardcoral varieties are also plentiful. According to local legends, pirates once used the Norman Island Caves to hide their treasure, earning this area the name Treasure Point. Pristine sand lines and a perfect half-moon bay are the rewards at the end of a 20-minute hike out to St Thomas's finest secret beach. 2022 adagio digital arts. Yawzi Point There are also many vendors where you can get food and drinks or rent beach chairs and umbrellas. 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. Enter the water over a shallow area of coral rubble. It's about a mile long and perfect for families or those who are not strong swimmers. We also saw a few stingrays. If you decide to make the long swim out there, be SUPER CAREFUL because there is boat traffic. These small silvery fish travel in close proximity to one another in large schools that look like moving underwater shadows. The area can get crowded, so plan to arrive early for the best experience. But the trip is well worth it. Because it is off-the-beaten-path, this beach does not appear to get much use. Out from the center of the beach, large beds of sea grass shelter sea turtles who dont mind company are easy to spot. There were plenty of beautiful tropical fish including some adorable balloonfish (aka pufferfish or porcupine fish) with their wide-spread big eyes and half-smiling mouths. The seagrass beds that are about 30 yards off the beach are a great place to see sea turtles, rays, conch and tarpon. Park at the gate, and hike down to this crescent of white sand. There is an underwater snorkeling trail along the Cay, which requires a short swim out from the beach. Every beach can be accessed by boat. While the name might imply that its only for lovers, Honeymoon Beach is a great beach for couples and families. Neltjeberg Bay lies on the far side of a thick tangle of bush - including wild-growing pineapple and guava - to the west of the more accessible Dorothea Beach. Both beaches can be reached via the Lind Point Trail or from the Caneel Bay Resort. The beach has a sandy bottom and an easy shallow entry. We went twice to Salt Pond Bay: once around 9:30 am (only 1 other car there) and once around 12 pm (the parking lot was full and we had to wait for a spot to open up). The water is mild and currents or strong waves are rare. Healthy elkhorn coral is found at most of USVI's reefs. Trunk Bay is one of the most beautiful beaches in the whole world. Once you arrive, proceed to the entrance and pay the nominal $5 fee per person. Honeymoon Beach (located next to Salomon Beach) is one of the most beautiful and popular beaches in Virgin Islands National Park on St. John. Weve selected eight of the best snorkeling sites and have included some tips to help you plan your snorkeling adventure. We saw several turtles in the seagrass beds. The best reef corals and fish as to the left as you face the water. Find the part where the sandy bottom meets the shore to allow for easier entry. The local museum brings the best elements that can show you the history of the place. 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. Virgin Islands Day Sailing: The best sailing/snorkeling trip ever! I can now spend hours in the water following tropical fish and swimming alongside turtles. Little damselfish defend their self-proclaimed territories by darting menacingly at even large intruders. Trunk Bay is a body of water and a beach on St. John in the United States Virgin Islands.Cinnamon Bay Beach is one of the longest beaches in the park. Down to this crescent of white sand Charter - Sail, Beach, large beds of sea shelter. 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