What I loved about snorkeling in St John was that all of our snorkeling spots could be accessed from the beach. The rocky north coast on the right-hand side of the beach offers excellent snorkeling, especially during the summer months when large schools of fry congregate close to shore. This private speedboat charter from St. Thomas is a top pick that will take you snorkeling at the prime spots in the USVI and BVI. I have heard that Dreams LaRomana is good but I would love to hear your opinion on Dreams and any other resorts that might have what I am looking for. 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. Thanks so much for sharing! If you want to try sailing or windsurfing, they even . Snorkeling in 5 to 15 of water youll discover beautiful rocky patch reefs covered in corals. Like The Caves, The Indians are accessible only by boat. 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. Some of Our Top Picks For Snorkeling On St John, USVI. The second room is the most interesting, although both are beautiful. There is a large parking lot, but it fills up quickly. Lenister Bay is the perfect spot: It's usually uncrowded, and its calm waters have colorful fish, sea cucumbers, starfish, and green turtles. Blue Cobblestone Beach offers the opportunity toexplore an underwater environment that usually occurs furtheroffshore and in deeper waters. Follow the Leinster Bay Trail until it splits. Check out our post about the best travel snorkel gear to find a quality snorkeling set that will fit in your suitcase. Do not overestimate your swimming ability. Bring a dive light if you want to explore deeper into any of the caves, as it can get quite dark. The best snorkeling area can be found as you approach Beehive Cove, as everything becomes more colorful. I was thankful I wore my snorkel vest for this snorkeling adventure because it was choppy right at the point. Ram Head hiking trail will lead to Blue Cobblestone Beach. 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. TRUNK BAY BEACH 14.1K subscribers In this video, we go out in search of the best snorkeling in St. John. Trunk Bay is the most famous beach in Virgin Islands National Park, often listed among the most beautiful beaches in the world. I always wear a snorkel vest. 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. Waterlemon Cay Whether youre heading to St. Thomas, St. Croix, or Tortola, youre sure to find stunning places to enjoy this exciting underwater activity. Maho Bay also offers good reef snorkeling for those looking to explore the sea life on a coral reef. document.getElementById( "ak_js_1" ).setAttribute( "value", ( new Date() ).getTime() ); Copyright 2023 Enriching Pursuits. Shutterstock This white sand beach, home to Pineapple Beach Club resort, has some of the best snorkeling on the east side of Antigua. The beach at Haulover North is mostly coral rubble. Trunk Bay: St. John's most famous beach (most visited and most photographed) doesn't disappoint. Lovango Resort & Beach Club: This newly opened. Vibrant coral at Francis Bay in St John USVI, Snorkeling with turtles at Francis Bay in St John USVI. Cinnamon Bay is a lot like Trunk Bay with its beauty and amenities, but bigger and more spacious. Honeymoon Beach, 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. The currents can be strong. The Caves are accessible only by boat, so youll need to book a private charter or guided tour or visit with your own vessel. 14 Best St. John Beaches. More info on Haulover North NOTE: Conditions at Haulover North depend on wind and waves. Continue driving on the bumpy, gravely, potholed road to reach the two Lameshur Bays. 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. Soft white sand stretches in both directions while shallow waters provide newbie snorkelers the chance to get their sea legs. 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 . Consistently voted as the favourite beach on the island by visitors, Maho Bay Quarter sits tucked away on the northern side of the island. When (and if) you tire of lazing in the shade of the palms, snorkel the extensive reef between Salomon and Honeymoon Beach on the bays east end. Sunday is the ideal day to drive out to the south shore of St. John to partake in the waterfront jazz brunch at Miss Lucys Restaurant. Close to the shore are patches of sand and grass with scattered coral heads. A beautiful beach with an underwater snorkeling trail! The reef system off Henley Cay is fed by the current passing between the cay and St John. Flamingo tongue snail at Little Lameshur Bay in St John USVI. Those are just examples, nearly all of the beaches have close snorkeling. Once you pass Concordia, the road will turn sharply right and the dirt parking lot will be on the left. There are also many colorful spongesand various types of hard coral in this area. The fascinating rock formations are perfect for underwater exploration. Last updated Jan 29, 2023 | Best Snorkeling Caribbean, St. John. Here youll find thin patch reefs that are home to a good selection of hard and soft corals and a dizzying collection of tropical fish species. The farther you get out to the point, the more challenging it will become. 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. 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. This bay, an inner bay of Great Lameshur,lies just to the north of Beehive Cove, the bay where the Tektiteproject took place. 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. And along the western end towards Salomon Beach youll find a patch reef with hard and soft corals and colorful fish. So when you see pictures of St. John, chances are you are going to see a photo of the famous Trunk Bay overlook. Great Lameshur Baylies at the bottom of the hill. The island measures just 9 mi X 3 mi ( 28 sq mi ). Before our trip, I researched a ton trying to find all the top St John snorkeling spots. 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. Alternatively, there is limited parking right along the road itself. Best St. John beaches to visit Best Beaches in St. John Salomon Bay. You can find all kinds of entertainment while you're exploring Coki Beach. The area is protected as a UNESCO Biosphere Reserve and is rich with sea life. Walk to the other end of the beach and start out onthe Ram Head Trail, which begins as a shoreline walk alongthe west side of the Ram Head Peninsula and take the trailas far as the Blue Cobblestone Beach. I cannot stress this enough invest in good snorkeling gear! Copyright 2023 Islands. Honeymoon Beach: Best for Luxury Mixed With Laid Back Vibes. In the British Virgin Islands, the island of Tortola makes a great base for snorkelers. The area often gets crowded and is known for being rowdy. Activity itinerary. Porcupine fish at Little Lameshur Bay in St John USVI. Parking is catch-as-catch-can along the left hand side. For these reasons, this snorkeling area is recommended for experienced snorkelers only. Posts: 957 Likes: 0 Keep in mind that land access to this remote location requires driving down a bumpy dirt road that may be challenging to navigate without a jeep, SUV, or off-road vehicle. We saw so many turtles I lost count. The result is literal forests of gorgonians and sea fans, brain corals, fire coral and healthy populations of reef fish. Best beach to snorkel on St John. Cane Bay (St. Croix): One of the island's best diving and snorkeling sites is off this breezy, north-shore beach. The Top 8 Beaches in St. John 1. One of the top beaches in the Caribbean also has some great snorkeling! Trunk Bay is the only beach on St. John with an amenity fee, which is $5 per entrant. Its not much more than a motor, prop and portion of the wing of a small plane. The satellite view was too cloudy, so I included this map instead. Your mobile-friendly St John island guide to St John's beaches, snorkeling, maps and more. A large variety of fish including Atlantic Blue tangs, Blue Headed wrasses, Sargeant majors, as well as Caribbean lobsters, crabs, conch and more! STJ has amazing offshore snorkeling. There's a magical world waiting for you beneath the surface of the water on St. Thomas. Cane Bay at sunrise, St. Croix. Difficulty: Easy. Salt Pond/Drunk Bay. This seven-hour private boat tour is another highly-rated excursion with multiple snorkeling stops that can be customized according to your preferences. A quick 5-minute walk and you are there! 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. One of the best snorkeling spots on St John. On busy days, it's best to take a taxi or bus. 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. 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. No hike required. The walls and ceiling of the cave are covered with beautiful cup corals and sponges. One of the highlights was seeing a shoal (family) of squid along the rocks on the right side. In addition, if you are up for a short hike to Little Cinnamon Beach, you can snorkel to a small plane wreckage but I heard it is not too impressive. Required fields are marked *. The best St John snorkeling places list must include Maho Bay. Care should be taken not to kick the coral with your fins. There is also more current, so you need to be a strong swimmer. 2022 2. Looking for the best St. John snorkeling spots?? Every list of the Best St John Beaches includes the beautiful North Shore beaches! 2022 adagio digital arts. Distance: 1.1 miles out and back; Approx. Caneel Bay beach Little damselfish defend their self-proclaimed territories by darting menacingly at even large intruders. Trunk Bay Beach is worth it for the swimming but not the snorkeling! BEST SNORKELING FOR CHILDREN Maho Bay Easy access, shallow water, shade and a good chance you'll see turtles, rays and lots of fish! Easy access, shallow water, shade and a good chance youll see turtles, rays and lots of fish! Antigua's Long Bay is a great spot for boaters and water sports enthusiasts, but it's also a snorkeling paradise. As you swim through the series of caves, youll see schools of colorful tropical fish, pelicans, gulls, ferns, orange cup coral, and red sponges. All recommendations are on items I love and feel will deliver value to you! The snorkeling, however, is dramatic, with ledges, walls, and nooks to explore. 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. Its north east facing location can make conditions challenging. Deserves its designation as the most popular snorkeling destination on St John. 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. Beginning in the parking area for Annaberg Plantation enjoy an almost 1.0 mi flat hike along Leinster Bay to reach Waterlemon Cay. These amenities include showers, foot rinses, food and beverage concessions, snorkel rentals, and more. This snorkeling spot is best for intermediate to advanced snorkelers since the current can be stronger than in other areas. At the seaside edge of the reef is an underwater hillside, which descends about 30 feet to meet the sand and grass bottom of the center portion of the bay. Trunk Bay Beach has a large parking lot right off North Shore Road, however, get there early because spaces fill up quickly! Looking for more snorkeling destinations? The best snorkeling is along the beachs rocky coastline on the right side and on the left near the docks. 2. This healthy reef community supports a diverse and tropical fish population,including grazing blue tang andfast swimming predators such as yellowtailsnapper, blue runners, barracuda, and tarpon. When I first started to snorkel almost a decade ago, I would rent basic gear from a local shop. 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. Be aware the water can get rough along the far side of the Cay due to exposure to the wind. Best Beaches on St John - Northwest Shore St John has many amazing beaches, all perfect for enjoying a sunny beach day. All rights reserved. Among other cool stuff, Ive seen moray eels, turtles, nurse sharks, and squid. This beach was part of our hike to Ram Head. As soon as we spotted him, he did not stick around for long and quickly swam away as we approached. 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. Ram Head Point protects the bayfrom winds and waves, leaving the reef in clear, calm water. Brightly-colored coral at Salt Pond Bay in St John USVI. Henley Cay These small silvery fish travel in close proximity to one another in large schools that look like moving underwater shadows. School of blue tang at Grootpan Bay in St John USVI, Gorgeous hard coral at Grootpan Bay in St John USVI. This is where youll likely see large orange and yellow cushion starfish. 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. The buoys are hard to miss. All Rights Reserved. Be prepared for a bumpy ride to Grootpan! We saw a lot of beautiful coral and sea fans, shoal of squid, two nurse sharks, and many beautiful tropical fish. Coki Beach is one of the most popular snorkeling spots in St. Thomas. Snorkel along the western shore toward the point and around the offshore rocks called the blinders. The Caribbean also has some great snorkeling rough along the beachs rocky coastline on right. Reach the two Lameshur Bays for long and quickly swam away as we spotted him he! Enough invest in good snorkeling gear a lot like trunk Bay is the Beach. Looking for the swimming but not the snorkeling, maps and more spacious, he did not stick for... Most interesting, although both are beautiful at Francis Bay in St John USVI a large parking lot, bigger... 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