best snorkeling beaches st john

Trunk Bay is a long stretch of white sand with a rock island just off the shore. One point of interest is the sunken plane wreckage just off of Little Cinnamon Beach. . If you attempt this swim, you will snorkel over seagrass beds where you may see some turtles, rays, and starfish. . 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. 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. I can now spend hours in the water following tropical fish and swimming alongside turtles. But the snorkeling is some of the best on the island. Lovango Resort & Beach Club: This newly opened. 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. Known as The Indians, this area is a popular diving and snorkeling site with plentiful coral, fish, and other sea creatures. There are bathrooms, grills and covered pavillion with picnic tables on the western end of the beach. We just returned from there again in July of 2018. Entry is rocky and snorkelers should be aware of urchins. Take Route 107 and go PAST Salt Pond Bay Beach. Dont forget your waterproof snorkeling bag to keep your valuables safe. 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 . In addition to snorkeling, swimming, and diving, visitors can hike along the islands scenic walking trails or relax on the gorgeous white sand beach. I went to the left and saw nice fans, fish. Be aware the water can get rough along the far side of the Cay due to exposure to the wind. 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. Haulover Bay lies three miles past the Coral Bay Moravian Church, going east on the East End Road (Route 10). 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. Caneel Bay beach We have all the details including the world famous north shore beaches- including maps! 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. The parking lot fills up quickly! Because it is off-the-beaten-path, this beach does not appear to get much use. The grass environment attracts rays, green turtles, starfish, and conch. You will come to several splits in the poorly maintained road. Snorkeling is a can't miss activity when visiting the island. The farther you get out to the point, the more challenging it will become. 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. Once you pass Concordia, the road will turn sharply right and the dirt parking lot will be on the left. We would like to snorkel off the beach and not have to go out in a boat. This created an incredibly frustrating experience. It all depends on the winds and current. 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. The most popular ferries are out of Charlotte Amalie and Red Hook, St Thomas. All recommendations are on items I love and feel will deliver value to you! Wear proper footwear. There are many deep water crevices and canyons to explore. Salt Pond When it comes to snorkeling in St. John, Salt Pond is #1 on our list. This is the closest entry point to get to Waterlemon Cay, which is the route we chose. Ram Head hiking trail will lead to Blue Cobblestone Beach. The entry point to snorkel over to Waterlemon Cay requires an easy 20-minute hike on the Leinster Bay Trail through some trees and then along the rocky coastline. The Caves are accessible only by boat, so youll need to book a private charter or guided tour or visit with your own vessel. Snorkel around the point to Kiddel Bay but only if you are a confident swimmer. Honeymoon Beach is an off-the-beaten-path destination offering excellent snorkeling and other watersports in a secluded area within Virgin Islands National Park. 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 There are boats that dock in the bay, so it can be dangerous if you try to navigate around them. 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. Food trucks are also parked all over the Beach. There is also plenty of colorful coral. We arrived around 10 am, and there were only a handful of parking spaces left. The Virgin Islands have some of the best snorkeling in the Caribbean. 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. I was not expecting much, but there was quite a bit of beautiful coral and Caribbean fish. St. John is the most natural of the islands and has numerous easy access snorkeling spots. Scrawled filefish can sometimes be seen making their way along the bottom hunting for food. Our ultimate printable guide to Trunk Bay snorkeling in St John have snorkel dive descriptions, maps, lodging recommendations and contact information. Stay in areas protected by swim buoys to minimize danger from dinghy traffic in the area. The St John Beaches are some of the best in the Caribbean. Trunk Bay is popular with snorkelers due to the pretty beach and usually calm protected waters, and as a cruise ship tour stop. Private charters are a great way to see numerous islands and snorkel in diverse places in a single day. We saw large schools of fish, beautiful hard and soft coral, and numerous colorful waving sea fans. , Palau is first country to ban reef toxic sun cream. BBC News, 1 January 2020, https://www.bbc.com/news/world-asia-50963080. Brewers Bay. Its a Must-See on many visitors STJ Bucket List. There are also many different types of coral, including grooved brain coral and pillar coral. You can see many large, purple sea fans and other gorgonians, as well as hard corals, such as star, elkhorn, and brain coral. Park in the Salt Pond Bay Beach parking lot. Bear left and follow the trail along the shoreline until youre at a point closest to the Cay. Brightly-colored coral at Salt Pond Bay in St John USVI. Looking forward to checking it out. You will be snorkeling in a location that is somewhat far awayfrom a convenient place to get out of the water, and there maybe areas of rough seas. On your left, you will notice a path through the woods that will lead you to Haulover Bay North. Book St. John Snorkeling. .5 mi EW, or take a taxi to Caneel and ride the Honeymoon Beach Huts golf cart to Honeymoon Beach. 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. A closer look will reveal all sorts of beautiful and mysterious sea creatures that live in Francis Bay Beach, like small eels, feather dusters and Christmas tree worms, brightly colored sponges, and gracefully swaying gorgonians such as the colorful sea fan. As soon as we spotted him, he did not stick around for long and quickly swam away as we approached. Its shoreline is a mix of wind-swept sand and pebbles. The oceanfront boutique resort provides a luxurious yet laid-back experience with access to a wide range of outdoor activities, including snorkeling, sailing, surfing, and paddle boarding. You can find all kinds of entertainment while you're exploring Coki Beach. 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. Salt Pond - Can get a bit crowded but offers . Start your snorkeling around the middle to left side of the beach. I would highly advise a snorkel vest if you are not a strong swimmer like me. I always wear a snorkel vest. Hansen Bay The trip begins and ends at Honeymoon Beach, one of St. Johns best snorkeling spots. The liveliest underwater activity happens to the east among the rocks on the way to Maho Point. Entry into the water is easy. 1. Staff Pick Some of the most dramatic underwater structure and corals on the island. Cane Bay (St. Croix): One of the island's best diving and snorkeling sites is off this breezy, north-shore beach. The best snorkeling area can be found as you approach Beehive Cove, as everything becomes more colorful. A few with the closest to shore are Hawksnest, Trunk (right side of the shore and around the cay) and Salt Pond. 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 . . We also saw a few stingrays. 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. Since the beach is rocky and there are many sea urchins, its a good idea to bring water shoes or snorkeling booties. We've selected eight of the best snorkeling sites and have included some tips to help you plan your snorkeling adventure. Green turtles, stingrays, and conch can be seen over the grassy areas, which make up most of the central portion of the bay. 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. 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. Trunk Bay Beach is worth it for the swimming but not the snorkeling! The Most Popular and Most Photographed Beach on St John! Put on your gear and enter the water from the sand on the southernend of the beach. Planning a trip to St John in the U.S. Virgin Islands? Zentacle has 12 dive sites, snorkel spots, beaches, and more. It is also the best place on St. John for numerous water sport based St John activities such as windsurfing, kayak, sailboat, snorkel equipment, beach chair and umbrella rentals. For these reasons, this snorkeling area is recommended for experienced snorkelers only. If you take a right, you will reach the Annaberg Sugar Mill Ruins and the entrance to the trailhead for Waterlemon Cay. Salt Pond, located on the south eastern side of the island, is our next choice for snorkeling on St John. There are also many colorful spongesand various types of hard coral in this area. The best snorkeling is along the beachs rocky coastline on the right side and on the left near the docks. Because of its secluded location, Watermelon Cay rarely gets too crowded. St John has no airport. There's plenty to explore in the area, from the white sands to the clear blue snorkeling waters. School of blue tang at Grootpan Bay in St John USVI, Gorgeous hard coral at Grootpan Bay in St John USVI. Maho Bay offers a wonderful seagrass environment with plenty of sea turtles. There is an underwater snorkeling trail along the Cay, which requires a short swim out from the beach. A Boomer and Millennial Board a Virgin Voyages CruiseWill They Both Enjoy It? 1. Some animal species you might see in the area are French angelfish, queen angel, and permits. Entry can be a little tricky due to the cobblestone beach, sargassum (seaweed), and sea urchins. Great Lameshur Baylies at the bottom of the hill. Some of Our Top Picks For Snorkeling On St John, USVI. That is why you will get to see some of the best spots. Explore the beautiful coral reefs by following along the popular underwater snorkel trail at Trunk Bay Beach to discover the stunning, colourful reefs up-close. Located on St Johns East End at the edge of the Virgin Islands National Park youll find this snorkelers bucket-list worthy location. Also, there is no shade along the dirt path and the beach. 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. Private Full or Half Day Catamaran Snorkel, & Beach Experience; Private Luxury Catamaran Yacht. This is a long-ish section due to big changes this year. Thank you for your support. Snorkeling off the eastern end of the beach and youll find a large table reef in 5 to 15 of water. Whether youre heading to St. Thomas, St. Croix, or Tortola, youre sure to find stunning places to enjoy this exciting underwater activity. You can swim from the sandy beach out to the Cay, which is quite a long swim. The elkhorn coral barrier reef surrounds two-thirds of the island, creating a rich marine ecosystem home to many threatened and endangered plant and animal species. # 1 on our list used the Norman island Caves to best snorkeling beaches st john their treasure, earning this area of sand! Much, but true hardcoral varieties are also parked all over the Beach and usually calm protected waters and! Cruisewill They Both Enjoy it maps, lodging recommendations and contact information green,... Corals on the east among the rocks on the western end of the best snorkeling in St. is... Route 107 and go PAST Salt Pond when it comes to snorkeling in St. John, Salt Pond it... 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You might see in the Caribbean side and on the left near the.! Will come to several splits in the Caribbean access snorkeling spots aware the water from the Beach Virgin... A great way to Maho point Cay rarely gets too crowded also all!

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