Located on St. Thomass East End, Secret Harbor offers snorkeling conditions similar to those at Coki Beach but is quieter, less crowded, and more secluded. Islands may receive financial compensation for products purchased through this site. Park near the big tamarindtree at the entrance to this large cobblestone beach. The reef extends out about 20 yards from shore. Some of the best snorkeling on the island can be found along the rocky outcroppings on both sides of the bay, especially to the left, where angelfish, tang, parrotfish, and the occasional barracuda swim through the corals. 6) Trunk Bay - This is the most snorkeled beach on St. John for good reason - its shallow, underwater snorkel trail means it's an excellent option for all ages and experience levels. 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. 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. When youve had your fill of music, stuffed French toast, and spicy Bloody Marys, head to Lameshur Beach. The snorkeling is great along the reef on the left side (as you face the water). The water is shallow at first, and the bottom is made up of small rocks and coral rubble. The beach is narrow and lined with towering coconut palms and seagrape trees for shade. Brain coral, soft coral, and sea fans at Little Lameshur Bay in St John USVI. 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. . (888) 651-9785 Top St John Snorkeling When are you traveling? Your email address will not be published. Snorkeling in the center of the bay can also be a worthwhile experience. Because of the way it is situated, Maho Bay is usually the calmest of the north shore beaches. According to local legends, pirates once used the Norman Island Caves to hide their treasure, earning this area the name Treasure Point. Thank you for your support. Brewers Bay is a favorite for Green Sea Turtles and Hawksbill Turtles. There are not many spots. There is a small fringe forest of mangroves along the coast. After you park, walk a few minutes along a path right to the beach. Please read on to discover what snorkeling spots are worth it, and what are not. All rights reserved. Snorkel gear and watersports equipment are available to rent at Honeymoon Beach, and there are various facilities, including a beach bar and grill. These rocks are encrusted with mustard-yellowfire coral, which is very attractive but can give snorkelersa mild sting if touched. The Tektite snorkel is one of the absolute best snorkeling spots on St. John, and contrary to popular belief, it can be accessed by land with relative ease. Check out our list of the best islands for snorkeling. Start your adventures snorkeling the large reef on the left with its plentiful sea life, intriguing corals, and small shipwreck. Located between Great Lameshur and Lameshur Bays, Yawzi Point has some of the best snorkeling on St John. If you are looking to piece together all that St John has to offer, check out my ultimate itinerary below. Answer 1 of 14: Which Caribbean resort has the best right-off-the-resort beach snorkeling? Bear left and follow the trail along the shoreline until youre at a point closest to the Cay. On St. John, Estate Lindholm is a top pick within Virgin Islands National Park. Know your surroundings (currents, wind, where your buddy is, etc.). Here is a map of all 11 snorkeling sites we discovered during our 1-week exploration of St John USVI. Despite the fact that Salomon is the closest north shore beach to Cruz Bay, it remains a private island paradise, as its accessible only by trail. In the British Virgin Islands, the island of Tortola makes a great base for snorkelers. 2023 SeeStJohn.com | Sombrero Publishing Company PO Box 1031, St. John, VI 00831 |, Whether you stay in Cruz Bay or Coral Bay. There are some beautiful tropical fish and coral outcroppings; however, I would not consider this a top snorkeling spot. Waterlemon Cay - The top snorkeling destination on St John. Virgin Islands Ecotours: IT WAS THE BESSSSSTTTT BUY THIS PACKAGE DEF WORTH IT - See 2,510 traveler reviews, 519 candid photos, and great deals for St. Thomas, at Tripadvisor. Cinnamon Bay Beach is one of several gorgeous beaches located right off of North Shore Road. Among other cool stuff, Ive seen moray eels, turtles, nurse sharks, and squid. 1. The quiet lagoon is known for its calm, turquoise waters and is an excellent destination for snorkelers of all skill levels. Because of the Covid-19 pandemic, many people feel uneasy about sharing snorkeling equipment with others. The first step is to get toGreat Lameshur Bay on St. Johns south coast. When we snorkeled to the left of Hansen Bay, there were plenty of tropical fish, coral outcroppings, and some larger Jacks. Difficulty: Easy. Jumbie Bay Beach. Its a Must-See on many visitors STJ Bucket List. While the name might imply that its only for lovers, Honeymoon Beach is a great beach for couples and families. 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. Every beach can be accessed by boat. Maho Bay offers a chance to swim with sea turtles. Ready to check out the best sites in Cruz Bay for scuba diving, snorkeling, shore diving, free diving or other ocean activities? (J. Robert Oppenheimer, creator of the atomic bomb, once owned the land.) The Caneel Bay resort was decimated by back-to-back hurricanes in 2017 and has yet to be rebuilt. I cannot stress this enough invest in good snorkeling gear! Find the part where the sandy bottom meets the shore to allow for easier entry. It's an iconic photo of the beach, the north shore of St. John, and the British Virgin Islands stretching out in the distance. Begin by snorkeling around the large rocks at the corner ofthe beach. You will come to several splits in the poorly maintained road. The fry is extremely sensitive to minute changes in water currents and can sense the approach of the hunters. Original Poster . Yawzi Point There are many deep water crevices and canyons to explore. Soft white sand, shallow water entry, beautiful aqua blue water, snorkeling and watersports make it the perfect St John beach destination! Please see the key below. - See 478 traveler reviews, 98 candid photos, and great deals for St. Thomas, at Tripadvisor. My husband is awesome at picking out the little creatures! Guide to the Best St. John Snorkeling Spots - Snorkel and Hike Looking for the best St. John snorkeling spots?? Take the North Shore Road towards Annaberg Sugar Plantation. Be aware the water can get rough along the far side of the Cay due to exposure to the wind. There are many amenities, including a bar, restaurant, watersport rentals, dive shop, chairs, umbrellas, and more. Whether you stay in Cruz Bay or Coral Bay, you need to visit Maho Bay Beach. The NPS actually has a great map showing where the reefs are along the beaches. Entry can be a little tricky due to the cobblestone beach, sargassum (seaweed), and sea urchins. No hike required. 2022 adagio digital arts. For more advice about what to wear snorkeling, check out our article here. There is also plenty of colorful coral. Maho Bay Quarter, St John's best beach. The highlight here is the Cane Bay Wall, where the seafloor plummets from around 40 feet . We saw large schools of fish, beautiful hard and soft coral, and numerous colorful waving sea fans. Theres plenty of parking. You might also see Nurse sharks ( non threatening / shy ) and some gems like black and white geometric tunicates and blue encrusting coral. Snorkeling the waters of St. John, U.S. Virgin Islands, is one of the most rewarding and exciting things to do on St. John. 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. Once you pass Concordia, the road will turn sharply right and the dirt parking lot will be on the left. Trunk Bay Known as The Indians, this area is a popular diving and snorkeling site with plentiful coral, fish, and other sea creatures. St. John's Trunk Bay is unquestionably one of the best snorkeling beaches in the world. 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. Do not overestimate your swimming ability. 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. Salt Pond/Drunk Bay. Like many areas in the Virgin Islands, Smugglers Cove is still recovering from hurricanes Maria and Irma. Haulover (North) - Some of the most dramatic underwater structure and corals on the island. The only sign of civilization . From hidden coves to must-see reefs, these are the best snorkeling spots in St. John. Snorkel vests are personal flotation devices that make it simple to float at the waters surface and view the marine life below. Cinnamon Bay. 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. Northwest of St John Island. There are busy ferry routes that connect St John to St Thomas, St Croix, Tortola and the BVIs. TRUNK BAY BEACH Haulover (North) Trunk Bay is popular with snorkelers due to the pretty beach and usually calm protected waters, and as a cruise ship tour stop. The water is usually calm. I like to wear dive booties with my snorkeling fins to offer a little more protection. 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. Its best to snorkel Hawksnest on days when the bay is calm and there are no north swells to churn up the water and diminish visibility. On the Beehive Cove side of the point, the water gets deeper. A beautiful beach with an underwater snorkeling trail! 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. , Skincare Chemicals and Coral Reefs. National Ocean Service, https://oceanservice.noaa.gov/news/sunscreen-corals.html. Beginning in the parking area for Annaberg Plantation enjoy an almost 1.0 mi flat hike along Leinster Bay to reach Waterlemon Cay. Trunk Bay Beach has a large parking lot right off North Shore Road, however, get there early because spaces fill up quickly! 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. Take Route 107 and go PAST Salt Pond Bay Beach. Getting to this remote beach requires a 20-minute walk (one way) along a flat, scenic trail. If you are planning a day at Trunk Bay, dont miss my article below! Private Full or Half Day Catamaran Snorkel, & Beach Experience; Private Luxury Catamaran Yacht. 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. 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 Brown Bay. Try to identify all the differentcolors of sponges found here. Bring a hat, wear a sun shirt and sunscreen, and bring plenty of water. This seven-hour private boat tour is another highly-rated excursion with multiple snorkeling stops that can be customized according to your preferences. This snorkeling spot is best for intermediate to advanced snorkelers since the current can be stronger than in other areas. So when you see pictures of St. John, chances are you are going to see a photo of the famous Trunk Bay overlook. Its shoreline is a mix of wind-swept sand and pebbles. 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. And along the western end towards Salomon Beach youll find a patch reef with hard and soft corals and colorful fish. Planning a trip to St John in the U.S. Virgin Islands? The southern bay is calmer than its counterpart in the north, has an easier entry, and is more suitable for beginners and intermediate snorkelers. The St John Beaches are some of the best in the Caribbean. Cinnamon Cay is located about 100 yards off the shore. and an entrance fee. Trunk Bay Your email address will not be published. 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