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. Soft white sand stretches in both directions while shallow waters provide newbie snorkelers the chance to get their sea legs. 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. 14 Best St. John Beaches. Zentacle has 12 dive sites, snorkel spots, beaches, and more. The white sand is super soft, and the waters are a mesmerizing aquamarine color. Snorkeling is one of the most popular activities among visitors to the Virgin Islands. The best reef corals and fish as to the left as you face the water. The quiet lagoon is known for its calm, turquoise waters and is an excellent destination for snorkelers of all skill levels. The most popular ferries are out of Charlotte Amalie and Red Hook, St Thomas. Considered to have some of the best snorkeling on St. Thomas, Coki Beach is known for its calm waters, white sands, and abundant marine life. We went around 9 am and had no problem. Parrotfish and blue tang swim about grazing on algae. 5 Best Ways to Explore Hurricane Hole in Coral Bay, St. John. Your mobile-friendly St John island guide to St John's beaches, snorkeling, maps and more. Even if you're seeking a beach day, this is a phenomenal choice. For some reason, this beautiful beach always rewards me with something exciting. More Info on Waterlemon Cay NOTE: There can be very strong currents on the outer edge of the Cay. An afternoon lounging here, with a lunch of Vies famous garlic chicken and a couple icy bottles of Caribe, is the ultimate in Caribbean relaxation. Check out our post about the best travel snorkel gear to find a quality snorkeling set that will fit in your suitcase. If you try to park there, you will be trespassing across private property to get to the beach. Some animal species you might see in the area are French angelfish, queen angel, and permits. The water is usually calm. Activity itinerary. Food trucks are also parked all over the Beach. The highlight here is the Cane Bay Wall, where the seafloor plummets from around 40 feet . It all depends on the winds and current. Here, the environment is sand and coral rubble. Its arguably the most beautiful beach on St John; if not all of the Caribbean! 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. 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. Snorkel gear and watersports equipment are available to rent at Honeymoon Beach, and there are various facilities, including a beach bar and grill. Hawksnest Beach is the best snorkeling spot in the Virgin Islands National Park to observe beautiful elkhorn coral, which is still in fairly good condition. 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. July 25, 2019 With miles of natural coral reef, excellent visibility and a gentle coastline with access, the U.S. Virgin Island of St. John is a snorkeler's paradise. We've selected eight of the best snorkeling sites and have included some tips to help you plan your snorkeling adventure. READ CURATED LIST OF BEST ST. JOHN VACATION RENTALS, READ 8 THINGS TO KNOW BEFORE YOU GO TO TRUNK BAY, READ MY PERSONAL TRAVEL SNORKELING GEAR PICKS. Jumbie Bay Beach is one of St. John's hidden gems. Last updated Jan 29, 2023 | Best Snorkeling Caribbean, St. John. A Bonnier LLC Company. Not far from Norman Island lies a group of uninhabited rocky islets rising from the sea. Just be sure to use approved anchorages so you don't harm precious reefs. With crystal clear water, beautiful white sand, and little islands scattered around, you'll want to explore them all. Overall, I would rate St John USVI as a whole as 4/5 snorkels. The western side of the cay is better protected from waves and wind. Eventually, you reach a sign that states no outlet. This is the end of the paved road. Once you pass Concordia, the road will turn sharply right and the dirt parking lot will be on the left. The first step is to get toGreat Lameshur Bay on St. Johns south coast. Copyright 2023 Islands. You are exposed to the full sun. St John has no airport. There are many amenities, including a bar, restaurant, watersport rentals, dive shop, chairs, umbrellas, and more. Those are without a doubt the most popular beaches. Getting to Grootpan Bay Beach is an adventure and can be confusing if you do not know where you are going ahead of time. My husband who has an amazing eagle eye even spotted a yellowline arrow crab. 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 The grass environment attracts rays, green turtles, starfish, and conch. This top-notch snorkeling spot is easy to access. Snorkeling is best on calm days when there is good visibility underwater. The farther you get out to the point, the more challenging it will become. Looking for more snorkeling destinations? The Best Snorkeling Beaches In Antigua Galleon Beach - English Harbour On the Southernmost tip of the island Galleon beach is a location offering not just snorkeling, but walks and breathtaking views. 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. Easy access, shallow water, shade and a good chance youll see turtles, rays and lots of fish! Turtle and a remora (suckerfish) at Hansen Bay in St. John USVI. Its shallow over the top of the reef but deep enough for experienced and confident snorkelers to negotiate safely. Maho Bay also offers good reef snorkeling for those looking to explore the sea life on a coral reef. I can now spend hours in the water following tropical fish and swimming alongside turtles. Always snorkel with a buddy and never exceed your physical ability or experience. With soft sand and a shallow entry, entry is easy and straight forward. The best snorkeling is on the western side of the bay (left side of the bay as you face the water). You can relax in a hammock on the white sand beach and snorkel close to shore or rent kayaks and stand up paddleboards and paddle to nearby Caneel Bay Beach, Henley Cay, or Hawksnest Beach. Staff Pick for Best Snorkeling on St John! Along the reef edge on the underwater hillside are gardens of sea fans and other gorgonians, such as sea rods, sea plumes, dead mans fingers, and sea whips. Yawzi Point Salt Pond There is a small fringe forest of mangroves along the coast. Entrance: Free. Original Poster . Check out my personal snorkeling gear picks below. You can enter the water at the rock beach at the end of the trail. 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. (888) 651-9785 Top St John Snorkeling When are you traveling? Commonly seen tropical fish on the reef are tang, snapper, grunts, parrotfish, and angelfish. The Caves are accessible only by boat, so youll need to book a private charter or guided tour or visit with your own vessel. St John is the smallest of the 3 US Virgin Islands located in the Caribbean. According to Tripadvisor travellers, these are the best ways to experience Sapphire Beach: Parasail Experience in St Thomas (From C$185.80) 50' Luxury Yacht. The worst is when a snorkelers fins hit you in the face because of their lack of awareness of what is around them. 99.9% of travelers come to St John by boat ! We snorkeled on the right side of the bay as you face the water out towards Marys Point and saw beautiful coral outcroppings, schools of tropical fish, and even a lionfish. In the British Virgin Islands, the island of Tortola makes a great base for snorkelers. Start your adventures snorkeling the large reef on the left with its plentiful sea life, intriguing corals, and small shipwreck. 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. About halfway (0.4 miles) down the Leinster Bay Trail lies a small sand and coral rubble beach, which provides excellent snorkeling for intermediate and advanced snorkelers. There can be a moderate current here which sets to the west, as well as the possibility of a strong breeze blowing in the same direction. 2023 SeeStJohn.com | Sombrero Publishing Company PO Box 1031, St. John, VI 00831 |, Whether you stay in Cruz Bay or Coral Bay. 2023 OutsiderView. 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 . Where to snorkel at Little Lameshur Bay Beach. Private charters are a great way to see numerous islands and snorkel in diverse places in a single day. I like to wear dive booties with my snorkeling fins to offer a little more protection. No hike required. Hansen Bay Know your surroundings (currents, wind, where your buddy is, etc.). This beach was part of our hike to Ram Head. Waterlemon Cay hike leads you through a short section of forest in the beginning, And then the trail dumps you on the rocky coastline for the remainder of the hike. 1. Blue tang at Blue Cobblestone in St John USVI. There are more fish and coral on the calmer western side of the Cay (which is the left side as you face the water). We arrived around 10 am, and there were only a handful of parking spaces left. The other option is to keep walking past the sandy beach to the far edge of the beach where the coastline becomes rocky again. There are some beautiful tropical fish and coral outcroppings; however, I would not consider this a top snorkeling spot. Do not overestimate your swimming ability. Just like Trunk Bay, youll find a cay just off the beach. After you park, walk a few minutes along a path right to the beach. That is why you will get to see some of the best spots. 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. Coki Beach is one of the most popular snorkeling spots in St. Thomas. 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. Park on your left at the bottom of the hill. There are also many colorful spongesand various types of hard coral in this area. The water is sandy bottom and shallow making it a great spot for younger kids and parents with floats. Questions about the St John snorkeling sites we visited? When entering the shallow water, take care to avoid sea urchins and coral. It is located off of East End Road just past Haulover Bay on the right. Salt Pond/Drunk Bay. 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