Dont forget your waterproof snorkeling bag to keep your valuables safe. We saw several turtles in the seagrass beds. Turtle and a remora (suckerfish) at Hansen Bay in St. John USVI. Snorkeling with the island's wildlife is sure to be the highlight of your vacation! Bring a dive light if you want to explore deeper into any of the caves, as it can get quite dark. We saw so many turtles I lost count. Flamingo tongue snail at Little Lameshur Bay in St John USVI. 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. 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. Best entry is in the center of the beach where the sandy bottom comes closest to the shoreline. The best St John snorkeling places list must include Maho Bay. And theyre all located along St Johns North Shore! If you make a purchase through these links, we may receive a small commission at no extra cost to you. A few with the closest to shore are Hawksnest, Trunk (right side of the shore and around the cay) and Salt Pond. Whether you stay in Cruz Bay or Coral Bay, you need to visit Maho Bay Beach. THE TOP 10 St John Snorkeling (w/Prices) Home Things to do in US Virgin Islands Things to do in St John St John Tours Outdoor Activities On the Water Snorkeling Questions? 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. On the outskirts of these living clouds, in slightly deeper water, lurk predators, such as jacks, yellowtail snapper, Spanish mackerel, and barracuda as well some respectfully-sized tarpon and pompano. Private NEW Luxury Power Catamaran. We saw many schools of fish, numerous soft and hard coral outcroppings, a stingray, and gorgeous gigantic waving purple sea fans. Easy access, shallow water, shade and a good chance youll see turtles, rays and lots of fish! Protected under Virgin Islands National Coral Reef Monument, the underwater landscape . With arguably the best shallow water snorkeling in all of the Virgin Islands youre sure to have a great experience. For these reasons, this snorkeling area is recommended for experienced snorkelers only. Required fields are marked *. 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. You can see many large, purple sea fans and other gorgonians, as well as hard corals, such as star, elkhorn, and brain coral. 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. 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. Every now and then, one of these larger fish will enter to feed, moving quickly into the glittery mass. Located on the East End of St. Thomas, Secret Harbor Beach Resort offers prime snorkeling conditions right off of the hotel beach. If you are still in the planning phase and want to know what are the best places to stay near some of these top snorkeling spots, do not miss my article below! You are exposed to the full sun. Staff Pick for Best Snorkeling on St John! 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. There are many deep water crevices and canyons to explore. Getting to this remote beach requires a 20-minute walk (one way) along a flat, scenic trail. Always snorkel with a buddy and never exceed your physical ability or experience. The waves can be rough. For more information about the benefits of wearing a snorkel vest and some recommended products, you can read our detailed snorkel vest article here. We saw patches of coral here and there with sporadic Caribbean fish sightings. Its not much more than a motor, prop and portion of the wing of a small plane. On your left, you will notice a path through the woods that will lead you to Haulover Bay North. Healthy elkhorn coral is found at most of USVI's reefs. There was plenty of parking when we went. Just past these mangroves, you will come to an underwater hillside garden of coral. In the midst of all this activity, large schools of French grunts, oblivious to the drama around them, hover, almost motionless, over and around colorful live coral. The area boasts an incredible diversity of marine life, with plenty of opportunities to view conch, starfish, sea turtles, sea fans, blue tangs, bluehead wrasses, parrotfish, and more. Really good snorkeling is just off the start of the path to watermelon cave, just past the road. Neltjeberg Bay. One of the best snorkeling spots on St John. At the seaward edge of this reef is a channel of sandabout ten yards wide that separates the fringing reef from aneighboring patch reef farther offshore. Haulover Bay (St. John): A favorite with locals, this small bay is rougher than Leinster, with a pebbly beach. Bring a few gallons of water for the ride, which work great for rinsing all the sand off after you snorkel. There's a magical world waiting for you beneath the surface of the water on St. Thomas. The parking lot fills up quickly! Take Route 107 and go PAST Salt Pond Bay Beach. You can see the beach right from the parking lot. On the Beehive Cove side of the point, the water gets deeper. It is advised to swim counter-clockwise around the Cay, but we swam clockwise without a problem. The southern side of Haulover Bay, St John, lies just off the side of Route 10. Do not overestimate your swimming ability. Trunk Bay is a long stretch of white sand with a rock island just off the shore. Getting there is part of the fun. The best snorkeling is along the beachs rocky coastline on the right side and on the left near the docks. Snorkeling the western edge towards Peter Bay the corals and patch reef are thin. There is also plenty of colorful coral. From hidden coves to must-see reefs, these are the best snorkeling spots in St. John. 1. This is one of the best beaches on St. John for foraging along the shoreline and discovering what the tide washes up. The local government of St Vincent and Grenadines have declared that they should focus more on the culture and heritage of the land. Best St. John beaches to visit Best Beaches in St. John Salomon Bay. 2023 SeeStJohn.com | Sombrero Publishing Company PO Box 1031, St. John, VI 00831 |, Whether you stay in Cruz Bay or Coral Bay. This is where youll likely see large orange and yellow cushion starfish. Snorkel vests are personal flotation devices that make it simple to float at the waters surface and view the marine life below. Salt Pond The best snorkeling area can be found as you approach Beehive Cove, as everything becomes more colorful. Trunk Bay has it all. Beehive Cove lies on the other side of thesmall rocky point to the south. A large variety of fish including Atlantic Blue tangs, Blue Headed wrasses, Sargeant majors, as well as Caribbean lobsters, crabs, conch and more! The name, Tektite,refers to a research project conducted at Beehive Bay, a smallcove on the southeastern tip of Great Lameshur Bay. 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. St Johns most popular, most photographed, and most visited beach is Trunk Bay. St John island is one of the top Caribbean destinations for snorkeling. In fact, Hurricane Hole has been my favorite snorkel spot in the US Virgin Islands since moving here! Sea cucumbers are particularly plentiful here. The award-winning resort has an onsite dive center with watersport rentals, snorkeling gear, and guided excursions. It is located on the eastern end of the island along East End Road right past a sign that states you are leaving the Virgin Islands National Park. We also saw a moon jellyfish, but it was easy to navigate around. A Bonnier LLC Company. The bonus is that these spots do not require a boat to reach. (J. Robert Oppenheimer, creator of the atomic bomb, once owned the land.) The highlight here is the Cane Bay Wall, where the seafloor plummets from around 40 feet . This beach was part of our hike to Ram Head. 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. Looking for the best St. John snorkeling spots?? 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. There are many small reef fish in the area. 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. 4. And just like other St John beaches youll find white sand, palm trees, seagrapes for shade and some good shallow water snorkeling. And along the western end towards Salomon Beach youll find a patch reef with hard and soft corals and colorful fish. You will have to walk over the pebbly beach and avoid the sporadic sea urchins as you launch off into the water. Honeymoon Beach is home to some of the last remaining leaning palms the island as once famous for prior to Hurricane Maria in 2017 along with crystal blue waters, white sands, along with a snack shack ( Vibrant coral at Francis Bay in St John USVI, Snorkeling with turtles at Francis Bay in St John USVI. Beginning in the parking area for Annaberg Plantation enjoy an almost 1.0 mi flat hike along Leinster Bay to reach Waterlemon Cay. You can park in the large lot located directly across from the eastern side of the beach. From the Salt Pond Bay Parking lot, take the short trail downto the bay. Honeymoon Beach: Best for Luxury Mixed With Laid Back Vibes. and an entrance fee. 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