Maho Bay is on everybodys favorite beach list. Difficulty: Easy. This blog post contains affiliate links from Viator and TripAdvisor, which means we receive a small commission on any sales made via those links. Brewers Bay is a lovely beach with a sandy shore line, super clear water, few people, a view of the airport, and snorkeling with a high chance of seeing turtles. The beach at Haulover North is mostly coral rubble. The best reef corals and fish as to the left as you face the water. I have never seen one puff out but these cute little fish can take in water to make their bodies (and long spines) puff out if they feel threatened. . 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. There are boats that dock in the bay, so it can be dangerous if you try to navigate around them. 14.1K subscribers In this video, we go out in search of the best snorkeling in St. John. Please read on to discover what snorkeling spots are worth it, and what are not. Youll discover a wide variety of fish species including large Permit and Jacks, Queen Angelfish, French Angelfish, Blueheaded Wrasse, Pork Fish, French Grunts and more. A couple of beach shacks sell drinks and snacks and rent stand up paddleboards, beach chairs, umbrellas, and snorkel gear, but there are no restrooms or other amenities. A Boomer and Millennial Board a Virgin Voyages CruiseWill They Both Enjoy It? Once youve crossed the Durloe Channel youll find a protected sandy cove on the western side of the cay. St John has no airport. 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. Snorkel along the western shore toward the point and around the offshore rocks called the blinders. The water is usually calm. 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. There is also great snorkeling along the first set of jagged rocks out in the middle. Even if you're seeking a beach day, this is a phenomenal choice. Cinnamon Cay is located about 100 yards off the shore. This is another beach where you can spot sea turtles. It is located off of East End Road just past Haulover Bay on the right. Snorkeling in Hurricane Hole is a MUST do on any trip to St. John. On most days, waves break along the shoreline and over the shallow reef, so try to choose a day when the sea is calm, and the water is not churned up. Park at the gate, and hike down to this crescent of white sand. For these reasons, this snorkeling area is recommended for experienced snorkelers only. The Virgin Islands have some of the best snorkeling sites in the Caribbean. The US Virgin Islands are famous for their beaches, and Salomon Bay Beach is considered one of the gems on St. John's island.. Snorkel around the point to Kiddel Bay but only if you are a confident swimmer. This bay, an inner bay of Great Lameshur,lies just to the north of Beehive Cove, the bay where the Tektiteproject took place. St John has no airport. 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. It is advised to swim counter-clockwise around the Cay, but we swam clockwise without a problem. 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. 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. 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. 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! Great Lameshur Baylies at the bottom of the hill. Park on your left at the bottom of the hill. We saw several turtles in the seagrass beds. You are exposed to the full sun. The reef on the east end of Honeymoon Beach, around the point between Caneel Bays, is also a good snorkeling area. There's a magical world waiting for you beneath the surface of the water on St. Thomas. Make sure you do NOT end up in Kiddel Bay. From the Salt Pond Bay Parking lot, take the short trail downto the bay. Always snorkel with a buddy and never exceed your physical ability or experience. 99.9% of travelers come to St John by boat ! Knowing the correct snorkeling techniques, understanding the St. Johns undersea environment, and being able to identify and know about what you will see in this strange new world can greatly enhance your enjoyment of the sport, as well as alert you to any possible safety or environmental concerns. Snorkeling at Maho Bay Beach is one of the reasons people love this locations. 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. Close to the shore are patches of sand and grass with scattered coral heads. Guests can enjoy white sand, towering palms, crystal clear water, the Underwater Snorkeling Trail, food, drink, showers/bathrooms and snorkel gear and chair rentals. We love snorkeling and purposely seek out all the top snorkeling destinations in the world. That aforementioned place is also one of the best spots for buying souvenirs because of the beach shop there. Maho Bay offers a chance to swim with sea turtles. You will almost certainly see parrotfish, angelfish, grunts, damselfish, and schools of blue tang, along with a vast assortment of invertebrates such as sponges and plume worms. As you swim through the series of caves, youll see schools of colorful tropical fish, pelicans, gulls, ferns, orange cup coral, and red sponges. Trunk Bay: St. John's most famous beach (most visited and most photographed) doesn't disappoint. The quiet lagoon is known for its calm, turquoise waters and is an excellent destination for snorkelers of all skill levels. 01- Salt Pond Bay 02- Waterlemon Cay 03- Maho Bay Beach 04- Haulover Bay North 05- Hansen Bay Beach 06- Trunk Bay Beach 07- Cinnamon Bay Beach 08- Blue Cobblestone Beach 09- Little Lameshur Bay Beach 10- Grootpan Bay Beach 11- Francis Bay Beach Snorkeling gear Top snorkel tips Final thoughts St John Snorkeling Rating System There are busy ferry routes that connect St John to St Thomas, St Croix, Tortola and the BVIs. Yawzi Point 2022 adagio digital arts. One of the top beaches in the Caribbean also has some great snorkeling! 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. Access is easy with a shallow sandy entry. In the British Virgin Islands, the island of Tortola makes a great base for snorkelers. Along the way youll see beautiful hard and soft corals and a large variety of Caribbean tropical fish. The water is shallow at first, and the bottom is made up of small rocks and coral rubble. 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. 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. The best snorkeling is on the western side of the bay (left side of the bay as you face the water). 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. 5 Best Ways to Explore Hurricane Hole in Coral Bay, St. John. Back on Gibney Beach, the reef that neighbors Hawksnest Beach plays host to a variety of corals, lacey sea fans, and shy feather duster worms that close tightly at the slightest touch. The highlight was seeing a lemon shark. Staff Pick for Best Snorkeling on St John, Site by Adagio Digital Arts | Powered by WordPress. 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. Find the part where the sandy bottom meets the shore to allow for easier entry. You can choose from various beach, snorkeling, and diving packages or book accommodation only. She also provides chairs, portable bathrooms, kayaks, and paddleboards. 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. , Williams, Jeff and Ria OHagan. Salt Pond/Drunk Bay. More info on Henley Cay NOTE: There can be very strong currents on the outer edge of the Cay. Thomas certainly has good beaches for it, like Coki Point Beach, but we think the best are in St. John (probably because it's more secluded and less built-up). Also . 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. The trip includes a short ride to/from the pier on a dinghy (must be . 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. Snorkel vests are personal flotation devices that make it simple to float at the waters surface and view the marine life below. Follow East End Road beyond Coral Bay. Park near the big tamarindtree at the entrance to this large cobblestone beach. 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. Watch out for black spiny sea urchins hiding here. 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. . 1. The island boasts over 3 dozen beaches to choose from and discover. Also, there is no shade along the dirt path and the beach. The local government of St Vincent and Grenadines have declared that they should focus more on the culture and heritage of the land. There is a small fringe forest of mangroves along the coast. This party beach is easily accessible by taxi and has a dive center where you can rent snorkeling gear or book a discovery scuba course. Book St. John Snorkeling. There are a lot of sea urchins! Activity itinerary. 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. The name says it all out of the way; but has a small water sports shack! The best snorkeling area can be found as you approach Beehive Cove, as everything becomes more colorful. Neltjeberg Bay lies on the far side of a thick tangle of bush - including wild-growing pineapple and guava - to the west of the more accessible Dorothea Beach. #10 - Lovango Cay Virgin Islands . I cannot stress this enough invest in good snorkeling gear! There is an underwater snorkeling trail along the Cay, which requires a short swim out from the beach. The snorkeling in St John USVI surprised me. Best for: Swimming, snorkeling, and beach parties. Jumbie Bay Beach. A small island can be seen in the middle of the water near Trunk Bay Beach. Ram Head hiking trail will lead to Blue Cobblestone Beach. The water is sandy bottom and shallow making it a great spot for younger kids and parents with floats. The trip begins and ends at Honeymoon Beach, one of St. Johns best snorkeling spots. For a full appreciation of this area, one should also have the ability to free dive in order to investigate the environments under ledges, beneath coral heads, and within caves and tunnels. 2/3 of the island and surrounding reefs are protected by the US Virgin Islands National Park [ VINP ]. Snorkeling around these rocks is an excellent way for travelers to practice and gain confidence in a safe and shallow environment while still being able to observe colorful fish, corals, and sea creatures. All recommendations are on items I love and feel will deliver value to you! Blue tang at Blue Cobblestone in St John USVI. 2. 2023 SeeStJohn.com | Sombrero Publishing Company PO Box 1031, St. John, VI 00831 |, Whether you stay in Cruz Bay or Coral Bay. These amenities include showers, foot rinses, food and beverage concessions, snorkel rentals, and more. The coral reef here is in relatively good condition, and the reef community is colorful and diverse. Magen's Bay Beach (One Of The Most Beautiful) Another popular beach among tourists and locals is Magen's Bay Beach. There is a good deal of fire coral encrustation, but true hardcoral varieties are also plentiful. Be aware this area is subject to strong currents and winds, so use your judgment before proceeding into the water. Best Beaches on St John - Northwest Shore St John has many amazing beaches, all perfect for enjoying a sunny beach day. Widely regarded as one of the finest beaches in the world, Trunk Bay Beach lies on St. John's northwestern coast within Virgin Islands National Park. We saw a lot of beautiful coral and sea fans, shoal of squid, two nurse sharks, and many beautiful tropical fish. Coki Beach. Guests can enjoy recently upgraded eco-tents or cottage accommodations; and wake up to the beauty of Cinnamon Bay each day! There are many deep water crevices and canyons to explore. 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. Entry can be a little tricky due to the cobblestone beach, sargassum (seaweed), and sea urchins. The Best of St. John Where to Stay Hale Lani: This four-bedroom villa in Maria Bluff has unobstructed sea views from every room. I didnt realize you could snorkel right there. Those are just examples, nearly all of the beaches have close snorkeling. Like The Caves, The Indians are accessible only by boat. I was actually pleasantly surprised by the quality of snorkeling here. Depths around the formations range from around 10 to 50 feet.2. 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. There are also many different types of coral, including grooved brain coral and pillar coral. We enjoyed excellent snorkeling around this cay. Every beach can be accessed by boat. Visitors will argue about which one is their favorite. 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. Because of its secluded location, Watermelon Cay rarely gets too crowded. To reach Waterlemon Bay, which has two great snorkeling locations, take the Leinster Bay Trail, beginning at the parking area for the Annaberg Sugar Mill Ruins. (888) 651-9785 Top St John Snorkeling When are you traveling? No need to hire a boat or join a tour! Trunk Bay is the most famous beach in Virgin Islands National Park, often listed among the most beautiful beaches in the world. 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