This is the closest entry point to get to Waterlemon Cay, which is the route we chose. 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. On St. John, Estate Lindholm is a top pick within Virgin Islands National Park. 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. This makes people coming from northern climates especially susceptible to the strong Caribbean sun. You are exposed to the full sun. Whether youre visiting the US Virgin Islands or the British Virgin Islands, there are plenty of spectacular snorkeling spots to choose from. Waterlemon Cay Snorkeling in Hurricane Hole is a MUST do on any trip to St. John. French Angelfish at Waterlemon Cay, St John USVI, Nurse shark at Waterlemon Cay in St John USVI, French grunt at Waterlemon Cay, St John USVI, Squid family at Waterlemon Cay, St John USVI. Always snorkel with a buddy and never exceed your physical ability or experience. Its an easy path about 100 yards long that goes over flat terrain, passing by a small salt pond about halfway along the trail. Lovango Resort & Beach Club: This newly opened. From the beach, you can see huge rock structures in the middle of the bay. 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. St. John's Trunk Bay is unquestionably one of the best snorkeling beaches in the world. Parking is catch-as-catch-can along the left hand side. Parrotfish and blue tang swim about grazing on algae. Five miles east of Cruz Bay lies Mahos blissful sheltered bay. Book St. John Snorkeling. 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. My mask would fog, and I would get a bunch of water in my snorkel. Snorkeling with the island's wildlife is sure to be the highlight of your vacation! You can choose from various beach, snorkeling, and diving packages or book accommodation only. We snorkeled along the rocks on the right side of the beach as you face the water. Go for the beach and not the snorkeling. 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. Find the right mask for the shape of your face. A good plan is to snorkel west (to the left) over the shallow portion of the reef first and then return along the deeper reef edge. For more advice about what to wear snorkeling, check out our article here. *Links in this post contain Amazon and CJ affiliate links. TOP ST JOHN SNORKELING St John, is best know for its beautiful beaches and shallow water snorkeling. Cinnamon Cay is located about 100 yards off the shore. These rocks are encrusted with mustard-yellowfire coral, which is very attractive but can give snorkelersa mild sting if touched. 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. Cinnamon Bay 1,205 Beaches By ElizabethG393 Located with the Caneel Bay Resort visitors can either hike the Lind Point Trail from Cruz Bay; park at Caneel Bay Resort and walk the approx. 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. The southern bay is calmer than its counterpart in the north, has an easier entry, and is more suitable for beginners and intermediate snorkelers. Brain coral, soft coral, and sea fans at Little Lameshur Bay in St John USVI. 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. Once you pass Concordia, the road will turn sharply right and the dirt parking lot will be on the left. .5 mi EW, or take a taxi to Caneel and ride the Honeymoon Beach Huts golf cart to Honeymoon Beach. A Bonnier LLC Company. Read on to find all the details of each snorkeling spot we visited. Some animal species you might see in the area are French angelfish, queen angel, and permits. The Most Popular and Most Photographed Beach on St John! Because of its secluded location, Watermelon Cay rarely gets too crowded. This is yet another very accessible St John USVI beach. , Skincare Chemicals and Coral Reefs. National Ocean Service, https://oceanservice.noaa.gov/news/sunscreen-corals.html. The dominant species of coral found in the shallow top reef are colonies of star and boulder coral. The grass environment attracts rays, green turtles, starfish, and conch. So when you see pictures of St. John, chances are you are going to see a photo of the famous Trunk Bay overlook. This beautiful environment continues out and around the point. Snorkeling equipment, as well as single and double kayaks, standup paddle boards, and beach chairs can be rented at the Honeymoon Beach Hut. Thalia, the owner of the land in front of the beach, very kindly upkeeps the beach through donations. Green turtles, stingrays, and conch can be seen over the grassy areas, which make up most of the central portion of the bay. If you are coming from Coral Bay on Centerline Road, take a left on Route 107 and follow it down PAST Concordia. As many visitors can attest, the reputation is well deserved. 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. Commonly seen tropical fish on the reef are tang, snapper, grunts, parrotfish, and angelfish. The hike to Salt Pond Beach is fairly short, being about .8 miles. Sail to St John National Park (the very best, least crowded beaches) where you will enjoy fantastic snorkeling & swimming stops, gourmet lunch, drinks, and great company! Take the North Shore Road towards Annaberg Sugar Plantation. The satellite view was too cloudy, so I included this map instead. The name says it all out of the way; but has a small water sports shack! The water is shallow and has a sandy bottom. 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. 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. Dont forget your waterproof snorkeling bag to keep your valuables safe. Make sure to choose a reef-friendly sunscreen that doesnt contain oxybenzone, octinoxate, or other chemicals known to harm coral reefs and sea creatures.3 In addition to protecting marine life, youll also be following the law - the US Virgin Islands has banned the use of these reef toxic sunscreens.4. Close up of sea turtle at Maho Bay in St John USVI, Yellowline arrow crab at Maho Bay in St John USVI, Beaugregory Damselfish at Maho Bay in St John looking right at me. Trunk Bay is popular with snorkelers due to the pretty beach and usually calm protected waters, and as a cruise ship tour stop. 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 patches of seagrass when you enter, so you may see some turtles and rays although we did not see any when we went. The farther you get out to the point, the more challenging it will become. Some of the finest snorkeling on the north shore area of the Virgin Islands National Park can be found on the reef between Salomon Bay and Honeymoon Beach. Located at the eastern end of Leinster Bay, Watermelon Cay is known as the top snorkeling spot on St. John. Head counter clockwise to use the current to round the Cay. The rugged dirt road out to Lameshur will remind you of why you rented a jeep in the first place, but the beach is well worth it wide and sandy with plenty of shade. Alternatively, there is limited parking right along the road itself. A mile of easy hiking leads to a secluded beach graced with wind-blown palm trees, cerulean waters and views of lush green cays in the distance. A few gallons of water work great for rinsing off all that sand. Shutterstock Maho Bay The best snorkeling area can be found as you approach Beehive Cove, as everything becomes more colorful. Find the part where the sandy bottom meets the shore to allow for easier entry. Put in Annaberg Sugar Plantation in GoogleMaps. The highlight here is the Cane Bay Wall, where the seafloor plummets from around 40 feet . , Palau is first country to ban reef toxic sun cream. BBC News, 1 January 2020, https://www.bbc.com/news/world-asia-50963080. I was thankful I wore my snorkel vest for this snorkeling adventure because it was choppy right at the point. And we agree! There is a little bit of a pebbly transition right at the shoreline. Located just off Caneel Bay Resort youll see an 11 acre cay. We also saw a moon jellyfish, but it was easy to navigate around. And just like other St John beaches youll find white sand, palm trees, seagrapes for shade and some good shallow water snorkeling. We would like to snorkel off the beach and not have to go out in a boat. Trunk Bay These small silvery fish travel in close proximity to one another in large schools that look like moving underwater shadows. Best beach to snorkel on St John. Here youll find thin patch reefs that are home to a good selection of hard and soft corals and a dizzying collection of tropical fish species. Pristine sand lines and a perfect half-moon bay are the rewards at the end of a 20-minute hike out to St Thomas's finest secret beach. You can park in the large lot located directly across from the eastern side of the beach. We saw a lot of beautiful coral and sea fans, shoal of squid, two nurse sharks, and many beautiful tropical fish. Snorkeling is a can't miss activity when visiting the island. 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. We saw a few turtles in the middle of the bay where the seagrass beds are located. No hike required. Guests can enjoy recently upgraded eco-tents or cottage accommodations; and wake up to the beauty of Cinnamon Bay each day! Sunday is the ideal day to drive out to the south shore of St. John to partake in the waterfront jazz brunch at Miss Lucys Restaurant. With miles of natural coral reef, excellent visibility and a gentle coastline with access, the U.S. Virgin Island of St. John is a snorkelers paradise. We've selected eight of the best snorkeling sites and have included some tips to help you plan your snorkeling adventure. My husband is awesome at picking out the little creatures! 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. Salt Pond and Drunk Bay are actually two hikes on the south shore of St John. The second room is the most interesting, although both are beautiful. This is the first and only sandy beach that you pass on the trail before arriving at the beautiful beach across from Waterlemon Cay. Trunk Bay Beach is also quite famous for the Underwater Snorkeling Trail, which makes it one of the premier spots in the U.S Virgin Islands National Park for snorkeling. , Williams, Jeff and Ria OHagan. Snorkelers can encounter intricate coral formations and lots of marine life, with different varieties arriving at different times of the day. Youll also find bathrooms, RainTree Caf, watersports rentals and a souvenir shop. Staff Pick for Best Snorkeling on St John! 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. To get to it youll need to visit by charter or kayak tour. Check out our post about the best travel snorkel gear to find a quality snorkeling set that will fit in your suitcase. Wear proper footwear. Park in the Salt Pond Bay Beach parking lot. Snorkeling out along the east side of the bay, you can reach the coral reefs that lie just north of Blue Cobblestone Beach. Great Lameshur Baylies at the bottom of the hill. Whether you stay in Cruz Bay or Coral Bay, you need to visit Maho Bay Beach. Virgin Islands Day Sailing: The best sailing/snorkeling trip ever! Haulover (North) - Some of the most dramatic underwater structure and corals on the island. We saw many schools of fish, numerous soft and hard coral outcroppings, a stingray, and gorgeous gigantic waving purple sea fans. Flamingo tongue snail at Little Lameshur Bay in St John USVI. Magen's Bay Beach (One Of The Most Beautiful) Another popular beach among tourists and locals is Magen's Bay Beach. Despite the damage, there are many opportunities to view diverse marine life, including coral, tropical fish, octopus, and sea turtles. Planning a trip to St John in the U.S. Virgin Islands? 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. Snorkeling off the eastern end of the beach and youll find a large table reef in 5 to 15 of water. A veritable octopuss garden dwells beneath the surface sheltering a parade of smiling, psychedelic parrotfish crunching away at the coral. The beach is rocky and there are often spiny sea urchins lurking in the shallow water at the shore, so step carefully. Bay. Snorkeling at Maho Bay Beach is one of the reasons people love this locations. Haulover (North) 2nd ed., Dive Guide BVI, 2010. The hills and holes on the sea floor are formed by eels, worms, shrimp, clams, and crabs that make their homes on this underwater beach. The area is protected as a UNESCO Biosphere Reserve and is rich with sea life. Terri Clemmons photos. It's about a mile long and perfect for families or those who are not strong swimmers. The award-winning resort has an onsite dive center with watersport rentals, snorkeling gear, and guided excursions. Its an amazing spot with plenty of fish and corals many that arent common in other places around St John. It was rated #15 of the Best Island Beaches in the World 2020 by readers of Conde Nast Traveler. The beach is narrow and lined with towering coconut palms and seagrape trees for shade. 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