You first need to hike to Salt Pond Beach, and then on to Drunk Bay. Despite damage from the 2017 hurricanes, Buck Islands coral reef continues to be one of the best in the Caribbean, with elkhorn coral reaching heights of up to 30 feet.1. 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. The western part of Waterlemon Cay is where we saw the two nurse sharks relaxing at the bottom of the reef. Theres a beautiful reef located just about in the center of Salt Pond Bay, where two sets of rocks rise above the surface of the water. More info on Henley Cay NOTE: There can be very strong currents on the outer edge of the Cay. 99.9% of travelers come to St John by boat ! 20-30 minutes. Required fields are marked *. The best snorkeling is on the western side of the bay (left side of the bay as you face the water). 2. 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. The only sign of civilization . Care should be taken not to kick the coral with your fins. Sergeant major and school of French grunt fish at Cinnamon Bay in St John USVI. Corals tend to be hard corals like maze brain corals, fire coral, mustard coral, staghorn coral and Pillar corals. Several varieties of hard coral, including star, brain, elkhorn, staghorn, and pillar coral, can be found here as well as gorgonians, such as sea fans, sea plumes, and dead mans fingers. 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. 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. 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 white sand is super soft, and the waters are a mesmerizing aquamarine color. Using the offline map, you should be able to continue to navigate your way over to Grootpan. You can find all kinds of entertainment while you're exploring Coki Beach. With soft sand and a shallow entry, entry is easy and straight forward. Commonly seen tropical fish on the reef are tang, snapper, grunts, parrotfish, and angelfish. Easy access, shallow water, shade and a good chance youll see turtles, rays and lots of fish! Although reputable rental companies and tour operators clean and sanitize gear between uses, bringing your own allows you to snorkel without worrying about the equipments cleanliness. Also . 1. You will have to walk over the pebbly beach and avoid the sporadic sea urchins as you launch off into the water. Alternatively, there is limited parking right along the road itself. This is yet another very accessible St John USVI beach. The Caves are accessible only by boat, so youll need to book a private charter or guided tour or visit with your own vessel. A quarter-mile hike androck scramble along the western shore of Cabritte Horn Pointwill take you to a remote and isolated coral rubble and sandbeach called Donkey Bight. Along the way youll see beautiful hard and soft corals and a large variety of Caribbean tropical fish. Thank you for your support. Magen's Bay Beach (One Of The Most Beautiful) Another popular beach among tourists and locals is Magen's Bay Beach. Off-the-beaten-path location with a beautiful beach, food and some of the best snorkeling. When youve had your fill of music, stuffed French toast, and spicy Bloody Marys, head to Lameshur Beach. Because there is low light within the room, some of the coral animals may have their tentacles extended as if it were night on the reef. Along the shoreline that connects to Caneel Bay you'll find huge schools of Sergeant Major Damsels, wrasse, French Angelfish, sea turtles, rays and a wide variety of hard and soft corals. The most popular ferries are out of Charlotte Amalie and Red Hook, St Thomas. 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. Youll also find bathrooms, RainTree Caf, watersports rentals and a souvenir shop. 14.1K subscribers In this video, we go out in search of the best snorkeling in St. John. 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 Blue Cobblestone Beach offers the opportunity toexplore an underwater environment that usually occurs furtheroffshore and in deeper waters. There is also plenty of colorful coral. When we first visited, we accidentally drove into the Concordia Resort. There are boats that dock in the bay, so it can be dangerous if you try to navigate around them. . where is the best snorkeling when cruising the eastern caribbean? 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. The marine life is incredible. You might also see Nurse sharks ( non threatening / shy ) and some gems like black and white geometric tunicates and blue encrusting coral. The bonus is that these spots do not require a boat to reach. Join Date: Oct 2004. Theres plenty of parking. . The worst is when a snorkelers fins hit you in the face because of their lack of awareness of what is around them. Cinnamon Bay 1,205 Beaches By ElizabethG393 All rights reserved. Park on your left at the bottom of the hill. The best St John snorkeling places list must include Maho Bay. For more advice about what to wear snorkeling, check out our article here. Getting there is part of the fun. Trunk Bay Beach - One of the Globe's Best Description. There is also great snorkeling along the first set of jagged rocks out in the middle. Answer 1 of 14: Which Caribbean resort has the best right-off-the-resort beach snorkeling? In addition to snorkeling, swimming, and diving, visitors can hike along the islands scenic walking trails or relax on the gorgeous white sand beach. 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. 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. You will come to several splits in the poorly maintained road. Coral Bay, St. John USVI - A Snorkeling Paradise By Terri Clemmons Concordia Cafe Open Mic Night on Mondays from 4:30-6:30 on the East End. Find out where to go snorkeling on your Virgin Islands vacation. It's a top spot to go snorkeling in St John from the beach. Yawzi Point Snorkeling at Honeymoon Beach is best on the eastern and western ends of the beach. Most of the reef lies in calm shallow water, with some sections even rising above the surface at times of extreme low tides. For some reason, this beautiful beach always rewards me with something exciting. That is why you will get to see some of the best spots. Some, like Francis, are best if you swim . In some areas, exquisite corals and sponges of every color imaginable encrust the underwater rock faces. One point of interest is the sunken plane wreckage just off of Little Cinnamon Beach. We went around 9 am and had no problem. From the beach, you can see huge rock structures in the middle of the bay. The reef rises up close to the surface near the shore and then slopes down to a depth of about thirty feet. There's a $5 entrance fee but this beach has all of the amenities you could need including showers, restrooms, a snack bar, and gear rentals (snorkels and chairs). A quick 5-minute walk and you are there! Known as The Indians, this area is a popular diving and snorkeling site with plentiful coral, fish, and other sea creatures. Just off the center of the beach is a good spot to see a sea turtle. - See 478 traveler reviews, 98 candid photos, and great deals for St. Thomas, at Tripadvisor. 1. Bay. Salt Pond I like to wear dive booties with my snorkeling fins to offer a little more protection. While theyre nearly the same beach, the section known as Oppenheimer Beach is marked by wrought-iron gates. Rebecca lives next to the Adriatic Sea in Croatia, where she guides kayaking, stand up paddleboarding, and snorkeling tours. Here, the environment is sand and coral rubble. Distance: 1.1 miles out and back; Approx. Access is easy due to the shallow entry and sandy bottom. Snorkeling out along the east side of the bay, you can reach the coral reefs that lie just north of Blue Cobblestone Beach. Best Beaches on St John - Northwest Shore St John has many amazing beaches, all perfect for enjoying a sunny beach day. .5 mi EW, or take a taxi to Caneel and ride the Honeymoon Beach Huts golf cart to Honeymoon Beach. Enter the water over a shallow area of coral rubble. The Best of St. John Where to Stay Hale Lani: This four-bedroom villa in Maria Bluff has unobstructed sea views from every room. We enjoyed excellent snorkeling around this cay. We were glad we decided to rent a Jeep! The best snorkeling area can be found as you approach Beehive Cove, as everything becomes more colorful. And along the western end towards Salomon Beach youll find a patch reef with hard and soft corals and colorful fish. 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. Love my Ugo! A few with the closest to shore are Hawksnest, Trunk (right side of the shore and around the cay) and Salt Pond. There are a lot of rocks to navigate over and sea urchins to avoid. The waves can be rough. These factors make Maho Bay the perfect starting place for children and those just learning to snorkel. 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. Planning a trip to St John in the U.S. Virgin Islands? 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. 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. Coki Beach is one of the most popular snorkeling spots in St. Thomas. 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. Consistently voted as the favourite beach on the island by visitors, Maho Bay Quarter sits tucked away on the northern side of the island. 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. I love to snorkel but. The water is mild and currents or strong waves are rare. We've selected eight of the best snorkeling sites and have included some tips to help you plan your snorkeling adventure. Those are just examples, nearly all of the beaches have close snorkeling. 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! Trunk Bay Youll also find plenty of reef fish, corals, sea fans, and sponges. The reef on the east end of Honeymoon Beach, around the point between Caneel Bays, is also a good snorkeling area. The hike to Salt Pond Beach is fairly short, being about .8 miles. My mask would fog, and I would get a bunch of water in my snorkel. Lush v. Make sure you do NOT end up in Kiddel Bay. There was plenty of parking when we went. 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. 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 . Cinnamon Bay Beach is one of several gorgeous beaches located right off of North Shore Road. We will be in St. Thomas and St. Maarten. What I loved about snorkeling in St John was that all of our snorkeling spots could be accessed from the beach. All recommendations are on items I love and feel will deliver value to you! From hidden coves to must-see reefs, these are the best snorkeling spots in St. John. Soft white sand, shallow water entry, beautiful aqua blue water, snorkeling and watersports make it the perfect St John beach destination! The island measures just 9 mi X 3 mi ( 28 sq mi ). 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. 2/3 of the island and surrounding reefs are protected by the US Virgin Islands National Park [ VINP ]. The coral reef here is in relatively good condition, and the reef community is colorful and diverse. A short walk later, and you will be witness to one of the most beautiful island beaches in the world! 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. We saw many schools of fish, numerous soft and hard coral outcroppings, a stingray, and gorgeous gigantic waving purple sea fans. There is a large parking lot, but it fills up quickly. 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best snorkeling beaches st john
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