Snorkel out along the east coast toward the point. Entry can be a little tricky due to the cobblestone beach, sargassum (seaweed), and sea urchins. School of blue tang at Grootpan Bay in St John USVI, Gorgeous hard coral at Grootpan Bay in St John USVI. This easily accessible, shallow-water snorkel can be thoroughly enjoyed by snorkelers of all experience levels. Guide to the Best St. John Snorkeling Spots - Snorkel and Hike Looking for the best St. John snorkeling spots?? To the right facing the water, there is a formation of black rocks that separates Hawksnest Beach from Gibney Beach. Islands may receive financial compensation for products purchased through this site. There are many deep water crevices and canyons to explore. With crystal clear water, beautiful white sand, and little islands scattered around, you'll want to explore them all. 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. On busy days, it's best to take a taxi or bus. The island boasts over 3 dozen beaches to choose from and discover. Dont forget your waterproof snorkeling bag to keep your valuables safe. Trunk Bay Beach. There are patches of reef on both the right and left sides of the bay, but the right side (as you face the water) is supposed to be better. The thin yellow tentacles protruding from the small bright orange cups make the corals look like flowers. For more information about the benefits of wearing a snorkel vest and some recommended products, you can read our detailed snorkel vest article here. Be aware this area is subject to strong currents and winds, so use your judgment before proceeding into the water. The beach is rocky and there are often spiny sea urchins lurking in the shallow water at the shore, so step carefully. 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 Drive past the parking lot for Salt Pond Bay Beach and take your second left. Do not overestimate your swimming ability. Your email address will not be published. Snorkeling at Honeymoon Beach is best on the eastern and western ends of the beach. Entry is easy with calm waters and a sandy bottom. Here, the environment is sand and coral rubble. And you'll find wonderful snorkeling from most of the beaches! Be aware the far side of the Cay can have strong currents. (J. Robert Oppenheimer, creator of the atomic bomb, once owned the land.) Located just off Caneel Bay Resort youll see an 11 acre cay. Staff Pick Some of the most dramatic underwater structure and corals on the island. Green turtles, stingrays, and conch can be seen over the grassy areas, which make up most of the central portion of the bay. Henley Cay - Staff Pick for Best Snorkeling on St John - requires kayak or charter Haulover (North) - Some of the most dramatic underwater structure and corals on the island. The beach at Haulover North is mostly coral rubble. Ram Head hiking trail will lead to Blue Cobblestone Beach. St. John is the most natural of the islands and has numerous easy access snorkeling spots. There are busy ferry routes that connect St John to St Thomas, St Croix, Tortola and the BVIs. 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. Review of the best snorkeling at Trunk Bay in St John. Discover hand-curated maps, along with reviews and photos from nature lovers like you. Honeymoon Beach: Best for Luxury Mixed With Laid Back Vibes. Antigua's Long Bay is a great spot for boaters and water sports enthusiasts, but it's also a snorkeling paradise. You can park in the large lot located directly across from the eastern side of the beach. Entry is rocky and snorkelers should be aware of urchins. Where to snorkel at Little Lameshur Bay Beach. These rocks are encrusted with mustard-yellowfire coral, which is very attractive but can give snorkelersa mild sting if touched. The protected bay has calm, clear waters with ample opportunities to view parrotfish, sea turtles, manta rays, angelfish, barracuda, and porcupine puffers. I would highly advise wearing tennis shoes or water shoes since you are navigating over rocks and a dirt path. Located between Great Lameshur and Lameshur Bays, Yawzi Point has some of the best snorkeling on St John. We also saw a few stingrays. In addition, if you are up for a short hike to Little Cinnamon Beach, you can snorkel to a small plane wreckage but I heard it is not too impressive. Walk to the eastern end of the beach. St. John Virgin Islands: The Best Snorkeling and Top Beaches Francis Bay morning shade St. John, US Virgin Islands. 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. Theres plenty of parking. 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. document.getElementById( "ak_js_1" ).setAttribute( "value", ( new Date() ).getTime() ); Copyright 2023 Enriching Pursuits. This beach has many shaded areas and large areas of seagrass bed. The Virgin Islands have some of the best snorkeling in the Caribbean. Find out where to go snorkeling on your Virgin Islands vacation. 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. The southern side of Haulover Bay, St John, lies just off the side of Route 10. Every list of the Best St John Beaches includes the beautiful North Shore beaches! Soft starfish, red sea urchins, and bristle worms can be seen under the rocks in shallow areas. We snorkeled to the left (as you face the water) across the small bay to the larger patch reef. 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 ( Tektike Bay. This beautiful environment continues out and around the point. The colorful mango stand with the white picket fence on North Shore Road is the only indication that youve found Gibney Beach (yep, its that private). Snorkeling at Trunk Bay is best just off the center of the beach around Trunk Cay. While theyre nearly the same beach, the section known as Oppenheimer Beach is marked by wrought-iron gates. Entry is not easy. The worst is when a snorkelers fins hit you in the face because of their lack of awareness of what is around them. In fact, its so beautiful that cruise ship visitors to St Thomas will make the trek by taxi and ferry and taxi to spend a few hours enjoying everything that makes Trunk Bay famous! These factors make Maho Bay the perfect starting place for children and those just learning to snorkel. Snorkel in the middle of the bay (but more towards the right) to see turtles and rays hanging out in the seagrass. There is a small fringe forest of mangroves along the coast. Maho Bay offers a wonderful seagrass environment with plenty of sea turtles. Posts: 957 Likes: 0 Whether youre visiting the US Virgin Islands or the British Virgin Islands, there are plenty of spectacular snorkeling spots to choose from. Those are without a doubt the most popular beaches. Parrotfish and blue tang swim about grazing on algae. The Virgin Islands have some of the best snorkeling sites in the Caribbean. The beach is narrow and lined with towering coconut palms and seagrape trees for shade. We will be in St. Thomas and St. Maarten. Thalia, the owner of the land in front of the beach, very kindly upkeeps the beach through donations. Another one of the best spots for snorkeling in St. John is Salomon Bay. But the snorkeling is some of the best on the island. Parking is catch-as-catch-can along the left hand side. Here is a map of all 11 snorkeling sites we discovered during our 1-week exploration of St John USVI. St John island is one of the top Caribbean destinations for snorkeling. Please see the key below. Bring diluted baby shampoo to help keep your mask clear. 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! Some of Our Top Picks For Snorkeling On St John, USVI. My husband who has an amazing eagle eye even spotted a yellowline arrow crab. You'll find underwater signage that helps you identify the common fish and coral in front of you. Shutterstock This white sand beach, home to Pineapple Beach Club resort, has some of the best snorkeling on the east side of Antigua. Honeymoon Beach The best snorkeling is along the beachs rocky coastline on the right side and on the left near the docks. Protected under Virgin Islands National Coral Reef Monument, the underwater landscape . Trunk Bay is one of the most beautiful beaches in the whole world. A veritable octopuss garden dwells beneath the surface sheltering a parade of smiling, psychedelic parrotfish crunching away at the coral. I would not attempt this road after a lot of rain. Snorkeling at Cinnamon Bay has several options. St Johns most popular, most photographed, and most visited beach is Trunk Bay. On the north side of the point, there is asmall cave with an exit to the surface. Cane Bay at sunrise, St. Croix. There are more fish and coral on the calmer western side of the Cay (which is the left side as you face the water). By the way, if you are still in the planning process for your U.S. Virgin Island trip, read my travel guide on Where to Stay, Play, and Eat in St John. Easy access, shallow water, shade and a good chance youll see turtles, rays and lots of fish! Read on to find all the details of each snorkeling spot we visited. This top-notch snorkeling spot is easy to access. Its an amazing spot with plenty of fish and corals many that arent common in other places around St John. Love my. BEST SNORKELING FOR CHILDREN Maho Bay Easy access, shallow water, shade and a good chance you'll see turtles, rays and lots of fish! Haulover Bay (St. John): A favorite with locals, this small bay is rougher than Leinster, with a pebbly beach. Its shallow over the top of the reef but deep enough for experienced and confident snorkelers to negotiate safely. Cinnamon Bay is also one of the few places to camp on St John. 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. While the name might imply that its only for lovers, Honeymoon Beach is a great beach for couples and families. 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. From the Salt Pond Bay Parking lot, take the short trail downto the bay. Entering is a bit rocky. This makes people coming from northern climates especially susceptible to the strong Caribbean sun. 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. 1. The best St John snorkeling places list must include Maho Bay. Trunk Bay is the most famous beach in Virgin Islands National Park, often listed among the most beautiful beaches in the world. Near the left side of the reef, you can find a vibrant pillar coral that always seems to be a big attraction for colorful little fish. Trunk Bay But its a fun sight in 8 or less of shallow water. Located on the East End of St. Thomas, Secret Harbor Beach Resort offers prime snorkeling conditions right off of the hotel beach. St John island is a tiny island in the US Virgin Islands in the Caribbean Sea, with some of the most beautiful beaches in the world. Private Full or Half Day Catamaran Snorkel, & Beach Experience; Private Luxury Catamaran Yacht. If youre lucky, you might also catch sight of some sea turtles. Food trucks are also parked all over the Beach. Overall, I would rate St John USVI as a whole as 4/5 snorkels. Best beach to snorkel on St John. 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. Park on your left at the bottom of the hill. Whether you stay in Cruz Bay or Coral Bay, you need to visit Maho Bay Beach. 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. If you are looking to piece together all that St John has to offer, check out my ultimate itinerary below. Snorkel vests are personal flotation devices that make it simple to float at the waters surface and view the marine life below. Its a Must-See on many visitors STJ Bucket List. St John is the smallest of the 3 US Virgin Islands located in the Caribbean. 2/3 of the island and surrounding reefs are protected by the US Virgin Islands National Park [ VINP ]. Blue tang at Blue Cobblestone in St John USVI. Enter the water at the north end of the beach near the largeblack rocks. 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. Jumbie Bay Beach. Even if you're seeking a beach day, this is a phenomenal choice. 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. 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