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. Sergeant major and school of French grunt fish at Cinnamon Bay in St John USVI. Located just off Caneel Bay Resort youll see an 11 acre cay. Because it is off-the-beaten-path, this beach does not appear to get much use. 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). , Skincare Chemicals and Coral Reefs. National Ocean Service, https://oceanservice.noaa.gov/news/sunscreen-corals.html. Salt Pond/Drunk Bay. We would like to snorkel off the beach and not have to go out in a boat. 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). Blue tang at Blue Cobblestone in St John USVI. Swim out just past where the motorboats are tied up to find rope sponges, vase sponges and eel grass. You can choose from various beach, snorkeling, and diving packages or book accommodation only. The worst is when a snorkelers fins hit you in the face because of their lack of awareness of what is around them. Outdoor Activities Nature and Wildlife Tours On the Ground On the Water Boat Rentals Kayaking Tours Sailing The most popular ferries are out of Charlotte Amalie and Red Hook, St Thomas. Copyright 2023 Islands. Follow East End Road beyond Coral Bay. 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. The best snorkeling in St John, USVI can be discovered at beautiful Trunk Bay, part of the Virgin Islands National Park. The dominant species of coral found in the shallow top reef are colonies of star and boulder coral. Beginning in the parking area for Annaberg Plantation enjoy an almost 1.0 mi flat hike along Leinster Bay to reach Waterlemon Cay. No hike required. 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. A beautiful beach with an underwater snorkeling trail! This is the closest entry point to get to Waterlemon Cay, which is the route we chose. 1. You can find all kinds of entertainment while you're exploring Coki Beach. There are many amenities, including a bar, restaurant, watersport rentals, dive shop, chairs, umbrellas, and more. There are a lot of sea urchins! The rocky north coast on the right-hand side of the beach offers excellent snorkeling, especially during the summer months when large schools of fry congregate close to shore. The NPS actually has a great map showing where the reefs are along the beaches. The Best Snorkeling Beaches In Antigua Galleon Beach - English Harbour On the Southernmost tip of the island Galleon beach is a location offering not just snorkeling, but walks and breathtaking views. Youll also find bathrooms, RainTree Caf, watersports rentals and a souvenir shop. Haulover (North) 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. Maho is the best bay on St. John for observing the inhabitants of this important environment, including rays, conch, and starfish, in a calm environment. Snorkeling the western edge towards Peter Bay the corals and patch reef are thin. Coki Beach, or Coki Point, is one of the most popular beaches on the island thanks to its calm waters, convenient amenities, and classic Caribbean views. However, if youre looking for a quiet getaway, Coki Beach is not it. Snorkeling is best on calm days when there is good visibility underwater. There can be a moderate current here which sets to the west, as well as the possibility of a strong breeze blowing in the same direction. Bring a hat, wear a sun shirt and sunscreen, and bring plenty of water. Parking is plentiful by St John standards with marked parking areas by the pavillion and a larger lot at the eastern end of the beach. Whether youre visiting the US Virgin Islands or the British Virgin Islands, there are plenty of spectacular snorkeling spots to choose from. 1. Protected under Virgin Islands National Coral Reef Monument, the underwater landscape . 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 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 US Virgin Islands are famous for their beaches, and Salomon Bay Beach is considered one of the gems on St. John's island.. Haulover Bay (St. John): A favorite with locals, this small bay is rougher than Leinster, with a pebbly beach. Maho Bay offers a chance to swim with sea turtles. 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 name says it all out of the way; but has a small water sports shack! 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. The access to the water is not easy but not hard. Know your surroundings (currents, wind, where your buddy is, etc.). Stay in areas protected by swim buoys to minimize danger from dinghy traffic in the area. Snorkel around the point to Kiddel Bay but only if you are a confident swimmer. Care should be taken not to kick the coral with your fins. There is a good deal of fire coral encrustation, but true hardcoral varieties are also plentiful. 2023 SeeStJohn.com | Sombrero Publishing Company PO Box 1031, St. John, VI 00831 |, Whether you stay in Cruz Bay or Coral Bay. Find out where to go snorkeling on your Virgin Islands vacation. Neltjeberg Bay. Visitors will argue about which one is their favorite. The Most Popular and Most Photographed Beach on St John! 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. We have seen everything from squid to barracuda to stingrays to various small tropical fish in this bay. #10 - Lovango Cay Virgin Islands . The southern side of Haulover Bay, St John, lies just off the side of Route 10. 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. You can swim from the sandy beach out to the Cay, which is quite a long swim. Snorkeling the waters of St. John, U.S. Virgin Islands, is one of the most rewarding and exciting things to do on St. John. Be aware this area is subject to strong currents and winds, so use your judgment before proceeding into the water. The grass environment attracts rays, green turtles, starfish, and conch. 2022 2. There is a little bit of a pebbly transition right at the shoreline. . Face the Crowds at St John's Most Famous Beach Trunk Bay Beach Trunk Bay is the most famous beach in St John USVI, and you will quickly see why. If you are, snorkeling on this beautiful island is a MUST-DO! I like to wear dive booties with my snorkeling fins to offer a little more protection. The waves can be rough. Smugglers Cove is located on the west end of Tortola, and you can get there by boat, taxi shuttle, or car. The snorkeling in St John USVI surprised me. Really good snorkeling is just off the start of the path to watermelon cave, just past the road. Do not overestimate your swimming ability. To the right facing the water, there is a formation of black rocks that separates Hawksnest Beach from Gibney Beach. As you face the water, snorkel to the left out to Yawzi Point. These are some of the best places to snorkel in St. John, USVI. My mask would fog, and I would get a bunch of water in my snorkel. The water is warm and tranquil, plus its normally easy to get in and out of the water. We went twice to Salt Pond Bay: once around 9:30 am (only 1 other car there) and once around 12 pm (the parking lot was full and we had to wait for a spot to open up). Great Lameshur Baylies at the bottom of the hill. Green turtles, stingrays, and conch can be seen over the grassy areas, which make up most of the central portion of the bay. There are many deep water crevices and canyons to explore. Snorkeling at Honeymoon Beach is best on the eastern and western ends of the beach. 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! Best Beaches on St John - Northwest Shore St John has many amazing beaches, all perfect for enjoying a sunny beach day. . Whether youre heading to St. Thomas, St. Croix, or Tortola, youre sure to find stunning places to enjoy this exciting underwater activity. Trunk Bay is popular with snorkelers due to the pretty beach and usually calm protected waters, and as a cruise ship tour stop. Use reef-safe sunscreen like my favorite called Colorscience Sunforgettable Total Protection Sport Stick. 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! The best snorkeling is on the western side of the bay (left side of the bay as you face the water). We love snorkeling and purposely seek out all the top snorkeling destinations in the world. St. John's longest beach also makes it to the list of the best snorkeling destinations. This is another beach where you can spot sea turtles. Brightly-colored coral at Salt Pond Bay in St John USVI. My husband who has an amazing eagle eye even spotted a yellowline arrow crab. We saw a few turtles in the middle of the bay where the seagrass beds are located. Snorkeling in 5 to 15 of water youll discover beautiful rocky patch reefs covered in corals. Because of the calm, shallow water, Smugglers Cove is a great snorkeling site for beginners. I could spend hours swimming with these adorable guys. Both beaches can be reached via the Lind Point Trail or from the Caneel Bay Resort. Cinnamon Cay is located about 100 yards off the shore. Put in Annaberg Sugar Plantation in GoogleMaps. The U.S. Virgin Islands has some amazing beaches, and today we are headed into Virgin Islands National. This little beach gets LOTS OF SUN and doesn't afford much protection. Best St. John beaches to visit Best Beaches in St. John Salomon Bay. Park near the big tamarindtree at the entrance to this large cobblestone beach. All recommendations are on items I love and feel will deliver value to you! Youll find directions to each location along with an informative snorkeling report, St John beach map and local tips so you can decide which spots are right for you; and where to stay on St John. 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. Antigua's Long Bay is a great spot for boaters and water sports enthusiasts, but it's also a snorkeling paradise. The island of St John is best known as home to Virgin Islands National Park, beautiful beaches, long hiking trails, scrumptious food, and historical places.The coast around the island has been designated as Virgin Islands Coral Reef National Monument, so snorkeling is one of the best activities and you can find great opportunities at any beach.. You can also go kayaking, boating, or explore . Your mobile-friendly St John island guide to St John's beaches, snorkeling, maps and more. Bring diluted baby shampoo to help keep your mask clear. After a morning snorkel, visit Vies Snack Shack and pay the nominal fee she charges to access the sandy beach next to Hansen. Please be careful as you navigate into the water. Snorkeling at Maho Bay Beach is one of the reasons people love this locations. Those are without a doubt the most popular beaches. This is yet another very accessible St John USVI beach. Here is a map of all 11 snorkeling sites we discovered during our 1-week exploration of St John USVI. Take Salt PondRoad (Route 107) past Salt Pond Bay. The water is sandy bottom and shallow making it a great spot for younger kids and parents with floats. From hidden coves to must-see reefs, these are the best snorkeling spots in St. John. 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. The Best of St. John Where to Stay Hale Lani: This four-bedroom villa in Maria Bluff has unobstructed sea views from every room. 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. Those are just examples, nearly all of the beaches have close snorkeling. 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. Trunk Bay 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 area often gets crowded and is known for being rowdy. That aforementioned place is also one of the best spots for buying souvenirs because of the beach shop there. This is where youll likely see large orange and yellow cushion starfish. Jumbie Bay Beach. The Tektite snorkel is one of the absolute best snorkeling spotson St. John, and contrary to popular belief, itcan be accessed by land with relative ease. If you are coming from Coral Bay on Centerline Road, take a left on Route 107 and follow it down PAST Concordia. Best beach to snorkel on St John. Deserves its designation as the most popular snorkeling destination on St John. (J. Robert Oppenheimer, creator of the atomic bomb, once owned the land.) The best snorkeling is on the right side along the rocks as you face the water. The beach at Haulover North is mostly coral rubble. Whether you stay in Cruz Bay or Coral Bay, you need to visit Maho Bay Beach. To reach the northwestern section of Haulover Bay, take the trail on the other (north) side of the road. 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