Right side of Cinnamon Bay Beach (this is the entry point to snorkeling out to the Cay). Getting there is part of the fun. . Here, the environment is sand and coral rubble. 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. 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. Great to know. Snorkeling off the eastern end of the beach and youll find a large table reef in 5 to 15 of water. Access is easy due to the sandy bottom and shallow, calm entry. 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. Do not overestimate your swimming ability. There is also more current, so you need to be a strong swimmer. Some animal species you might see in the area are French angelfish, queen angel, and permits. 1. You can relax in a hammock on the white sand beach and snorkel close to shore or rent kayaks and stand up paddleboards and paddle to nearby Caneel Bay Beach, Henley Cay, or Hawksnest Beach. Commonly seen tropical fish on the reef are tang, snapper, grunts, parrotfish, and angelfish. 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. Where to Stay in St. John If you're not sailing in for the day from a cruise ship, consider staying in St. John for a holiday. Coki Beach. 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. document.getElementById( "ak_js_1" ).setAttribute( "value", ( new Date() ).getTime() ); Copyright 2023 Enriching Pursuits. This is the first and only sandy beach that you pass on the trail before arriving at the beautiful beach across from Waterlemon Cay. Always snorkel with a buddy and never exceed your physical ability or experience. This little beach gets LOTS OF SUN and doesn't afford much protection. Snorkeling in Hurricane Hole is a MUST do on any trip to St. John. Snorkeling the Mangroves. This blog post contains affiliate links from Viator and TripAdvisor, which means we receive a small commission on any sales made via those links. Enter the water at the north end of the beach near the largeblack rocks. Park on your left at the bottom of the hill. The Guide to Diving and Snorkeling in the British Virgin Islands. The most popular ferries are out of Charlotte Amalie and Red Hook, St Thomas. Many products featured on this site were editorially chosen. Cinnamon Bay is known for its dramatic rock crevices that feature a wide variety of colorful corals. While the name might imply that its only for lovers, Honeymoon Beach is a great beach for couples and families. We love snorkeling and purposely seek out all the top snorkeling destinations in the world. It's on the smaller side and is found near Trunk Bay Beach, which takes most of the tourists away from it. Can get a bit crowded but offers some nice snorkeling especially center of the bay. Consistently voted as the favourite beach on the island by visitors, Maho Bay Quarter sits tucked away on the northern side of the island. It's a top spot to go snorkeling in St John from the beach. But the trip is well worth it. Thanks so much for sharing! Although we did not see any turtles and stingrays, they are often spotted due to the presence of seagrass beds. My husband who has an amazing eagle eye even spotted a yellowline arrow crab. St. John's Trunk Bay is unquestionably one of the best snorkeling beaches in the world. All recommendations are on items I love and feel will deliver value to you! The island boasts over 3 dozen beaches to choose from and discover. I was not expecting much, but there was quite a bit of beautiful coral and Caribbean fish. Brewers Bay. Some of Our Top Picks For Snorkeling On St John, USVI. Getting to Grootpan Bay Beach is an adventure and can be confusing if you do not know where you are going ahead of time. #10 - Lovango Cay Virgin Islands . 4. Like many areas in the Virgin Islands, Smugglers Cove is still recovering from hurricanes Maria and Irma. The U.S. Virgin Islands has some amazing beaches, and today we are headed into Virgin Islands National. Your email address will not be published. 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. We saw many schools of fish, numerous soft and hard coral outcroppings, a stingray, and gorgeous gigantic waving purple sea fans. 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. Some, like Francis, are best if you swim . At the end of the road at the split, take a left. If you try to park there, you will be trespassing across private property to get to the beach. Brightly-colored coral at Salt Pond Bay in St John USVI. The name says it all out of the way; but has a small water sports shack! There are busy ferry routes that connect St John to St Thomas, St Croix, Tortola and the BVIs. 2022 adagio digital arts. All rights reserved. The NPS actually has a great map showing where the reefs are along the beaches. To reach the northwestern section of Haulover Bay, take the trail on the other (north) side of the road. The liveliest underwater activity happens to the east among the rocks on the way to Maho Point. There is a large parking lot, but it fills up quickly. The seagrass beds that are about 30 yards off the beach are a great place to see sea turtles, rays, conch and tarpon. It is located right off of North Shore Road. Check out our list of the best islands for snorkeling. The reefs are destroyed but there are plenty of fish and at Maho you can't snorkel without seeing a few turtles. The area is protected as a UNESCO Biosphere Reserve and is rich with sea life. The name Haulover came about because it was often easier to just haul small boats over this stretch of land than to make the long sail around East End, notorious for strong currents, gusty winds, and rough seas. Once I was properly fitted with the correct snorkeling gear that actually fit my face and feet, a whole new underwater world opened up to me. The bottom is cobblestone, and getting into thewater is almost as easy as from a sandy beach. Posts: 957 Likes: 0 Trunk Bay is one of the most beautiful beaches in the whole world. Before our trip, I researched a ton trying to find all the top St John snorkeling spots. 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. 2022 2. Snorkeling at Honeymoon Beach is best on the eastern and western ends of the beach. Located at the southern end of the British Virgin Islands, Norman Island allegedly inspired Robert Louis Stevensons famous pirate novel Treasure Island. 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. 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. . Its arguably the most beautiful beach on St John; if not all of the Caribbean! Best beach to snorkel on St John. We saw several turtles in the seagrass beds. Lush v. The water is mild and currents or strong waves are rare. . Trunk Bay has it all. One of the best snorkeling spots on St John. The southern bay is calmer than its counterpart in the north, has an easier entry, and is more suitable for beginners and intermediate snorkelers. The grass environment attracts rays, green turtles, starfish, and conch. That is a long swim though, and the current can be strong. Park on the south side of the road alongside the small sand and coral rubble beach. There's plenty to explore in the area, from the white sands to the clear blue snorkeling waters. 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. There are a lot of rocks to navigate over and sea urchins to avoid. 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. 14.1K subscribers In this video, we go out in search of the best snorkeling in St. John. Blue tang at Blue Cobblestone in St John USVI. But the snorkeling is some of the best on the island. 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). In fact, Hurricane Hole has been my favorite snorkel spot in the US Virgin Islands since moving here! Your mobile-friendly St John island guide to St John's beaches, snorkeling, maps and more. Deserves its designation as the most popular snorkeling destination on St John. Snorkeling at Maho Bay Beach is one of the reasons people love this locations. These factors make Maho Bay the perfect starting place for children and those just learning to snorkel. Put in Annaberg Sugar Plantation in GoogleMaps. 2. 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. Dont forget your waterproof snorkeling bag to keep your valuables safe. Along the shoreline that connects to Caneel Bay youll find huge schools of Sergeant Major Damsels, wrasse, French Angelfish, sea turtles, rays and a wide variety of hard and soft corals. Trunk Bay is a long stretch of white sand with a rock island just off the shore. Wear proper footwear. The bonus is that these spots do not require a boat to reach. It is located off of East End Road just past Haulover Bay on the right. Private charters are a great way to see numerous islands and snorkel in diverse places in a single day. Your email address will not be published. We saw patches of coral and beautiful tropical fish as we snorkeled on the right side of the bay. Theres plenty of parking. Waterlemon Cay Being one of the first beaches along North Shore Road, it's just a quick taxi ride away from Cruz Bay. 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. 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 . And sea urchins to avoid John from the beach saw many schools of,! 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