Cinnamon Cay is located about 100 yards off the shore. There are many small reef fish in the area. The highlight here is the Cane Bay Wall, where the seafloor plummets from around 40 feet . I always wear a snorkel vest. Trunk Bay is one of the most beautiful beaches in the whole world. Every list of the Best St John Beaches includes the beautiful North Shore beaches! The beach is rocky and there are often spiny sea urchins lurking in the shallow water at the shore, so step carefully. On the north side of the point, there is asmall cave with an exit to the surface. This easily accessible, shallow-water snorkel can be thoroughly enjoyed by snorkelers of all experience levels. Salt Pond/Drunk Bay. 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. Looking for more snorkeling destinations? Fringed by coconut palms, full of gentle waves, easy to find, and full of coral reefs and other sea life, Maho is famous for a reason! All rights reserved. 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. The Best of St. John Where to Stay Hale Lani: This four-bedroom villa in Maria Bluff has unobstructed sea views from every room. 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. Best entry is in the center of the beach where the sandy bottom comes closest to the shoreline. We also saw a moon jellyfish, but it was easy to navigate around. There is a good deal of fire coral encrustation, but true hardcoral varieties are also plentiful. We snorkeled along the rocks on the right side of the beach as you face the water. Getting there is part of the fun. It's on the smaller side and is found near Trunk Bay Beach, which takes most of the tourists away from it. Located on St Johns East End at the edge of the Virgin Islands National Park youll find this snorkelers bucket-list worthy location. Known as The Indians, this area is a popular diving and snorkeling site with plentiful coral, fish, and other sea creatures. Located between Great Lameshur and Lameshur Bays, Yawzi Point has some of the best snorkeling on St John. This beach was part of our hike to Ram Head. With arguably the best shallow water snorkeling in all of the Virgin Islands youre sure to have a great experience. Best beach to snorkel on St John. Your email address will not be published. The seagrass beds that are about 30 yards off the beach are a great place to see sea turtles, rays, conch and tarpon. The NPS actually has a great map showing where the reefs are along the beaches. Planning a trip to St John in the U.S. Virgin Islands? I like to wear dive booties with my snorkeling fins to offer a little more protection. Follow East End Road beyond Coral Bay. The currents can be strong. These rocks are encrusted with mustard-yellowfire coral, which is very attractive but can give snorkelersa mild sting if touched. To get to it youll need to visit by charter or kayak tour. St John is the smallest of the 3 US Virgin Islands located in the Caribbean. 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! Trunk Bay Beach is worth it for the swimming but not the snorkeling! Honeymoon Beach (located next to Salomon Beach) is one of the most beautiful and popular beaches in Virgin Islands National Park on St. John. If youre lucky, you might also catch sight of some sea turtles. 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. There are more fish and coral on the calmer western side of the Cay (which is the left side as you face the water). Guests can enjoy white sand, towering palms, crystal clear water, the Underwater Snorkeling Trail, food, drink, showers/bathrooms and snorkel gear and chair rentals. It all depends on the winds and current. where is the best snorkeling when cruising the eastern caribbean? TRUNK BAY BEACH The bottom is cobblestone, and getting into thewater is almost as easy as from a sandy 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. Find the part where the sandy bottom meets the shore to allow for easier entry. The western part of Waterlemon Cay is where we saw the two nurse sharks relaxing at the bottom of the reef. It is advised to swim counter-clockwise around the Cay, but we swam clockwise without a problem. The beach is narrow and lined with towering coconut palms and seagrape trees for shade. Northwest of St John Island. Try to identify all the differentcolors of sponges found here. 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 . The best snorkeling is on the left side of Grootpan Bay as you face the water. Since the beach is rocky and there are many sea urchins, its a good idea to bring water shoes or snorkeling booties. These are some of the best places to snorkel in St. John, USVI. Explore the beautiful coral reefs by following along the popular underwater snorkel trail at Trunk Bay Beach to discover the stunning, colourful reefs up-close. Cinnamon Bay Beach is one of several gorgeous beaches located right off of North Shore Road. 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. Blue tang at Blue Cobblestone in St John USVI. Snorkeling out along the east side of the bay, you can reach the coral reefs that lie just north of Blue Cobblestone Beach. In the midst of all this activity, large schools of French grunts, oblivious to the drama around them, hover, almost motionless, over and around colorful live coral. These amenities include showers, foot rinses, food and beverage concessions, snorkel rentals, and more. For a full appreciation of this area, one should also have the ability to free dive in order to investigate the environments under ledges, beneath coral heads, and within caves and tunnels. Its possible to visit both sites in a single day. Cane Bay (St. Croix): One of the island's best diving and snorkeling sites is off this breezy, north-shore beach. Access is easy due to the shallow entry and sandy bottom. From the beach, you can see huge rock structures in the middle of the bay. Cinnamon Bay is known for its dramatic rock crevices that feature a wide variety of colorful corals. Looking forward to checking it out. Bring a dive light if you want to explore deeper into any of the caves, as it can get quite dark. Staff Pick for Best Snorkeling on St John, Site by Adagio Digital Arts | Powered by WordPress. This is where youll likely see large orange and yellow cushion starfish. Magen's Bay Beach (One Of The Most Beautiful) Another popular beach among tourists and locals is Magen's Bay Beach. All rights reserved. It has the best of both worlds when it comes to snorkeling with sandy shores and gorgeous natural reefs. Also, there is no shade along the dirt path and the beach. There are not many spots. Private charters are a great way to see numerous islands and snorkel in diverse places in a single day. 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. 2nd ed., Dive Guide BVI, 2010. The thin yellow tentacles protruding from the small bright orange cups make the corals look like flowers. Because of the way it is situated, Maho Bay is usually the calmest of the north shore beaches. Entry is easy with calm waters and a sandy bottom. Soft white sand, shallow water entry, beautiful aqua blue water, snorkeling and watersports make it the perfect St John beach destination! Trunk Bay Beach - One of the Globe's Best Description. The history of the land is rich and filled with unknown facts. In fact, Maho is our #1 recommendation for anybody that wants a chance to swim with a sea turtle on St John. Vibrant coral at Francis Bay in St John USVI, Snorkeling with turtles at Francis Bay in St John USVI. It was better than I was expecting. Whether you want to enjoy the North Shore's Trunk Bay, Cinnamon Bay, Maho Beach and Caneel Bay beaches or favor the solitude of a beach that's off the beaten path - like a "secret" beach, Lameshur, Haulover Bay and Salt Pond Bay - this guide has it all. On the Beehive Cove side of the point, the water gets deeper. Check out our list of the best islands for snorkeling. But the fact is that the top of the list is always Trunk Bay Beach, Cinnamon Bay Beach, Maho Bay Beach, Hawksnest Beach, Salomon Beach, Gibney Beach, Caneel Bay or Honeymoon Beach. The grass environment attracts rays, green turtles, starfish, and conch. Along the way youll see beautiful hard and soft corals and a large variety of Caribbean tropical fish. Last updated Jan 29, 2023 | Best Snorkeling Caribbean, St. John. Entry is not easy. Whether you want to enjoy the North Shore's Trunk Bay, Cinnamon Bay, Maho Beach and Caneel Bay beaches or favor the solitude of a beach that's off the beaten path - like a "secret" beach, Lameshur, Haulover Bay and Salt Pond Bay - this guide has it all. Ivette - Jul 21, 2018 - St John July 2018 We were in St John back in July of 2016 and the beauty of the island and reefs was wonderful. Guests can enjoy recently upgraded eco-tents or cottage accommodations; and wake up to the beauty of Cinnamon Bay each day! Also, expect much more snorkeling fins in your face because of the increased crowds. The local museum brings the best elements that can show you the history of the place. The water is mild and currents or strong waves are rare. 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. After a morning snorkel, visit Vies Snack Shack and pay the nominal fee she charges to access the sandy beach next to Hansen. To help differentiate between all of the St John snorkeling spots, I have created a rating system to help you decide which ones to try out. 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. Cinnamon Bay is the longest white sand beach on St John. The area boasts an incredible diversity of marine life, with plenty of opportunities to view conch, starfish, sea turtles, sea fans, blue tangs, bluehead wrasses, parrotfish, and more. Here, the environment is sand and coral rubble. Once in the water head straight for across the narrow channel. It's an iconic photo of the beach, the north shore of St. John, and the British Virgin Islands stretching out in the distance. 2022 adagio digital arts. From hidden coves to must-see reefs, these are the best snorkeling spots in St. John. A good family beach for snorkeling exists at Coki Point Beach on St. Thomas, while a more demanding site, requiring a 45min boat trip, can be located off the Cow and Calf Rocks. The island measures just 9 mi X 3 mi ( 28 sq mi ). One of the highlights was seeing a shoal (family) of squid along the rocks on the right side. There is also supposed to be excellent snorkeling on the eastern (right) side of the beach as you face the water, but we did not have time to snorkel there. The local government of St Vincent and Grenadines have declared that they should focus more on the culture and heritage of the land. Theres plenty of parking. More Info on Waterlemon Cay NOTE: There can be very strong currents on the outer edge of the Cay. Despite the damage, there are many opportunities to view diverse marine life, including coral, tropical fish, octopus, and sea turtles. Overall, I would rate St John USVI as a whole as 4/5 snorkels. There are many deep water crevices and canyons to explore. Among other cool stuff, Ive seen moray eels, turtles, nurse sharks, and squid. In some areas, exquisite corals and sponges of every color imaginable encrust the underwater rock faces. Check out our post about the best travel snorkel gear to find a quality snorkeling set that will fit in your suitcase. Can get a bit crowded but offers some nice snorkeling especially center of the bay. If you are looking for a secluded place where you can lay on the sugary sand to tan, dip into the turquoise waters of the Caribbean, or just enjoy some reading, then Salomon Bay is the place to be. Cane Bay is a popular snorkeling and scuba diving site on St. Croix's north shore. Its north east facing location can make conditions challenging. Once you arrive, proceed to the entrance and pay the nominal $5 fee per person. Right side of Cinnamon Bay Beach (this is the entry point to snorkeling out to the Cay). . Cinnamon Bay is also one of the few places to camp on St John. 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. Walk to the other end of the beach and start out onthe Ram Head Trail, which begins as a shoreline walk alongthe west side of the Ram Head Peninsula and take the trailas far as the Blue Cobblestone Beach. We saw a few turtles in the middle of the bay where the seagrass beds are located. We love snorkeling and purposely seek out all the top snorkeling destinations in the world. Watermelon Cay occasionally has strong currents, making this option best for more experienced snorkelers and confident swimmers. I would not attempt this road after a lot of rain. Bay. We saw patches of coral here and there with sporadic Caribbean fish sightings. Drive PAST the Greater Lameshur Bay to reach Little Lameshur Bay Beach. Out from the center of the beach, large beds of sea grass shelter sea turtles who dont mind company are easy to spot. You can park in the large lot located directly across from the eastern side of the beach. Located on the East End of St. Thomas, Secret Harbor Beach Resort offers prime snorkeling conditions right off of the hotel beach. If you try to park there, you will be trespassing across private property to get to the beach. Walk to the eastern end of the beach. Snorkeling off the eastern end of the beach and youll find a large table reef in 5 to 15 of water. There are also some patches of reef on both sides of the bay, but the right side of the beach (as you face the water) is supposed to be slightly better and better suited for advanced snorkelers. On St. John, Estate Lindholm is a top pick within Virgin Islands National Park. Keep an eye out for brain corals, seafans, gorgonians, Blue Bell Tunicate corals, and a large variety of tropical fish including French Angelfish, Yellowtail Snapper, Puddingwife Wrasse, Blueheaded Wrasse, Jeweled Damsels, Queen Triggerfish, Blue Runners and Beau Gregory Damsels. To reduce your risk of sunburn and damage from UV rays, wear a rash guard and other clothing with a UPF factor of at least 30 and use sunscreen on any exposed skin. Your mobile-friendly St John island guide to St John's beaches, snorkeling, maps and more. 10. The other option is to keep walking past the sandy beach to the far edge of the beach where the coastline becomes rocky again. The tropical inn is nestled among 18th-century Danish plantation ruins, overlooks Cruz Bay, and is just a short walk away from fantastic snorkeling at Honeymoon Beach and Caneel Bay. The eastern wall of the second room is encrusted with sponges and cup coral. Reply Subscribe . The snorkeling is great along the reef on the left side (as you face the water). Shutterstock Maho Bay But the trip is well worth it. Flamingo tongue snail at Little Lameshur Bay in St John USVI. You can swim from the sandy beach out to the Cay, which is quite a long swim. Ram Head Point protects the bayfrom winds and waves, leaving the reef in clear, calm water. When entering the shallow water, take care to avoid sea urchins and coral. 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. 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. A quick 5-minute walk and you are there! Great Lameshur Baylies at the bottom of the hill. Even if you're seeking a beach day, this is a phenomenal choice. I cannot emphasize enough about getting here early to avoid the peak crowds. *Links in this post contain Amazon and CJ affiliate links. St. John's Trunk Bay is unquestionably one of the best snorkeling beaches in the world. Maho Bay Quarter, St John's best beach. More info on Haulover North NOTE: Conditions at Haulover North depend on wind and waves. Check out my personal snorkeling gear picks below. 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. Youll also find bathrooms, RainTree Caf, watersports rentals and a souvenir shop. Haulover is a narrow, flat strip of land separating Coral Bay on the south from Sir Francis Drake Channel on the north. 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. And just like other St John beaches youll find white sand, palm trees, seagrapes for shade and some good shallow water snorkeling. Alternatively, there is limited parking right along the road itself. The satellite view was too cloudy, so I included this map instead. 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. Trunk Bay Virgin Islands National Park snorkeling trail and a lifeguards. Both beaches can be reached via the Lind Point Trail or from the Caneel Bay Resort. Leinster Bay is made up of two smaller bays, Waterlemon Bay on the east and Marys Creek on the west. Turtles, turtles, and more turtles! Healthy elkhorn coral is found at most of USVI's reefs. 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. Parking was plentiful, and we had no problem finding a space. Also . We will be in St. Thomas and St. Maarten. Use reef-safe sunscreen like my favorite called Colorscience Sunforgettable Total Protection Sport Stick. St Johns most popular, most photographed, and most visited beach is Trunk Bay. 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. As you swim through the series of caves, youll see schools of colorful tropical fish, pelicans, gulls, ferns, orange cup coral, and red sponges. Your best picks for snorkeling lie just beyond the shoreline to the right of the old Oppenheimer house a tiny cove is hidden around the bend. Soft white sand stretches in both directions while shallow waters provide newbie snorkelers the chance to get their sea legs. Porcupine fish at Little Lameshur Bay in St John USVI. The most popular ferries are out of Charlotte Amalie and Red Hook, St Thomas. 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. 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. 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. Salt Pond - Can get a bit crowded but offers . Beaches By Harlaxton7 Great snorkeling with lobster, tarpon, squid, sea turtles and a beautiful beach, great place at sunset. This is the closest entry point to get to Waterlemon Cay, which is the route we chose. Entry can be a little tricky due to the cobblestone beach, sargassum (seaweed), and sea urchins. 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. Its an amazing spot with plenty of fish and corals many that arent common in other places around St John. Youre likely to have this Caribbean paradise all to yourself as you snorkel and explore the crystal clear waters. #10 - Lovango Cay Virgin Islands . Here is a map of all 11 snorkeling sites we discovered during our 1-week exploration of St John USVI. St. John Virgin Islands: The Best Snorkeling and Top Beaches Francis Bay morning shade St. John, US Virgin Islands. The result is literal forests of gorgonians and sea fans, brain corals, fire coral and healthy populations of reef fish. As soon as we spotted him, he did not stick around for long and quickly swam away as we approached. While the name might imply that its only for lovers, Honeymoon Beach is a great beach for couples and families. This is the first and only sandy beach that you pass on the trail before arriving at the beautiful beach across from Waterlemon Cay. Parking spots fill up quickly, so get there early! We just returned from there again in July of 2018. 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. Ram Head hiking trail will lead to Blue Cobblestone Beach. Snorkeling at Trunk Bay Beach in St John USVI. Find the right mask for the shape of your face. Trunk Bay in St. John is one of the best Caribbean islands for snorkeling vacations. Unfortunately, I have not seen any without signs of coral bleaching, as evidenced by the white areas on the coral, so enjoy it while you can. A living aquarium waits just offshore, where vibrant coral reef swirls with a vivid palette of blue tang, damselfish, and sergeant majors. Because the island is surrounded by fragile coral reef, swimming too closely to it is not advised. Waterlemon Cay Best Beaches on St John - Northwest Shore St John has many amazing beaches, all perfect for enjoying a sunny beach day. 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. . The award-winning resort has an onsite dive center with watersport rentals, snorkeling gear, and guided excursions. All rights reserved. Consistently voted as the favourite beach on the island by visitors, Maho Bay Quarter sits tucked away on the northern side of the island. 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. Its also the only St John beach with a lifeguard . Brain coral, soft coral, and sea fans at Little Lameshur Bay in St John USVI. 2023 SeeStJohn.com | Sombrero Publishing Company PO Box 1031, St. John, VI 00831 |, Whether you stay in Cruz Bay or Coral Bay. Located just off Caneel Bay Resort youll see an 11 acre cay. TOP ST JOHN SNORKELING St John, is best know for its beautiful beaches and shallow water snorkeling. Brown Bay. Staff Pick for Best Snorkeling on St John! This is a long-ish section due to big changes this year. More info on Henley Cay NOTE: There can be very strong currents on the outer edge of the Cay. There are a lot of sea urchins! Our spacious catamaran takes your group of 4-12 people for a day of making memories. 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. Our 1-week exploration of St John beach destination out all the top snorkeling destinations in the water! Rays, green turtles, starfish, and getting into thewater is almost as easy from. Fans at Little Lameshur Bay in St John island guide to St John destination! Offer a Little tricky due to the entrance and pay the nominal 5! Its north east facing location can make conditions challenging reef, swimming closely! A single day we swam clockwise without a problem use reef-safe sunscreen like my called... 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