Large sea fans and gorgonians waving in the current surrounded by mustard corals and brain coral and fire corals. Related: Snorkeling in St. ThomasSt. There are numerous small fishing boats moored at this beach which adds to the view but can take away from swimming and snorkeling. For more information read our disclaimer here. Hawksnest Beach is a great place to experience the sea. Since then , she is traveling all over the world to discover our waters. Hansen Bay Entry: BoatAccess: Boat Tour or CharterFacilities: Pizza Pi Pizza BoatLook Out For: Rough Open Water at Cow and Calf and The Stragglers. Its seems to be a local favorite, and is not frequented by cruisers. On especially windy days, the area around the reef can have large breakers that really toss you around. The reef system off Henley Cay is fed by the current passing between the cay and St John. Waterlemon Cay The island measures just 9 mi X 3 mi ( 28 sq mi ). Cinnamon Bay: If youre looking for a longer stretch of sand with all of the amenities, Cinnamon is hard to beat. As you swim out a bit further, youll find a beautiful and long reef. Because of the hike, Salomon isnt usually very crowded. Secret Harbor is part of the St. Thomas East End Reserve. As you head down a steep hill youll see a sign notifying you youre leaving the VINP. 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! Read More. Heres my two cents on snorkeling here: The markers were interesting to read but honestly the snorkeling didnt get good until after the trail was over. Most people visiting St. John will stay in a vacation rental and drive to different beaches everyday. As always, I recommend you check in with the dive shop for recent tips on where to snorkel and what marine life has been seen lately. So here you go, ourTop 5 Beaches for Snorkelingon St. Thomas. 12 Hawaiian Fish With Pictures You Will See While snorkeling, Best Underwater Puzzles for Kids and Adults, 15 travel essentials that have to be on your beach vacation packing list, The best ways to reduce plastic usage at home and when you travel, These are the most effective mosquito repellents for traveling to tropical places, Snorkeling in Cozumel When to visit & Best spots to go, Cenote snorkeling in Tulum Best 3 spots to visit, Aruba shipwreck snorkeling SS Antilla, Baboo and Kappel wrecks, Aruba snorkeling guide Best spots to visit, 7 Best Beaches To Go Snorkeling With Turtles In Aruba, Blue Heron Bridge snorkeling guide Phil Foster Park Florida, Peanut Island snorkeling A must do in West Palm Beach. Protect your phone with a Samsung S22 waterproof case and take photos in all weather conditions, even underwater! 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. Trunk Bay is a must-visit site for those who want a memorable snorkeling experience. The small yet enthusiastic team consists of snorkeling experts who are licensed scuba divers as well as freedivers and have more than 10 years of experience in traveling to the worlds best snorkeling and diving destinations. Entry:BoatAccess:Boat Tour or Boat CharterFacilities:Many tours offer rentals, snacks and drinksLook Out For: These can book up in advance, so make sure to plan ahead if this is on your bucket list! Complete guide to go snorkeling in St John US Virgin Islands, Best spots for snorkeling in St John US Virgin Islands, Snorkeling in St John since Hurricane Irma and Maria, Complete guide to go snorkeling in St Thomas US Virgin Islands, Best 10 St Croix Snorkeling Beaches Guide, Harmful Ingredients In Sunscreen Ocean Safe Sun Care Products Guide, UV Protection How to avoid sunburn while snorkeling, Best waterproof case for Samsung S22, S22Plus and S22Ultra Galaxy, Best iPhone 13 Mini/Pro/Pro Max Waterproof Cases, Best waterproof case for Samsung S21, S21Plus and S21Ultra Galaxy, Best waterproof case for Samsung S20, S20Plus and S20Ultra Galaxy, Full face snorkel mask dangerous? Its more remote than other beaches but venturing here means youll be rewarded with lots of wildlife sightings and an amazing aquatic experience. This quiet and scenic place is part of the Virgin Islands National Park. Kenny Chesney Virgin Islands Guide: All of the Spots from the Songs, Virgin Islands Itinerary: How I Spent 2 Weeks Island Hopping the USVI & BVI, 14 Things to Do on Jost van Dyke (+ the Best Beach Bars), Visiting the Virgin Gorda Baths (+ a Few Other Places), Things to Do on Anegada (the BVIs Least Visited Island), Glamping on Anegada, British Virgin Islands. Are you ready to dive? The name says it all out of the way; but has a small water sports shack! Entry: BeachAccess: Free Street ParkingFacilities: Restrooms, Outdoor Showers, Food TrucksLook Out For: Sea Turtles and Airplanes. Its the right thing to do to keep turtles safe in their environment, and its against the law to harass or touch sea turtles. Once in the water head straight for across the narrow channel. With little shade, the ability to rent an umbrella, beach chair, and have a waitress bring you a nice cold drink, to me is worth the trade off. Sea temperatures range from around 79F from January to April to around 84F from September to October. Its therefore no surprise that at VInow.com we get asked what are the best beaches for snorkeling quite a lot. And, last but definitely not least, is a St Thomas St John boat trip or snorkel tour. Six Tips for Snorkeling in the Virgin Islands, Alternatives to Snorkeling and Diving in St. Thomas, Essentials for First Time Snorkelers in the Virgin Islands, Shop for Snorkel Guidebooks and Fish ID Cards. We hope you will enjoy our site and find valuable information here! There are plenty of spots on the island that offer easy beach access to great snorkeling, but also an abundance of boat trips that can get you to incredible and secluded spots. Gibney/Oppenheimer Beach: A little further down the road, but still on Hawksnest Bay is one of my favorite spots. Located on St Johns East End at the edge of the Virgin Islands National Park youll find this snorkelers bucket-list worthy location. Plus they almost all offer plenty of amenities and lodging nearby, so even if theres a non-snorkeler in your group, they will be able to relax, soak up the rays, and grab a bite to eat while you explore in the water. Read More, Lindqvist Beach (also spelledLindquist Beach) is part of a protected 21 acre area called Smith Bay Park. Plus Im a National Parks bucket-lister so I couldnt pass it up. Hawksnest Beach: Hawksnest is the first wide-open beach youll come to on the north shore and that convenience makes it popular. DISCLAIMER Dog biscuits and human food are not. Its marked with a sign and has about four parking spots across the road. This guide will tell you what ingredients to look for and what to avoid! Often overlooked by people wanting to snorkel St. Thomas, Hull Bay is another great spot to get away from the crowds at a more local beach. Although St. John is usually known as the best snorkeling in the Virgin Islands, there are plenty of amazing spots in St. Thomas snorkeling from the beach. This material covers where to stay, fun things to do, culture, local events, beach guides, how to get around, plants and animals, history, tips, things to see, art galleries, shopping and so much more. Croix snorkeling beaches. Entry:BeachAccess:Free Parking and Beach AccessFacilities:Snorkel Gear, Water Sports Rentals, Beach Chair Rentals, Sapphire Beach Bar, RestroomsLook Out For:The Snorkel Police- Even if you arent touching any coral(which you never should), there are security guards who will blow their whistle and tell you to stay away from the coral if you are snorkeling over it. With beautiful sand, shade from the summer sun, and lots of nearby amenities and food, this beach is an obvious choice for snorkelers. She is hoping to inspire people to protect our oceans by sharing her underwater stories. Henley Cay Snorkeling in 5 to 15 of water youll discover beautiful rocky patch reefs covered in corals. Its a top spot to go snorkeling in St John from the beach. One of the best snorkeling spots on St John. Our favorite part about this beach is the lack of crowds. Entry:BeachAccess:Parking is $5, but very limited.Facilities:Snorkel Gear & Dive Rentals, Beach Bar, Restrooms, Beach Shop, Umbrella & Chair Rentals, Playground for kidsLook Out For:Cruise Ship Crowds-check the cruise schedule here. Its much more of a locals beach with several food trucks and vendors selling food along the street. Bear left and follow the trail along the shoreline until youre at a point closest to the Cay. Oppenheimer Beach captures the ingredients that make the USVI so idyllic: soft, warm sand, gentle tides, and lots of marine life. Now the other side of the island (heading back to the beach) had some amazing coral formations. This is definitely a beach to spend the day at. And all of this despite parts of the reef suffering recent damage from nearby construction runoffs. The best reef corals and fish as to the left as you face the water. There are bathrooms, showers and a lifeguard. The water calm with easy access. Is your sunscreen safe for the ocean? Speaking of Turtle Cove snorkeling, its the most popular spot for the Buck Island boat tours, as theres a pretty good chance of spotting a few sea turtles. The best beaches in St Thomas for snorkeling are also some of the prettiest beaches on the island to relax for the day. Brewers Bay is the perfect beach to get away from all of the cruise ship crowd and tourists on busy days. Christmas Cove is a popular spot for St. Thomas snorkeling tours to head as its not far off the mainland, a calm bay, and is a great place to spot sea turtles. Head for the rocky areas on the left of the beach or to the right near Coral World Ocean Park and you are sure to find tons of brightly colored tropical fish, and maybe even some crabs or rays. Once youve crossed the Durloe Channel youll find a protected sandy cove on the western side of the cay. Entry is rocky and snorkelers should be aware of urchins. If you want to experience superb snorkeling in Saint John, Salomon Bay has a lot to offer. Copyright 1999 2022 VInow.com All rights reserved. The smallest of them, St John is very popular with good reason. St. John has some pretty amazing beaches, but its possible that this was my favorite. A large variety of fish including Atlantic Blue tangs, Blue Headed wrasses, Sargeant majors, as well as Caribbean lobsters, crabs, conch and more! My post captions are full of travel tips and I have a ton of story highlights and videos with great info. To reach Leinster, youll park at the Annaberg Ruins (ah-mazing!) And share my account with your travel loving friends! Easy access, shallow water, shade and a good chance youll see turtles, rays and lots of fish! but the real gem here you guys is the beach!! The seagrass as you enter the beach is a great place to spot turtles and rays. Located just off Caneel Bay Resort youll see an 11 acre cay. Be careful not to stand on or touch any coral; and keep a safe distance if you see turtles and rays. Most of the trips take about thirty minutes by catamaran, followed by about 1-2 hours of turtle cove snorkeling, and plenty of rum punch and sometimes snacks on the boat trip back to St Thomas yes, most of the trips include rum punch! by Kristin Young | Updated On: January 31, 2022 | St. Thomas. Off-the-beaten-path location with a beautiful beach, food and some of the best snorkeling. Wherever she goes, she takes her mask, fins and underwater camera with her. Its a small beach and the parking situation isnt the greatest but youll want to stop here because this is where the famous tire swing is! To access the bay, hike the Leinster Bay trail from Annaberg car park. Entry:BeachAccess:Free Parking and Beach AccessFacilities:Snorkel Gear Rentals & Dive Shop, Beach Chair Rentals, Sunset Grille Restaurant and Beach Bar, RestroomsLook Out For: Boats- the second reef is further out into the ocean, so be aware of your surroundings. For a one stop place to stay on the island, Sapphire Beach is our top pick. Even if you arent an expert swimmer, the shallow waters offer great opportunity to get up close to sea life and underwater scenery and you dont have to venture far from the beach to start bumping into local aquatic inhabitants. Within 5 minutes of being in the water, Id seen 3 turtles and an eagle ray and is now one of our favorite spots for snorkeling St. Thomas.. Snorkel Around The World aims to inspire people to discover the undersea world through snorkeling photos and videos. With arguably the best shallow water snorkeling in all of the Virgin Islands youre sure to have a great experience. Henley Cay On top of these, this is a place where you have a high chance to see nurse sharks too! Staff Pick Some of the most dramatic underwater structure and corals on the island. Most, if not all, of St. Johns famous beaches are located on its north shore starting in Cruz Bay and stretching all the way across the top of the island. CONTACT. If Id had fins on, I dont think it wouldve been a hard swim at all. Also, in the water its rocky with rocky outcrops, this offers good hiding places for juvenile fish and sometimes lobsters but its hard on the feet. Make sure to check out our Complete Guide to finding and booking a Boat Day Charter or Tour from St. Thomas to explore the clear waters of the Caribbean and truly get away from it all.. We love snorkeling St Thomas USVI because of its complete ease of access and options. There arent many corals here, but it is a prime spot to hang out with turtles and rays that love to rest and feed in the seagrass. Theyre always a treasure trove of information. Overall, Im not sure if Trunk really lived up to the hype for me, but then again I had just come back from snorkeling in Turks and Caicos (ah-mazing) and Ive snorkeled quite a bit in Hawaii so its all perspective. If in St. Thomas during the winter months when the winds pick up, Hull Bay is a great spot to watch the local surfers catch a wave. It actually even has a campground. Once you swim out to them, you can spend hours exploring the colorful Caribbean marine life get up close with many colorful and curious sea-dwelling locals. Start your snorkeling around the middle to left side of the beach. Youre likely to see plenty of colorful coral, lots of fish, maybe a turtle in the middle, and, if youre lucky, possibly even an octopus. Snorkel everywhere at Secret Harbor. Virgin Islands National Park snorkeling trail and a lifeguards. Its important to be careful around slippery rocks and prickly coral, but as long as no risks are taken this island paradise is a safe place to explore. Caneel Bay beach The calm and protected waters around St John guarantee that ocean surfs are rarely a problem, but from May to October theres the least chance of waves blowing in from the ocean. If you want to follow along on my travel adventures in real time, you can follow me on Instagram (@caitylincoln). Theres quite a bit of parking though so if you can find a spot its easy to stop, check it out, and see if you want to set up camp there for the day. Im not going to lie to you and tell you its the best snorkeling in the Caribbean (its not), but the overlook and beach is GORGEOUS and the snorkeling is very accessible. Always snorkel with a buddy and never exceed your physical ability or experience. From there youll follow a narrow path about 100 yrds heading North East. Its easy to spend a whole day here as theres plenty of parking, a full service restaurant, showers and changing rooms, gear rentals (including kayaks) and of course a beautiful beach. Head counter clockwise to use the current to round the Cay. Leinster Bay: Leinster Bay and Waterlemon Cay are pretty much the end of the road when it comes to north shore beaches. Visiting mega-cities is not her style but getting lost in tiny coastal villages, capturing the beauty of the sea while snorkeling. The beach area is mostly sand, but once in the water its quite rocky. You can snorkel on the left side along shallow rocky outcrops and coral, but only if conditions are very calm. Youre sure to see some colorful fish, nice brain coral, and possibly a ray or even a turtle. We use cookies to ensure that we give you the best experience on our website. The largest section of Virgin Islands Books & Souvenirs. Maho Bay, Lameshur Beach, and Leinster were less affected, so if you are on a tight schedule, consider visiting these places. Therefore, we regularly share ocean facts including conservation topics and interesting things about sea creatures.