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Things to do that we didnt do last time
Things to do that we didnt do last time
Well, with 2 weeks from friday fast approaching we are thinking of things we wanna do this time we didnt do last trip, and of course things that we wanna do again that we did last time..With that said...can someone tell me about snorkeling at Blue Cobblestone? We didnt snorkel Salt Pond and want to try that this time and thought maybe if possible we would try to get sometime in at Blue Cobblestone. Is it worth the time? Also..is it possible to get to Cocolobo Area
by parking and hiking? Any input would be appreciated...
by parking and hiking? Any input would be appreciated...
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nothintolose
- Posts: 1960
- Joined: Mon Aug 07, 2006 10:36 pm
- Location: New Orleans, LA
We did the Blue Cobblestone last summer. My only suggestion is to wear some kind of shoes that you can get wet because entry over all of the rocks barefoot can be painful.
Liamsaunt is a good one to ask more about. We got in by the large rock that was sticking out of the water closer to the right side (if you're looking out) in the middle then snorkeled the right side. There are large canyons (I think that's what they are called). We saw a lobster hiding in one of the crevasses. We saw a couple of Spanish hogfish. I can't remember what else we saw. The water is deep there and the current was rough close to the point. Actually, all of the water was more rough than I would have liked. We are not even sure we snorkeled it right. I can't wait to hear liamsaunt's instructions.
Liamsaunt is a good one to ask more about. We got in by the large rock that was sticking out of the water closer to the right side (if you're looking out) in the middle then snorkeled the right side. There are large canyons (I think that's what they are called). We saw a lobster hiding in one of the crevasses. We saw a couple of Spanish hogfish. I can't remember what else we saw. The water is deep there and the current was rough close to the point. Actually, all of the water was more rough than I would have liked. We are not even sure we snorkeled it right. I can't wait to hear liamsaunt's instructions.
"Eat, drink, and be merry for tomorrow we die" - Dave Matthews Band
Blue Cobblestone is great...but one of our very favorite snorkels is at Salt Pond -- if you're fairly strong swimmers, go out to the rocks way out in the middle of the bay. We've found that it's easier to swim straight out to the rocks than to hug the shoreline and then swim across the middle. We do a "figure eight" around the two rocks...there's an amazing pillar (?) coral, and a lot of larger fish.
Snorkeling at Blue Cobblestone is definitely worth it, in my opinion, assuming you are not afraid of deeper waters.
When we snorkeled there last May in the late morning, the water was pretty calm and we saw a lot of fish around the point on the right side (facing the water). Fire Corals are evident there - loved the yellows in the blue water. We snorkeled for over 2 hours, and, by the time we got back to the beach, we noticed the water had gotten a bit rougher. My husband actually said that when he looked up out around the point, he saw the waves crashing against the rock walls and that made him a little nervous. He was fine, though.
More info: http://seestjohn.com/snorkeling_blue_cobblestone.html
Here are a few photos of Blue Cobblestone that I've posted on the forum before (liamsaunt has taken great photos there too).
Entry (the right side)
View towards Ram Head
When we snorkeled there last May in the late morning, the water was pretty calm and we saw a lot of fish around the point on the right side (facing the water). Fire Corals are evident there - loved the yellows in the blue water. We snorkeled for over 2 hours, and, by the time we got back to the beach, we noticed the water had gotten a bit rougher. My husband actually said that when he looked up out around the point, he saw the waves crashing against the rock walls and that made him a little nervous. He was fine, though.
More info: http://seestjohn.com/snorkeling_blue_cobblestone.html
Here are a few photos of Blue Cobblestone that I've posted on the forum before (liamsaunt has taken great photos there too).
Entry (the right side)
View towards Ram Head
I like to give everything a try and always end up saving something for later. This time we never made it by the new nightclub Cruz Bay. I have high hopes and hope to pop in with Jorge and MrB sometime soon. The aluminum foil taped over the windows shows promise.
Cheers, RickG
Cheers, RickG
S/V Echoes - Coral Bay - St. John, VI
Blue Cobblestone is one of my favorite snorkels. If you want to do both BC and Salt Pond, I recommend doing Blue Cobblestone first. I think the current is stronger there than at Salt Pond and you'll have the most energy for the walk over and back.
The waves crashing against the rocks can be a little disconerting, but if you just leave your head in the water it won't be a problem. We go in on the right side and snorkel around the rocks, continuing on until we can see Salt Pond Beach. You'll be swimming against the current on the return to the beach so be sure not to use up all your energy on the way out!
We have found turtles, spotted eagle rays, the biggest nurse shark I've ever seen, lobster, permits, hogfish, and lots of other kinds. I especially like the schools of smaller fish that gather around the beautiful fire coral, like this:
<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/28539958@N00/3288449351/" title="140 Blue Cobblestone aquairum 2 by liamsaunt, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3393/328 ... c1d79e.jpg" width="500" height="375" alt="140 Blue Cobblestone aquairum 2"></a>
<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/28539958@N00/1795101135/" title="bc aquarium 3 by liamsaunt, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2096/179 ... 6fea8c.jpg" width="500" height="375" alt="bc aquarium 3"></a>
You will probably have the beach to yourself, which is another advantage over Salt Pond. Salt Pond also has great snorkeling, so if you have the energy you should check out both sites.
The waves crashing against the rocks can be a little disconerting, but if you just leave your head in the water it won't be a problem. We go in on the right side and snorkel around the rocks, continuing on until we can see Salt Pond Beach. You'll be swimming against the current on the return to the beach so be sure not to use up all your energy on the way out!
We have found turtles, spotted eagle rays, the biggest nurse shark I've ever seen, lobster, permits, hogfish, and lots of other kinds. I especially like the schools of smaller fish that gather around the beautiful fire coral, like this:
<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/28539958@N00/3288449351/" title="140 Blue Cobblestone aquairum 2 by liamsaunt, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3393/328 ... c1d79e.jpg" width="500" height="375" alt="140 Blue Cobblestone aquairum 2"></a>
<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/28539958@N00/1795101135/" title="bc aquarium 3 by liamsaunt, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2096/179 ... 6fea8c.jpg" width="500" height="375" alt="bc aquarium 3"></a>
You will probably have the beach to yourself, which is another advantage over Salt Pond. Salt Pond also has great snorkeling, so if you have the energy you should check out both sites.
It's like looking in your soup and finding a whole different alphabet.