Top 5 snorkel spots from Shore

nancyr84 · Post by **nancyr84** » Tue Mar 31, 2009 8:21 pm

I know this subject has been covered a zillion times and even though I have read all the posts and have all the books, experts please top 5 St John snorkel spots. 38 days to go, 3 long years since last trip. Is it too early to pack?
Nancy

mickyb · Post by **mickyb** » Tue Mar 31, 2009 8:34 pm

It's never too early to pack.
Will you have a car? Are you a fairly experienced snorkler?
Waterlemon is my favorite. Salt Pond and Maho great for more beginners. Another favorite is Haulover. The south side is one of the best for the least work. Well, then there's Salomon and Pelican Rock (Hanson Bay) and.........

augie · Post by **augie** » Tue Mar 31, 2009 9:05 pm

There are still a lot of them I haven't seen, but our top five so far are Waterlemon, Blue Cobblestone, Pelican Rock, Brown Bay, and Salt Pond Bay.

RickG · Post by **RickG** » Tue Mar 31, 2009 9:24 pm

Hart Bay
Yawzi Point
Devers Bay/Chocolate Hole Point
Hansen Bay-> Limetree Cove
Hansen Bay-> Pelican Rock
Big Maho/Little Maho Point

just a warm up

Cheers, RickG

nancyr84 · Post by **nancyr84** » Tue Mar 31, 2009 10:15 pm

Yes we will have a car. I am a experienced snorkeler. Have done Waterlemon, Haulover and most North Shore beaches. This trip want to try something new.
Nancy

snorkeler525 · Post by **snorkeler525** » Wed Apr 01, 2009 7:16 am

nancyr84 wrote:Yes we will have a car. I am a experienced snorkeler. Have done Waterlemon, Haulover and most North Shore beaches. This trip want to try something new.
Nancy

Try Chocolate Hole - you'll have it to yourselves - and we saw more there than anywhere else. Twice saw octopus; plenty of barracuda, etc.

Steve S · Post by **Steve S** » Wed Apr 01, 2009 9:16 am

I second chocolate hole out past the grass.
Also, this past trip I went out the left side of salt pond way around the corner where the rocks get vertical and the water deep.I felt like I was in one of those giant aquariums. I'd bet a snorkel from Blue Cobblestone back to Salt Pond beach would be pretty spectacular if you had someone to carry your stuff back over land.

LysaC · Post by **LysaC** » Wed Apr 01, 2009 9:43 am

Pelican Rock off of Hansen's Bay (and all along the shore swimmming out to it)

Vie's Beach (over to the right where rocks stick out)

Haulover (the side along the road)

Chet · Post by **Chet** » Wed Apr 01, 2009 10:00 am

Jumbie to Denis and around Perkins Cay. Haul out at Denis and soak in the sun before heading back.

liamsaunt · Post by **liamsaunt** » Wed Apr 01, 2009 10:51 am

Nancy since you say you want something new...how about:

1. Blue Cobblestone
2. Yawzi Point
3. Tektite (requires a pretty challenging rock scramble)
4. Klein Bay to Ditleff Point
5. Great Lameshur (we found eagle rays here twice)
6. Kiddle Bay

Suds · Post by **Suds** » Wed Apr 01, 2009 2:41 pm

Hi Nancy,

Just wondering if you have tried the dinghy thing. Henley Cay and some others were a lot of fun. The current will carry you and you get picked up. A cooler with lunch and you are all set. BTW I'm not associated with any outfit that rents them.

Also agree w/ Choclate Hole recommendations ~ ez to get to and it is actually very quiet in there.

Have fun.

Suds

LMarie · Post by **LMarie** » Wed Apr 01, 2009 2:47 pm

We haven't been snorkeling to all of the spots on STJ yet, but our favorites from the past two trips are:

1. Maho Bay (for Turtles and Rays)
2. Honeymoon - west side
3. Waterlemon
4. Trunk (it was excellent the day we did it)
5. Francis - east side

Patty · Post by **Patty** » Thu Apr 02, 2009 6:38 am

Are there places to park to snorkle Devers/Chocolate Hole Point as well as Klein to Ditlett Point?

Pianogrl · Post by **Pianogrl** » Thu Apr 02, 2009 12:03 pm

Patty wrote:Are there places to park to snorkle Devers/Chocolate Hole Point as well as Klein to Ditlett Point?

I was wondering the same thing: how do you get to the snorkel spots in Chocolate Hole?...also any problems parking with the Pond Bay construction? (closed off areas, streets, etc.)

snorkeler525 · Post by **snorkeler525** » Thu Apr 02, 2009 1:54 pm

Pianogrl wrote:
Patty wrote:Are there places to park to snorkle Devers/Chocolate Hole Point as well as Klein to Ditlett Point?
I was wondering the same thing: how do you get to the snorkel spots in Chocolate Hole?...also any problems parking with the Pond Bay construction? (closed off areas, streets, etc.)

We stayed in a villa on Chocolate Hole so I can't help much. The Pond Bay Club might let you park there while it is under construction if you are nice and ooh and aah over their villas. Other than that, I think you could park down at the turn-off for Chocolate Hole East Road. Then walk to the Pond Bay Club and get to the beach through there.

Another option would be to rent a dingy to get there. The sales people at Pond Bay Club always came in by boat - funny to watch them in their dress shoes trying not to get wet.

Maybe some others who have suggested it and driven in can offer better advice.

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