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Snorkeling Beaches - St. John
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Tim from Chicagoland
- Posts: 45
- Joined: Mon Jun 07, 2010 2:48 am
- Location: Highland, IN
Snorkeling Beaches - St. John
How about a list of your fav 5 snorkeling beaches/bays & entry point if it matters.
Tim
Tim
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chicagoans
- Posts: 1586
- Joined: Thu Jan 18, 2007 2:51 pm
- Location: IL
Waterlemon
Salt Pond
After that I'll just say "all of them." Haven't snorkeled Haulover but I've heard it's great; also we loved renting a dinghy and stopping at lots of spots between Caneel and Waterlemon, jumping in with our snorkel gear on wherever we felt like it. It's a great way to spend the day!
There's a spot that forumite loria told us about that we walked to from Little Lameshur. It was a small cove off of the Yawzi Point Trail. We had a great snorkel there. I just googled it and what do you know, found a map that even says 'small cove.'
<IMG SRC="http://www.stjohnbeachguide.com/trails/ ... %20map.jpg">
Another great day on our first trip was doing a trip with the Sadie Sea and snorkeling at Henley Cay and a few other places that you can't reach (at least not easily) from shore. Others have gone farther and swear by places like the Indians.
Do you have "Off the Beaten Track" or "Feet Fins and Four Wheel Drive?" Those will give you some good descriptions.
Salt Pond
After that I'll just say "all of them." Haven't snorkeled Haulover but I've heard it's great; also we loved renting a dinghy and stopping at lots of spots between Caneel and Waterlemon, jumping in with our snorkel gear on wherever we felt like it. It's a great way to spend the day!
There's a spot that forumite loria told us about that we walked to from Little Lameshur. It was a small cove off of the Yawzi Point Trail. We had a great snorkel there. I just googled it and what do you know, found a map that even says 'small cove.'
<IMG SRC="http://www.stjohnbeachguide.com/trails/ ... %20map.jpg">
Another great day on our first trip was doing a trip with the Sadie Sea and snorkeling at Henley Cay and a few other places that you can't reach (at least not easily) from shore. Others have gone farther and swear by places like the Indians.
Do you have "Off the Beaten Track" or "Feet Fins and Four Wheel Drive?" Those will give you some good descriptions.
Haulover North. Get in whereever it looks convenient. Wear water shoes and watch for coral and urchins. The reef is to the left as you are looking at the water. Lots of coral variety, and we've found octopus, turtles, schools of blue tang, rays, nurse sharks, etc.
Blue Cobblestone. Enter the water on the right side of the beach as you are looking at the water, then snorkel around the rocks on the right. We usually keep going until we can see Salt Pond beach and then swim back. (You'll be against the current coming back so don't let yourself get too tired). This is a deeper water snorkel where you can swim in between rock croppings. We've found turtles, spotted eagle rays, and nurse sharks here, as well as lots of smaller fish, corals, and sponges.
Great Lameshur to Tektite. Get in the water on the left side of the beach and swim out along the rocks until you get to the beach at Donkey Bight. We usually stop for a rest here, then continue on along the rocks on the left side of the cove out to where Tektite was. Lots of variety on this snorkel, including triggerfish, eels, nurse sharks, permits, turtles, rays, etc. This is a long snorkel--allot at least three hours.
Francis Bay, right side of the beach along the rocks all the way out to the tip of Mary Point. This is an excellent shallow water snorkel with lots of fish and corals. Good spot for turtles, too. You are against the current coming back to shore.
And Waterlemon, of course!
Blue Cobblestone. Enter the water on the right side of the beach as you are looking at the water, then snorkel around the rocks on the right. We usually keep going until we can see Salt Pond beach and then swim back. (You'll be against the current coming back so don't let yourself get too tired). This is a deeper water snorkel where you can swim in between rock croppings. We've found turtles, spotted eagle rays, and nurse sharks here, as well as lots of smaller fish, corals, and sponges.
Great Lameshur to Tektite. Get in the water on the left side of the beach and swim out along the rocks until you get to the beach at Donkey Bight. We usually stop for a rest here, then continue on along the rocks on the left side of the cove out to where Tektite was. Lots of variety on this snorkel, including triggerfish, eels, nurse sharks, permits, turtles, rays, etc. This is a long snorkel--allot at least three hours.
Francis Bay, right side of the beach along the rocks all the way out to the tip of Mary Point. This is an excellent shallow water snorkel with lots of fish and corals. Good spot for turtles, too. You are against the current coming back to shore.
And Waterlemon, of course!
It's like looking in your soup and finding a whole different alphabet.
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Randy in MD
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Tim from Chicagoland
- Posts: 45
- Joined: Mon Jun 07, 2010 2:48 am
- Location: Highland, IN
THANKS
Thanks to all of you for your replies. Are there any beach/snorkeling guidebooks out there? Similar to the "Elusive Beaches of Eleuthera" book, if any of you are familiar with that.
Tim
Tim
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Tim from Chicagoland
- Posts: 45
- Joined: Mon Jun 07, 2010 2:48 am
- Location: Highland, IN
Guidebook
Thanks musicman. I'll see if I can pick up a used one on Amazon.
Tim
Tim
Tim,
Here's a great place to start...just choose the beach under the turtle. That site also has hiking trails, places of interest, etc. No real need to get a book if you check out that website (I'm pretty sure much of it is from a book that I own anyway...can't remember which one).
http://www.seestjohn.com/snorkeling.html
Here's a great place to start...just choose the beach under the turtle. That site also has hiking trails, places of interest, etc. No real need to get a book if you check out that website (I'm pretty sure much of it is from a book that I own anyway...can't remember which one).
http://www.seestjohn.com/snorkeling.html
If memory serves, the exceptions with Haulover North is that if the water is choppy it can be difficult getting out through the shallow coral especially when combined with a low tide. You have to pay attention and pick your snorkel path carefully until you get out a little deeper.
When we come to place where the sea and the sky collide
Throw me over the edge and let my spirit glide
Throw me over the edge and let my spirit glide
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Tim from Chicagoland
- Posts: 45
- Joined: Mon Jun 07, 2010 2:48 am
- Location: Highland, IN
THANKS
Thanks dwaine. I don't think any book would give me much more info to justify paying for it. I'm printing my book as I write this.
Now I just have to figure out a way to extend my trip. Come On Lotto!
Tim
Now I just have to figure out a way to extend my trip. Come On Lotto!
Tim
The best entry for Haulover North is about five steps to the right of the trail exit to the beach, facing the water. I've yet to see an urchin in this narrow path in.
There are 2 excellent outdoor guide books for St John. "Feet, Fins & Four-wheel Drive" has already been mentioned. The author of the website mentioned above also has a book called "St John, Off the Beaten Path."
I would add Brown's Bay to liamsaunt's list to replace Francis if the wind is down and the water calm. Good shallow water snorkeling much like Francis on the left side out to the point. Again, current will be against you on the way back.
There are 2 excellent outdoor guide books for St John. "Feet, Fins & Four-wheel Drive" has already been mentioned. The author of the website mentioned above also has a book called "St John, Off the Beaten Path."
I would add Brown's Bay to liamsaunt's list to replace Francis if the wind is down and the water calm. Good shallow water snorkeling much like Francis on the left side out to the point. Again, current will be against you on the way back.