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Snorkeling
Snorkeling
Are there any beaches on St. John are suitable for shallow water snorkeling (not over an adult's head)? We have a somewhat fearful swimmer in our group. Thanks.
Re: Snorkeling
Welcome to the Forum!
There are many beaches with good snorkeling in less than five feet of water. Try Hawksnest for a start. There are coral and seagrass areas in the middle. Hawksnest and many others have places along the rocks to the right and left can be good snorkeling spots. Perhaps trying those areas will inspire enough confidence to get them out into deeper water. The calm waters in those bays and the close proximity of others they trust will also give people more confidence. Once they learn that they can float, breathe through the tube, and propel themselves with little effort also helps.
Good luck
JIM
There are many beaches with good snorkeling in less than five feet of water. Try Hawksnest for a start. There are coral and seagrass areas in the middle. Hawksnest and many others have places along the rocks to the right and left can be good snorkeling spots. Perhaps trying those areas will inspire enough confidence to get them out into deeper water. The calm waters in those bays and the close proximity of others they trust will also give people more confidence. Once they learn that they can float, breathe through the tube, and propel themselves with little effort also helps.
Good luck
JIM
Man it's like some dream we live down here....
Re: Snorkeling
Welcome!!!
Maho is also good for beginners. It's one of our favorites! There are turtles in the middle in the seagrass, and off to the right, lots of rocks and coral where fish hang out. You can go in as far as you are comfortable...
Have a great time!
Maho is also good for beginners. It's one of our favorites! There are turtles in the middle in the seagrass, and off to the right, lots of rocks and coral where fish hang out. You can go in as far as you are comfortable...
Have a great time!
Tami
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mindehankins
- Posts: 3014
- Joined: Fri Mar 06, 2009 8:21 am
- Location: Western NY State
Re: Snorkeling
On our first trip, I was a little fearful of being in the water alone, when my hubby liked to sit and just read on the beach, but I still wanted to be in the water. I'll sheepishly admit to loving to patrol back and forth at Miss Vie's beach, watching the little fish right where the shore meets - in about 2 feet of water. Something about the way the shore breaks at Miss Vie's is good for little baby fish.
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GidgetPicklebrain
- Posts: 170
- Joined: Tue Aug 08, 2006 7:54 am
- Location: Frederick, MD
Re: Snorkeling
My husband and I did our first snorkel at Honeymoon. I am a strong swimmer but my husband is not, and neither of us had ever snorkeled before. It was a perfect first experience. Very easy entry, and we saw more than thirty-six (I stopped counting) varieties of fish on our first attempt, in water no more than waist deep if we stood up. Snorkel to the left around the point to Soloman, take a break there and then snorkel back. Some great elkhorn coral stands there - we saw two morays in the saghorns.
A journey of a thousand miles begins with a single step. - Confucius
Re: Snorkeling
Minde
My wife is like your hubby. All day with a book is good for her and I'll spend most of my day head down in the water. It took mst of our first trip for me to get comfortable getting too far on my own. There are lts of places though where a new snorkeler can gain confidence. Maho is Gret for that as is Trunk since there are lifeguards there
My wife is like your hubby. All day with a book is good for her and I'll spend most of my day head down in the water. It took mst of our first trip for me to get comfortable getting too far on my own. There are lts of places though where a new snorkeler can gain confidence. Maho is Gret for that as is Trunk since there are lifeguards there
mindehankins wrote:On our first trip, I was a little fearful of being in the water alone, when my hubby liked to sit and just read on the beach, but I still wanted to be in the water. I'll sheepishly admit to loving to patrol back and forth at Miss Vie's beach, watching the little fish right where the shore meets - in about 2 feet of water. Something about the way the shore breaks at Miss Vie's is good for little baby fish.
KT
Re: Snorkeling
Thanks to everyone who responded to my question.
Re: Snorkeling
I am literally the worst swimmer I know and a snorkel vest was my savior! Honestly it was the best money I've ever spent. I over came my swimming fears and LOVED snorkeling! I'd suggest Maho and Salt pond!
Re: Snorkeling
Jumbie is also very good on the far left as you face the water. There are rocks and coral that come in almost all the way to the beach and there's lots of activity to see there in very shallow water.
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ColumbiaSCTraveler
- Posts: 528
- Joined: Mon Apr 18, 2011 9:33 pm
- Location: Columbia, SC
Re: Snorkeling
Ditto Maho and Jumbie. Maho is extremely calm, so it's great for those who have a little trepidation. Looking out to the water at Maho, snorkel the left hand side by the rocks to see baby fish everywhere, and oftentimes a patrolling barracuda, baby shark, or stingray!
Re: Snorkeling
Another vote for Maho.
There are no "quick drop-offs" that you can float over which tend to scare the un-initiated more than deep water does in my experience (meaning my wife's reaction snorkeling over wall drops on Roatan!)
Maho was made for peaceful, easy going beach time along with the ability to float along for hours if you want without ever going in "too deep"
Nice sandy bottom makes it perfect if the nervous person in your party feels a sudden need to get their feet down again.
They need not worry about damaging coral (for the most part - always have an eye out of course!) and because it is sandy, the concern most newbies have over snorkeling over urchins doesn't exist
Perfection.
There are no "quick drop-offs" that you can float over which tend to scare the un-initiated more than deep water does in my experience (meaning my wife's reaction snorkeling over wall drops on Roatan!)
Maho was made for peaceful, easy going beach time along with the ability to float along for hours if you want without ever going in "too deep"
Nice sandy bottom makes it perfect if the nervous person in your party feels a sudden need to get their feet down again.
They need not worry about damaging coral (for the most part - always have an eye out of course!) and because it is sandy, the concern most newbies have over snorkeling over urchins doesn't exist
Perfection.