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Dinghy Rentals
Dinghy Rentals
I've read several posters on different threads indicate that was one of the best things that they did, while on St. John. I'm also very interested in possibly doing this, when we go to St. John in June 2007.
Where are the best places to rent a dinghy? (we are staying the the Great Cruz Bay/Choc. Hole area)
Also, I would really like to snorkel Waterlemon Cay this time around....since we didn't get there on our previous visit to the island. I've been looking at some pics that were posted....and it looks great, esp. all of the starfish. However, I also remember reading that it's hard to get there, and takes a bit of effort, unless you're a strong swimmer....(Which I'm not). Would a dinghy enable you to get to Waterlemon a little easier, w/out having to swim as far a distance?
Where are the best places to rent a dinghy? (we are staying the the Great Cruz Bay/Choc. Hole area)
Also, I would really like to snorkel Waterlemon Cay this time around....since we didn't get there on our previous visit to the island. I've been looking at some pics that were posted....and it looks great, esp. all of the starfish. However, I also remember reading that it's hard to get there, and takes a bit of effort, unless you're a strong swimmer....(Which I'm not). Would a dinghy enable you to get to Waterlemon a little easier, w/out having to swim as far a distance?
You can rent a dinghy from Noah's close to the ferry dock in Cruz Bay. They will allow you to visit the north shore beaches all the way to Waterlemon.
Yes, it is a great way to spend a day. You can pull right up on the beaches. We were the only visitors on Honeymoon, Solomon, Jumbie. Had lunch at Cinammon.
When you get to Waterlemon however, you cannot pull up to the cay. You must tie up to a buoy. You can get pretty close, and jumping out of the dinghy is not a problem. BUT - be aware there is not swim ladder on the dinghy, we found it EXTREMELY difficult to get back into the dinghy. I am sure our fellow snorkelers were quite amused at our antics. You see, we are not young or very fit. At one point I thought my DH was going to have to tow me to some nearby beach, so I could walk into the dinghy. After several minutes of struggling and climbing up onto the motor, probably not an advisable technic, and alot of pulling and tugging from my DH in the dinghy I finally managed to reboard the dinghy. (I had to leave my dignity behind in the water)
Needless to say, next time we visit Waterlemon, it will be by jeep and foot. I have heard people who are not great swimmers take a float to paddle on.
If you have the time, definitely rent the dinghy, you see the island from a totally different perspective.
Yes, it is a great way to spend a day. You can pull right up on the beaches. We were the only visitors on Honeymoon, Solomon, Jumbie. Had lunch at Cinammon.
When you get to Waterlemon however, you cannot pull up to the cay. You must tie up to a buoy. You can get pretty close, and jumping out of the dinghy is not a problem. BUT - be aware there is not swim ladder on the dinghy, we found it EXTREMELY difficult to get back into the dinghy. I am sure our fellow snorkelers were quite amused at our antics. You see, we are not young or very fit. At one point I thought my DH was going to have to tow me to some nearby beach, so I could walk into the dinghy. After several minutes of struggling and climbing up onto the motor, probably not an advisable technic, and alot of pulling and tugging from my DH in the dinghy I finally managed to reboard the dinghy. (I had to leave my dignity behind in the water)
Needless to say, next time we visit Waterlemon, it will be by jeep and foot. I have heard people who are not great swimmers take a float to paddle on.
If you have the time, definitely rent the dinghy, you see the island from a totally different perspective.
Patr
~~Longing to be back on St. John~~
~~Longing to be back on St. John~~
Patr....
I suppose I will have to re-think the idea of using a dinghy at Waterlemon....although I still like the idea of renting one, to use at other beaches.
I will have to admit, as I was reading your response, about trying to get back onto the dinghy, I started laughing (although I'm sure it didn't seem so funny to you at the time)!
I actually snorkel with an inflatable vest, so maybe that will help me enough...to where I wouldn't have to rely on a float.
Thanks for the recommendation about Noahs....I will have to check them out.
Deb
I suppose I will have to re-think the idea of using a dinghy at Waterlemon....although I still like the idea of renting one, to use at other beaches.
I will have to admit, as I was reading your response, about trying to get back onto the dinghy, I started laughing (although I'm sure it didn't seem so funny to you at the time)!
I actually snorkel with an inflatable vest, so maybe that will help me enough...to where I wouldn't have to rely on a float.
Thanks for the recommendation about Noahs....I will have to check them out.
Deb
You don't need to go out to the Cay to see the starfish. We love the beach with its many rays, cuttle fish, starfish, barracuda and host of other critters. Usually extremely clear.
If you want to see the coral out around the island it is pretty straight forward to walk out towards the point and swim from their. One of my friends is a lean runner and he does not float a bit. He does well with one of those yellow flotation vests. My mother likes her big flotation belt.
Cheers, RickG
If you want to see the coral out around the island it is pretty straight forward to walk out towards the point and swim from their. One of my friends is a lean runner and he does not float a bit. He does well with one of those yellow flotation vests. My mother likes her big flotation belt.
Cheers, RickG
Hi Deb. Contrary to what you've heard, it's very easy to walk the path to the point nearest the Cay. From there, the Cay is about as far out as the Cay at Trunk Bay - a 2 - 3 minute swim. It's a mostly flat, shaded path. Takes us about 25 minutes and we're moving slow and always stopping to look at the local flora. We just park in the Annaberg (sp?) parking lot and walk. The difficult part would be if you want to get your vehicle closer to the Cay. There is room to park a few jeeps about half way down the trail - HOWEVER, just as you leave the paved road, the dirt road is badly washed out, and I'd rather walk an extra 10 minutes than have to call a tow truck. By walking to Waterlemon one day, you can save the time it takes to get there by dinghy and explore more of the North Shore on another day. Hope you have fun! Genral
No matter where you go, there you are.
Okay...I'm confused, now. I remember when we went to St. John back in 2003, that some of the best snorkeling we found was at Leinster Bay. We parked in the Annaberg parking lot, and hiked (about 25 minutes, if I remember correctly). Is Waterlemon that far from Leinster Bay? I was thinking that we hadn't snorkeled this area before, but maybe we have. I just don't remember seeing any starfish, and I thought there was an abundance of them at Waterlemon.
Ya, Waterlemon Cay is at the mouth of Leinster Bay. We have missed the starfish on one or two visits to Leinster Bay. They move about and sometimes I've found them out by the mooring balls.
Leinster Bay has a great grassy environment with plenty of critters. Waterlemon Cay has the hard and soft coral.
Cheers, RickG
Leinster Bay has a great grassy environment with plenty of critters. Waterlemon Cay has the hard and soft coral.
Cheers, RickG
S/V Echoes - Coral Bay - St. John, VI
Thanks for the clarification, RickG....
After hearing your description, I think we may bave actually snorkeled Waterlemon Cay before, we just thought it was all part of Leinster Bay, so didn't realize the distinction. We'll definitely head out there again, because we did think it was some of the best snorkeling we experienced.
So...another question,
What are the top 3 (in your opinion) snorkeling spots on on St. John.
After hearing your description, I think we may bave actually snorkeled Waterlemon Cay before, we just thought it was all part of Leinster Bay, so didn't realize the distinction. We'll definitely head out there again, because we did think it was some of the best snorkeling we experienced.
So...another question,
What are the top 3 (in your opinion) snorkeling spots on on St. John.
Personally I took pictures all along the walk to Waterlemon so I didn't really notice the walk except to know that it wasn't uphill! The snorkeling was fantastic made even better by swimming with turtles!I didn't find that it was hard to swim around at all. Just be careful cuz the mongoose love to eat your lunch, so have a lockable ice chest if you bring food!
