Q - Waterlemon snorkel

[Pianogrl]

For those of you who have experienced snorkeling @ Waterlemon.....what is it like?...are the currents strong?....any tips/helps/comments for those like us who've never snorkeled there before would be greatly appreciated.
We're really looking forward to doing this - just want to be safe about it though.

Thanks!

[waterguy]

Figure out which way the current is going and go with it I like to do this one from a digny

[shoemak38]

can you land dingy on the island?
Current plans for us is to rent a dingy first day and check out the beaches so we kow which ones we would like to visit from land

[waterguy]

They have bouy's to tie up to You might be able to land on the beach but not on the cay

[alw1977]

The ocean can of course change from moment to moment, but I found Waterlemon to be an easy snorkel. We left from the beach at Leinster and snorkeled out, hugging the shore on the right side of the bay (if you're looking from Leinster out to Waterlemon). We then crossed a brief deep water area and the ocean floor quickly rose up to meet us as we neared the Cay. We saw sting rays and turtles on the way out, so we were quite pre-occupied.

Once we got to Waterlemon, we went ashore and relaxed for a few moments. We didn't need the break, but were just taking it easy. We snorkeled partway around the Cay and went back. In July, the current didn't feel particularly strong - I can't even say I noticed it. Of course, that can differ from moment to moment and this is only my experience.

I think if you're in decent shape and are moderately comfortable snorkeling, this is an easy and fun snorkel from the shore. We enjoyed it and plan to do it again on our return this year.

[Teddy Salad]

We snorkeled there on January 9th. There was no current to speak of to the left side of the cay as you are looking at it from shore (south of the cay).

The other side of the cay had a pretty strong current that was moving almost directly toward the shore. If you are looking at a clock and the cay is on the 12, the current was probably moving from one o'clock to seven o'clock.

We didn't try to snorkel all the way around, but I think the way to do it that day would have been clockwise. The currents are likely to be less strong during the first and last quarters of the moon (half moons). It was the day after new moon when we did it.

When you get there, try to ask someone who has snorkeled there that day about the currents.

Make sure you have fins. Have fun!

[Bob & Anita]

Waterlemon is one of our favorite snorkeling sites. We love both the back-side of the Cay, as well as in the middle of the bay. When we snorkel Waterlemon Cay we start out all the way from the beach so we can catch all the great stuff (Sea Stars, turtles, big fish, etc.) between the beach and the Cay as well as going around the Cay. This may not be an option for those that are not strong swimmers/snorkelers. It seems that most people like to walk around to the far right side of the bay and enter the water from the rocky area so they don’t have to snorkel as far to the Cay. Others tie their dingies up to moorings near the Cay and snorkel from there.

We’ve snorkeled around Waterlemon Cay 3 times; while there was current present we always felt the current was quite manageable. We are not sure that our experience is a good representative sample of how strong the current might get, maybe we hit it during a weaker times. One time when we snorkeled Waterlemon the seas were too rough on the back-side of Cay due to the strength and direction of the wind so we did not go around the Cay that time.

[sailorgirl]

The dingy rental place should give you a chart which will have dingy landing sites marked on it. Ive seen dingys from sailboats land there but I never saw one pulled up on the beach.

The only thing I would add to the other posts is that if you choose to walk around the right side of the beach and enter the water closer to the Cay be aware of sea urchins. There were loads there close to the shore line last July so pick your way carefully to avoid a nasty surprise. Try not to miss the star fish, they were laid out on south side ( right side as you are facing the Cay) as the sea bed slopes away from the Cay. I also saw a great spotted ray in the same spot. It was near where the dingy's moor.

[Pianogrl]

Thank you all so much for your replies. Hearing of your experiences helps so much.

Bob & Anita...beautiful pics!! Thanks so much for sharing those!

[chicagoans]

Pianogrl: The snorkel out to the cay was easier and faster than I thought it would be. However, I was glad we had the kids on boogie boards because it was pretty surfy on the east / right side of the cay (as viewing from shore.)

One thing I noticed was that heading toward the sandy part of the cay, which we approached from the east, the water is shallow with a rocky bottom for a few yards before you actually get to the land. I found that to be tricky, because it was hard to walk on the rocks and I didn't want to accidentally touch any coral. I found it easier to approach and leave the cay from the left (west) side.

[Steve S]

We've done Waterlemon on 5 different trips. The only time we felt a head current was last year going counter clockwise around the cay. If you consider the cay a clock with 12 oclock the north end closest to Tortola, the strongest head current was between 4 and 2 o'clock. We didn't feel in danger or anything, it was just frustrating to flipper kick at a good pace and make relatively small headway.

Have folks had luck asking around on the beach about the direction of the current on a given day?

[Connie]

The day we went to Waterlemon with the dinghy, there was a current on the left hand side of the cay if you're looking at it from the beach. It really wasn't that bad, but I'm glad we had fins on.

When we first moored our dinghy, a couple asked us if they could hold onto our dinghy and rest for a bit. They didn't have fins on and found it a little hard to get around it.

But boy....what a great place to snorkel.

[augie]

Have folks had luck asking around on the beach about the direction of the current on a given day?

There was a park ranger at the entrance to the trailhead, next to the Annenberg(?) parking lot, that advised us of the current and gave us her recommendation for which way to snorkel there on that particular day (which was counter clockwise).

[liamsaunt]

I've been asked by people heading out on the trail as we were leaving about the snorkeling conditions--which way to swim, stuff like that.

We have snorkeled here every trip and only had problems once...I think it was last June. The current around the back was so strong we could not get around the cay, even though we pushed really hard and for quite some time. The coral was laying practically flat against the bottom of the floor because the current was so strong.

[redhead]

We snorkled waterlemon several years ago - current was REALLY srong - unfortunately I did not know all I know now about currents and stuff - it was a full moon and it was later in the day - husband is not a strong swimmer - and he got caught in the current going CCW around the island - started calling for help - I went to get him - and was trying my hardest to swim back to shore with him - it got really REALLY scary - for every stroke forward I would go 2 strokes back. The place was deserted so there was no one to help us out. We ended up breaking left for the cliffs - which I now know was the RIGHT thing to do (swim 90 degrees out of the current) I got really torn up and full of sea urchin pins - still have scars from that snorkle....but we didn't drown!!!!

I would definitely recommend using some type of flotation device if you are not a strong swimmer - and ask around about the current.

Not trying to spoil your fun - just warning you that the currents can take you by surprise - so be prepared.