South Shore Snorkeling

[nothintolose]

Have any of you snorkeled the south shore beaches like Chocolate Hole, Rendevous, Fish Bay or Reef Bay (or any others)?

If so, can you be specific about where you went and whether or not the snorkel was good?

Want to try some other beaches in the future.

Also, are they as easy to access as the north shore beaches?

[South Shore Villa]

There is some good snorkeling on the Kline Bay side of Ditleff point. Additionally, there is some good snorkeling at the South entrance to Reef Bay beach - for experienced and strong swimmers.

[nothintolose]

South Shore Villa - is the Ditleff snorkeling you mentioned the area where the walk way is out where all of the lots are for sale? Where do you snorkel there?

For the Reef Bay snorkeling you mentioned, are there alot of currents and waves that you said experienced and strong swimmers? Is it more difficult than Waterlemon?

[South Shore Villa]

Nothintolose,

There's some good snorkeling around the rocks to the right of the walk path at Ditleff. Additionally to the left, out towards the point, there's a shallow reef with a nice collection of small fish and corals.

For the Reef Bay snorkeling: I've not been myself, but have been told by a lot of folks that it's excellent snorkeling (Lots of fish and an extensive reef). Apparently the wind must be from the North to avoid strong currents. Apparently it's also a popular for large sharks. The beach is great and a nice visit anytime.

[RickG]

Hey cupcake, are you planning on visiting with us in November? I'll give you the South Shore tour!

Chocolate Hole - some debris on the bottom as you swim past the moored boats, but good fish and reef on the left side. Very good as you get out to the point and swim left around towards Devers Bay. Great deep water snorkeling off the point with lots of very large rocks.

Devers Bay - as you come around from Chocolate Hole good snorkeling continues with the occasional snoozing nurse shark and fish traps. You can continue on to the Devers Bay beach. It's a 15-20 minute snorkel one-way at a moderate pace. Here's a picture of the Devers side of the point in the morning:



From the beach:



You can continue left (south) around Bovocoap Point, but things get rougher there and less sheltered. I've never swum completely around Bovocoap Point and I don't think I'll ever attempt it. But, its good snorkeling as far as you're willing to go.

Hart Bay - one of my favorite snorkels on the island when the waves are not up. There are deep channels in the rocks that are sand filled separated by shallow reef. It's very dramatic and usually very rough. I drive by every year and its been a long time since I've been willing to attempt it.



Monte Bay - there's a walkway down to the beach (follow Off the Beaten Track directions) but it has been too rough and murky for me to give it a try when I've checked. We spent a week above this bay one November and it was no-go the whole week.



Ditleff West - the side facing Rendezvous Bay has very good snorkeling near the tip and around the point.



I've walked Reef Bay and the reef looked too shallow for me to get over. Maybe if you found a cut through the reef, but I've never tried.

Cheers, RickG

[papabou]

i second rickg on hart bay, truly great snorkel if you can ever catch her calm, which is usually when winds out of the northeast and north shore is choppy for a couple of days. entry pts to beach and into water are limited. we accessed from east shore along a cut winding path down by the salt pond and onto beachnear east end. water entrance over half way down and not real easy. out of 3 weeks of staying in walking dist, only been did 4 times and 1 was cut short because it was a lot rougher than it appeared.

currents were always clockwise so we followed out to left out past the exposed rocks then across to right (west side) to follw currents in and stop by the rocks either going out or coming in. caution on west side as water can get very shallow if there are surges.

while in area, never tried choc hole, i'm a little concerned of areas with "permanent" sail boat moorings.

papabou

[nothintolose]

Thanks to everyone for all of the info and pictures!

Rick, sugar lump, you know I wish I could join you and Christine in November but unlike you northerners, we enjoy every little bit of cold weather we can get

[liamsaunt]

Hart Bay is definitely rough. John and I are very strong swimmers but the time we stayed off Hart we could not get in. We tried a couple of times but the waves and the current made us feel like we were in danger. Too bad, because I understand that there is a good reef just off shore.

We've snorkeled off Klien to Ditleff a couple of times. It's good...we've seen turtles, rays, and some big fish. No coral really--just big fish around rock formations.

[jigzmom]

Our group (four adults) snorkled Chocolate Hole in Dec. '07. Yes, it was pretty shallow at first, where the boats are moored, but we saw a turtle and a small ray even before getting past the shallow area. Some great fish out by the point. We did not go past the point because there was a group of jet skiiers (from the Westin, I presume) hanging out there; I was concerned for our safety, that they wouldn't see us in the water.

We're going back to STJ in January '09 and may try it again!