USVI-On-Line

How many annual tourists? Multiply times a little iddy biddy piece of broken coral per person? Seems like a potential lots 'o' destruction to me....

I've picked up "souvenirs" from beaches on Thailand, Cape Cod, Hawaii, Mexico, even New Jersey. I wouldn't do it on STJ because it's national park. The rule is quite clear. There's no wiggle room and I take it seriously and literally:

"Collecting plants and animals - dead or alive - or inanimate objects, including cultural artifacts, coral, shells, and sand is prohibited."

Actually it's the rule throughout the VI, but in the national park there's a more profound basis for it.
We're supposed to enjoy the national parks without tampering with them. They're rather sacred places---places for us to appreciate, but also to protect. Literally, to leave only footprints, take only photos and memories. It really shouldn't be a matter of getting away with it or not, or avoiding being fined, or even how small a piece of the park it's alright to take. We're supposed to protect them for the generations to come as a spiritual heritage. This should be seen much more as a spiritual issue than a legal one. The parks are shrines to the natural world and taking part of them for ourselves should be as unthinkable as taking a memento left at the Vietnam memorial. These things are not mine for the taking. We own them collectively and have a responsibility to protect them as they are for perpetuity. . Individuals who think that they can take, possess and own something from a national park would do well to reflect more deeply on what the national parks are all about.

well put lex...we try to bring the tiniest footprint possible.

Well put, everyone. I don't want to be the thoughtless tourist who upsets the natural balance of the ecology of STJ. I made a stupid mistake. I certainly don't want to be cursed for having this piece of coral. For my own atonement I will redeposit it in July. I know it sounds childish, but in some way, if I bring it back at least it will be where it belongs. Thank you for the reality check. I am bringing new people this summer and will reinforce the look but don't touch rule. If anything good comes from this, newbies will know not to do what I did.

Don't worry about it greyhoundmom, the coral is long dead now so no need to return it to the sea.

And by the way, most all corals will attempt to discharge or sting you on contact but most we just don't feel. The attempt though is thought to harm the coral somewhat so it is important to not touch ANY coral, not just the fire variety.

greyhoundmom wrote:Well put, everyone. I don't want to be the thoughtless tourist who upsets the natural balance of the ecology of STJ. I made a stupid mistake. I certainly don't want to be cursed for having this piece of coral. For my own atonement I will redeposit it in July. I know it sounds childish, but in some way, if I bring it back at least it will be where it belongs. Thank you for the reality check. I am bringing new people this summer and will reinforce the look but don't touch rule. If anything good comes from this, newbies will know not to do what I did.

you took a beating here for what seems to be an innocent mistake. Think more than anything you were trying to warn us newbies and others the dangers of this nasty coral. Not brag about "getting away" with something. You did what countless others have done but never admitted,picked up a piece of coral lying on the bottom of the ocean or on the sand and took it home undetected.
We're newbies but had been told by friends who are STJ lovers not to bring back anything that is precious to the area. Been on many cruises to the Caribbean and at each island it's one of the 1st rules you are told, not to take any coral from the beaches, not to buy it from anyone or accept it from anyone. The same goes for conch shells and other varieties of shells & sea life. They are all endangered and it's illegal to take them from anywhere in the Caribbean as far as I know.
We live on the south shore of Long Island and know the sensitivity of the eco system of the shorelines,ocean and sea life and what erosion,nature & humans can do. We are beach & ocean lovers and adore being on them. So can empathize with STJ and all other islands & the people who care for their islands and understand their love for sea & all that's in it.
You have gotten the message and have been chastized for it enough. Even think the joy of wearing your necklace may have been taken away also. So next visit will just have to get another piece of jewelry.
theres something to look forward to.

Pickle - thanks for the pics! Beautiful, but NO TOUCH! I get it! Packing now... Yippee!

I am a firm believer of the rule take only memories and leave only footprints. I say just that to my travel mates frequently.
I knew GHM was going to get blasted when I first read the post.
My question is this- "why do so many of the villas we rent have a decorative display dish or shelf full of coral, shells, etc?"

To answer the original post, something I wish I had known before hitting the water the first time is that even if it looks really calm, there very well could be a strong current. I had a "panic" moment my first time snorkeling at Francis. Off on the right side, no problem get out towards Mary Point but getting back in was really, really difficult.

Also to get back to the original topic, (which is a darned good one!) I have two things to add:
1) For the same reason as Marcia/Pete: You can assess the current by watching the sea fans. They bend away from the current. If the sea fans are laying down, there's a strong current and you should plan your snorkel accordingly. I wish I'd known that before we tried to return from Mary's Point!
2) If you rent a snorkel vest, don't put very much air in it. It's like trying to float on top of a beach ball, if you overinflate.
I'd love to hear everyone else's hints!

Just leave everything alone - even floating marine plants, which could be food or refuges for some creatures - and enjoy observing and discovering the world that we don't get to see often.

As for Francis, Marcia - agree, there seems to be always at least a mild current flowing out at the right side of Francis. Over the years I've met quite a few folks out there near the point saying, "This swim back is... (out of breath)... tough."
Wherever I snorkel, if I feel that I can swim out effortlessly, as if some unseen force is slightly helping me moving forward, I expect to swim back against some sort of current.

"The thing I wish I'd known while snorkeling" is "do not underestimate the power of the sun". I snorkel for a long time and no amount of sunscreen would save me from burning my back. I learned that lesson and have been wearing either a rashguard or a neoprene shirt ever since.

One thing you should be on the lookout for while snorkeling are the lovely mongoose who raid your backpack for food We were snorkeling at one of the beaches and I happened to look back to shore and I saw this critter trying to get into our food

Did not know what it was at the time but know better now.

Something I was taught day one for PADI diving instruction: when wearing fins - first it's genrally easier to put them on after you enter the water, shallow water preferably, if you feel must put fins on first before entering water - walk BACKWARDS into the water, otherwise you're likely to fall on your face & trip. To avoid suburn , beyond the obvious application of sunscreen I wear a lycra spandex short-sleeve mock turle neck top. Dries out quickly,, keeps you warmer (so you can stay in longer) and avoids sunburn to the covered areas. Hope this helps.

That current at Mary Point is a killer. I think it is worse than Waterlemon, just because it is so unexpected. It usually takes me about 45 minutes to get back in from around the back of the point to the beach. One time my foot cramped and I had to go back finless....that was bad.

patr, I could be wrong, but I think the way the shells at the villas are allowed is that they have not left the territory. Also, the shells built into the walls always look like legally harvested conch shells--fishery byproduct--you can see a hole through the top of the shell. Plus, a lot of the houses I have rented have shell displays that are made up of stuff that is obviously not from the VIs...they are "mail order shells" from the Pacific.

Illyse wrote:Pickle - thanks for the pics! Beautiful, but NO TOUCH! I get it! Packing now... Yippee!

Have a wonderful 1st trip ! bring back a great TR for the rest of us 1st timers.