USVI-On-Line

Is there a website or phone number to get an up-to-date surf report? (Couldn't find anything really specific by Googling.) I've read about the winter swells on the North Shore and it would be great before heading out to know if we should go north or south. Also I'd like to try renting kayaks at Cinnamon or Maho but I'd want the water to be pretty calm.

Yes I know we can drive to a beach and look at it... and turn around and go somewhere else if the surf is high. But if I can save the time and fuel by looking something up on line, that would be great!

The first visual indicator is the level of white water on Johnsons Reef - but even that can be deceptive depending on the direction - often Francis and Maho don't get too stirred up - Giboney,Hawksnest ,Scott and Honeymoon are less susceptible as you move west and Solomon can be fine when Trunk,Cinnamon,Jumbie etc are raging.
The time saving aspect -- are you on island time here or what?? -- use www.ndbc.noaa.gov and enter buoy 41043 - get the swell graph and wave graph -- if it above 6'-7' and going up - the swell is on the way or there already. Today I was all over the N. side of STJ - swell reading at 41043 was 6.2 - waves6.6 and steady -- great snorkeling at Mary Pt. , Giboney, and Scott by my personal WET observation.
I am quite sure Francis and Maho would have been clear - likely Little Cinanamon, Peter,Trunk, Jumbie,Hawksnest were cloudy but swimmable.

Thank you Exit Zero!

We'll be staying in Coral Bay and each day we'll probably wake up and say 'north or south?' and then head out.

I get what you're saying about island time... I'm just not in it yet! And we have only 1 precious week on STJ... kinda different than when you can enjoy it every day. Maybe I'm over-analyzing because our most recent trip was to Kauai and you can get some dangerous rip currents there in the winter.

As a good example - the buoy 41043 right now [7AM] shows swell at 5.2 and decreasing on the graphic representation - I am off to the N. side of STJ and with light E wind[ 9kts] and those swell and wave recordings EXPECT it to be fairly placid - hoping to be snorkeling Whistling Key by 10 AM.

Exit Zero that is a great site. I had no idea it existed. It's bookmarked and saved. Thank you.

Whistling Key was a bit lumpy from the wind - but as clear and current free as I have seen in weeks - Maho was a mill pond and at least 12 large Tarpon were cruising in a school.

Good Morning from Sunny St John.

I've looked at the Swell Height graph and it appears to be climbing - rapidly.

Hugo, Exit Zero, Joshie, what are your thoughts about snorkeling Waterlemon today? We're trying to get at least one trip in between now and next Tuesday.


Thanks!

Call the National Park Visitors center.

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