USVI-On-Line

So many places, so little time! Need some expert advise! I had to double up on places near each other due to the limited opions I could add.

I love chocolate hole.

Waterlemon is my favorite. It's truly spectacular but it can be intimidating for beginner snorklers or people who aren't very comfortable swimming in deep water. If it is a choppy day and the current is strong getting to the island and back can be a real workout. JMO

I must say, on this past trip I really enjoyed Waterlemon again. But Salt Pond was right up there with the variety of fish and coral. We didn't get to snorkel at Haulover North due to the waves, but it is always good too.

I would pick Waterlemon. It is true that sometimes the current can be strong--we could not get all the way around the Cay last year and we are strong swimmers. It was like being on a treadmill!

Don't forget about Haulover too--the North side has some huge coral formations, and Haulover south has good snorkeling along each side.

Waterguy, I've never snorkeled Chocolate Hole! What is there to see at CH?

I think Waterlemon is the best. But the most turtles I ever saw was when we stayed in a villa on Devers Bay and snorkeled there.

4 visits around Waterlemon Cay and have never experienced any of the "current" that everyone cautions against. Did Chocolate hole for the the first time last year and once you get out past the grass, it gets pretty amazing with some spectacular coral mounts.

Jumbie was always fantastic for years but the reef got nailed a few years back and there's not all that much to see anymore. The reef to the left is still fun for looking at creatures in the ledge, though.

Steve S.: I know what you mean about that current. Been there a few times myself and never felt anything. Must be the time of day....
Jumbiegirl: I noticed the same thing at Jumbie Bay - wonder what the heck took out all the coral? Didn't seem to affect any other area......??

My husband and I vacation in STJ every summer for 10 days. We spend at least 3 of those days at Maho every trip, yet we have never snorkeled there. Where is the best place to snorkel at Maho?

We also usually do the hike out to Drunk Bay, but have never hung out at Salt Pond Bay. I guess I've been turned off by the constant stream of people walking by for the hike...it hasn't seemed peaceful enough. But I'd love to snorkel there, so where is best to snorkel at Salt Bond Bay?

Thanks in advance for any responses

The Waterlemon thing seems to be luck of the draw. In four trips, the first three times we had no problem at all, we were able to circle the Cay multiple times without tiring. This past time, though, we could not get all the way around. We got around the back but just could not make the turn around the far side of the Cay. I took a picture--the coral was bent flat over:

<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/28539958@N00/185650283/" title="Photo Sharing"><img src="http://farm1.static.flickr.com/64/18565 ... ab79_m.jpg" width="240" height="180" alt="current-waterlemon"></a>

and we were trying to swim against that. It was impossible--nobody could make it around. The good part was that once we turned around we had an assist from the current.

The odd thing was that of all our snorkels at Waterlemon, we saw the most this time--tons of turtles, eagle ray, huge barracuda, and lots of types of fish we had not seen before.

I like to snorkel Lamashure Bay, but you need a 4 wheel drive vehicle to get there also Haulover south is cool too.

I'll be leaving for STT in two weeks from today (YES!!!). I'm writing down all these snokel places you are talking about since I will be going over to STJ a few days while I'm there. We will be there for 10 days, so keep those favorites coming!

Waterguy.......Which side of Chocolate Hole is best for snorkeling, or is the best reef out in the middle, and how deep is it? I don't mind swimming in deep water, but you just can't see as much.

I like the wall at Congo Cay, Henley Cay has the best staghorn coral I've seen and little St. James has the best variety of sponges, coral(blue),and it is like being in an aqurium.
Sailing to these places is the way to go.