USVI-On-Line

Hi All,
I had planned on spending one morning of my upcoming trip at Cinnamon and then snorkeling/kayaking over to Peter Bay to snorkel around that point. I've read that there's good snorkeling there. I've never been to Peter Bay, but I have been to Cinnamon.
But instead, we might go to Gibney/Oppenheimer. I've never been there. How is the snorkeling? I know parking is severely limited...is the seclusion the big draw there?

Thanks for your advice!

A friend I met in 2006 at Salt Pond Bay:

<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/40400761@N06/4621353963/" title="IMG_4186.colored by gwaine118, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3374/462 ... fea8eb.jpg" width="500" height="375" alt="IMG_4186.colored"></a>

The snorkel from Cinnamon over to Peter is pretty boring, to be honest. The reef is all dead in that area and there are not many fish around at all. You also need to be careful navigating from Cinnamon to Little Cinnamon, as there is a large area of very shallow coral and coral rubble between the two, and if you get stuck on it that could be frustrating.

If I wanted to snorkel the point at Peter I would kayak over to Peter's beach and then just swim out along the rocks on the left and to the point. I don't know if you could go all the way around or not--I thought it looked a little rough and deep when I saw it from a boat.

Snorkeling at Gibney/Oppenheimer is pretty good, though not one of my favorites. There's nothing directly off the beach itself, but if you go to the right there are fish and some coral. After a while you will come to a very small cove where you can get out and rest--you'll have it to yourself as long as noone is moored. You can continue all the way around the point to Denis Bay if you like.

I'd say the beauty of the beach and the seclusion are the biggest charms of Gibney.

Many thanks Liamsaunt! Have you ever snorkeled along the rocks near Peter Bay? I don't think I'll bother if its not even that good.

My mom and friend did the rocks around Peter Bay a couple of times when we stayed there. They didn't seem to excited about it and my mom, who is not wildly comfortable in the water, thought it was a lot of work for little reward.

They did, however, see lots of turtles straight out from Peter Bay beach.

The corner at Peter Bay and onto Windswept Point is extremely live and beautiful -- make sure there is no North Swell.