USVI-On-Line

I am home with a cold and what could be better than looking at beaches in St John. I have the book St John off the beaten path and have a few questions about getting to Ditleff point.

We are returning in Jan and are staying in Coral bay. We have not yet ventured to the beaches of Klein or Rendezvous bay. Is it worth it? Can you still walk there or is it restricted because of private property? Where do you park. The snorkel at Ditleff looks interesting.Any recommendations for this area?

Ditleff point is now gated access, snorketing was great up by the point back before gate was build.

http://ditleffpoint.com/

shoemak38 wrote:Ditleff point is now gated access, snorketing was great up by the point back before gate was build.

When we were there the gate was always open, but there were signs posted stating that you could not park there. We parked on Klein Bay Rd(?) one day and walked out to the point. I can imagine that when it's calm, the snorkeling there could be good (or better) but most of the south facing bays and beaches were too rough during our trip to even consider it.

Thanks Steve, We will check it out and park on road. I have been enjoying your trip reports and look forward to the last installments.

I really like your detailed snorkeling information. I have taken some notes for our trip.

If you get the chance to snorkel at Ditleff it is worth the effort - it will be changed dramatically both above and below the water in the next few years.

photo of beach at ditleff
<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/27134057@N04/3317374555/" title="Picture 334 by SHOEMAK38, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3653/331 ... 1ac6_b.jpg" width="1024" height="833" alt="Picture 334"></a>

There is a small 2 or 3 car parking area for Klein Bay Beach - follow the directions in the book. It's a rocky beach - not great for sunning, but good for rock/shell/coral picking. We were there last year and I was able to snorkle from Klein Bay down to Ditliff. The snorkeling was good along the rocky areas. I didn't go around the point because I was by myself, couldn't get anyone else to go that far. This is a good choice if there are swells on the North Shore and you need your snorkel fix for the day.

Lindy,

Thanks for information. Looks like quite a long snorkel.Is there a area to rest on small beach at Ditleff bay?

I am too chicken to snorkel around the point to fish bay side. The mention of popular area for sharks scares me off.

Any one have experience snorkeling in this area?

cindygad wrote:Lindy,

Thanks for information. Looks like quite a long snorkel.Is there a area to rest on small beach at Ditleff bay?

I am too chicken to snorkel around the point to fish bay side. The mention of popular area for sharks scares me off.

Any one have experience snorkeling in this area?

You can rest on beach from photo above, we spend afternoon there when you could park and walk down the stairs. I tried twice to snorkel out to the point to go around to fish bay side the current was a little strong going out to sea and it is very rocky (making it great for snorkeling) with no good resting places. So both times my son and I turned back playing it safe. I also wanted to go out and see sharks (read same book).

Cindy - It's not that long if you take your time. The beach about halfway down Ditliff point looks very nice and as long as you can reach it by water you can use it up to the high tide mark without trespassing. The rocky ledge walls all along there are great snorkeling and I saw some turtles in the grassy areas. I've never made it around to the Fish Bay side but from various villas we've stayed in it looks really shallow on that side and probably not the greatest for snorkeling. I would defer to a more experienced snorkeling about heading around the tip of the point. I'm a fairly strong swimmer and sometimes have too much confidence but I did heed the lectures from my Hubby about not pushing limits on this particular snorkel due to a combination of the currents and the shark info (must be the same book). I did come across a 5 or 6 foot nurse shark 3 years ago when I snorkeled Klein Bay to the right rather than the left. It was about 15 feet below me and totally uninterested in what I was doing so it wasn't scary at all - plus nurse sharks are pretty distinctive so I knew what it was. I think if you avoid very early morning or late afternoon/evening when they are on the move to feed you should be OK.

The current trying to go around the point and into Fish Bay can be quite strong and really the Fish Bay side is not as interesting in comparison - Klein Bay to the Point is plenty to explore.

photo of stairs to beach
<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/27134057@N04/4363975644/" title="stairs by SHOEMAK38, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2709/436 ... a9cb8c.jpg" width="379" height="500" alt="stairs"></a>

<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/27134057@N04/4363981272/" title="stairs by SHOEMAK38, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2740/436 ... dca0e1.jpg" width="500" height="283" alt="stairs"></a>

We will be there for a full moon staying in Chocolate Hole. I thought Ditliff Point would make a great vantage point for Sunset/Moonrise, kind of like Rams Head without the long drive. What do you think?

Rams Head also involves a good hike -- Ditleff , depending on the the of year is excellent but unless the Gate is open it is restricted to the 'astute investor' or their rental customers.