Opinions on bays

[Capn Dan and Ruby]

Any one have information or opinions on the following bays:
Brown bay, Elk bay, Limetree cove, Hansen
bay, Pondbay,Grootpan bay, Kiddle bay, Monte bay, Hart bay we would like to try some different places.

[mahojim]

Dan & Ruby-
I'm SURE you'll get plenty of delicious info from our forum family about the other bays, but I think that I can only really comment on Hansen Bay, by Vie's...
Well worth the drive.
It just seems so "far away", and really reminded me that STJ has so much more to offer.
The word "Solitude" comes to mind...
My Sweet Amy & I met up with Jersey Jay & his wife there last year and had a great time. It's just so mellow... had a groovy lunch at Vie's, a great snorkel, then met back at our place for some supper & beers later that night.
Just a really great day. Weird though- it reminds me of my usual strange routine when on STJ; - It's gorgeous wherever we find ourselves at the time, so we don't necessarily rush off to explore something else new...
For instance, we went all the way out there and still haven't met Sloop Jones, nor oozed into the water at Haulover...
We become so lazy & happy, until we realize we have to return back "home" for the day. Fine! I'm an underachiever!( Chalk that up to "Villa Gravity...") I'll make up for some of that this May, hopefully.
You've given me some gumption, and hope to put a few more places to see on my "STJ Bucket Lust" .
That's right- not list, but "lust".
Smiles-
MJ

[augie]

My wife and I have hiked to, and subsequently snorkeled in, Brown Bay twice.

On both occasions we were the only ones in the bay!

You start out over shallow grass beds and eventually encounter a lot of very nice soft corals. We've seen a good variety of marine life there, including a nice spotted drum and a sleeping nurse shark.

I believe that I'd read that the snorkeling was best along the right side of the bay (as you're standing on the shore) but we didn't see a whole lot as we were heading in that direction the last time out, so we headed over to the other side, where we'd been before, and we liked it there.

We've spent the day hanging out at Vie's, and we've driven to the end of the road and took the short walk to get in the water by Pelican Rock, so I suppose we've done the extreme ends of Hansen Bay.

If you're out that way you should do Haulover North if the conditions allow. If they don't, Haulover South is a pretty fair consolation prize.

[Judi]

My husband and I visited Brown Bay last March - planning to go again!
We hiked from the parking lot off of East End Road; it took us half an hour in the POURING RAIN!!! Stop at the top of the ridge for an awesome view to the South!!!
Because of the rain/rough waters we didn't snorkel but beachcombed. Husband loves to explore! There are plenty of conch in the shallow grassy area.
One year we stayed at La Sirena above Kiddel Bay and Grootpan Bay. Kiddel is definitely a pirate's cove right out of the movies!!! Like Brown Bay we had the beach to ourselves! Very Quiet! It is a rocky beach so keep your flip flops on! -gets HOT!!! The snorkeling was fantastic!!!
I am not familiar with the others. There is a wonderful book
St. John Off the Beaten Track by Gerald Singer.
Enjoy yourselves!!!

[hugo]

Except for the ones people have already commented on, there are reasons why these are little-used shores--rocky, reefy, rough or hard to access. Some, like Limetree and Pond Bay, you can swim to, but there's no public land access--some are popular surf spots but dangerous for swimming under normal sea conditions.

[Capn Dan and Ruby]

Thanks folks! I tend to be the type that orders the same thing every time at resturants. So I thought I would venture out alittle. Trying to add a little spice to our lives. I know that we definatly plan to go to Vie's. We tried North Hollover and had to head back across the street. Had a great time on the South Side though. No matter where we end up any place on STJ is heaven, and limin' on any beach will be great!!!!

[liamsaunt]

I can comment on Hart Bay. I am a very strong swimmer and experienced snorkeler. You have to use a lot of caution to snorkel here. It's open to the ocean, and the shore is lined with urchins. (problem one) John and I rented a house with a private walk down access to Hart Bay for our first visit to St. John and we tried over eight days, we could never snorkel the bay, and this was in October when waters are typically calmer. The waves are always present as are the currents. (problem two)

It was frustrating because I know there is a great reef out there, but we just did not feel safe enough once we observed the water from above and then got deep enough into the water to evaluate the currents etc. I think it would be a better spot to scuba dive, if you have that option (I can dive, John cannot).