USVI-On-Line

Hey all you great and tipsy people does anyone have any suggestions about advanced snorkeling trips? We're going back to STJ with no kids (boo hoo and YIPPEE!!!) and want to snorkel some more difficult stuff. We've got books galore but would much prefer to hear from our favorite resource, you! Thanks for any info!!!

You may have already been to some of these places, and I don't know that these would qualify as "advanced" snorkels, but I would recommend Haulover North for very good coral in deep water and Klein Bay over to Ditleff Point (if the water is calm enough). Have you snorkeled Waterlemon and Cinnamon Cay already?

For something different, what about a snorkel through the mangroves at Princess? It is interesting to see all of the different types of baby fish that take shelter in the mangrove roots. We found a bunch of big starfish there last year also.

One "new to us" snorkel we have decided to add this year is the Tektite site. I posted a thread about it a few days ago. Supposedly there are some really cool sponge-encrusted caves over there. We are also considering Whistling Cay (getting there via kayak), but that will depend on the currrents, not to mention how lazy I am feeling.

You might also go to the Blue Cobblestone and go around to the right, towards Salt Pond.

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A hike to mostly deserted Brown Bay for snorkeling is always nice. The hike their keeps most people away.

Has anyone ever snorkeled to that rock out in the middle of Salt Pond Bay?

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Thanks all! Good suggestions, lots that we've loved and a couple we'll slap on the to do list. Has anybody read the article in Outside mag about the two guys who swam island to island? I guess I'm thinking REAL adventure!

We did a half day kayak/snorkel trip through Low Key that was fun. Paddle out to an island off Caneel, good snorkeling for an hour, paddle over to Honeymoon beach for an hour and then paddle back to Cruz Bay. Great way to burn off some calories if you DRANK alot the night before!

Swoop

I actually laughed out loud! Good one.

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Steve S wrote:Has anyone ever snorkeled to that rock out in the middle of Salt Pond Bay?

Steve, we snorkeled that rock our first trip. It was worth the swim and probably was the best snorkeling we had that trip. You can hike way out the right side of the bay and swim in from there. We didn't take any flotation device and I wouldn't swim out to it if waves are breaking over the rock. My biggest fear was getting run over by a sailboat, but it wasn't a problem. Well worth it!

Ken

Ken wrote:

Steve S wrote:Has anyone ever snorkeled to that rock out in the middle of Salt Pond Bay?

Steve, we snorkeled that rock our first trip. It was worth the swim and probably was the best snorkeling we had that trip. You can hike way out the right side of the bay and swim in from there. We didn't take any flotation device and I wouldn't swim out to it if waves are breaking over the rock. My biggest fear was getting run over by a sailboat, but it wasn't a problem. Well worth it!

Ken

when we were there we saw a guy swimming past it...not snorkleing, just swimming. He slowly crawled into the bay...swam to and around the rock...and out and around the point to the west. MARATHON SWIMMING!!!!

For sure I will be heading out to those rocks this next trip. I am looking forward to LONG days on the beach without that rushed feeling I felt on a 1 week trip last year.

Steve S wrote:
Has anyone ever snorkeled to that rock out in the middle of Salt Pond Bay?


Did it last year thought it was really good but the ocean was pretty rough that day. Started to get seasick and was out there by myself without any flotation device long swim and i consider myself a strong swimmer learned a valuable lesson that day.Would reccomend it for sure but take a flotation device