Snorkeling Waterlemon Cay

[Lindy]

OK all you forumites.....help me with a dilemma. I'm heading back in less than 3 weeks and one of the snorkels that I would LOVE to do is the loop around Waterlemon Cay. I'm going with just ladies this time and I doubt that none of them would be interested in making the trip with me under their own power. I'm a pretty strong swimmer but I don't think any of them would feel comfortable swimming it with me and hubby has made me promise not to do long snorkels without a buddy. Can we rent kayaks to get out to the Cay and then just snorkel from the beach? If so, where to rent? I know I'd get some takers if we could use kayaks or something like that. Plus it would be fun to take a cooler and hang out there for while and have lunch before heading back. We also talked about taking the kayak eco tour. Anyone done that? How did you like it? Thank in advance!

[toes in the sand]

I think the closest kayak rental would be at Maho. That would be a very long yak trip around Mary Point and in somewhat open water (never been past Whistling Cay but I am guessing it would be open water) Unless you could put the yaks on/in the jeep to get them to Leinster bay and paddle from there. I don't know if Maho allows that. Really, the swim to Waterlemon is relatively short from the rocks at the point of Leinster Bay. There is a sandy area to sit and rest on the cay. If you swim with the current and don't fight it the swim is an easy one. But if these ladies are not comfortable with it I would suggest that you not take them. You might find yourself having to tow them back to shore. Perhaps you could have one of them walk with you out to the rock point when there are other snorkelers in the water around the cay. I have never been to Waterlemon when there wasn't at least one other group there.

[Muhaha]

Kayaks from Maho may be quite difficult around the point. But, you could rent a dinghy from Noah's and tie up on the mooring balls. A huge bonus would be the ability to stop for snorkels at Whistling and Henley Cays on the return back to Cruz Bay.

[Chicken]

If you go through Low Key, you can rent center console dinghies that look a lot more comfortable. I'd go the dinghy route. We had a blast in them. If the seas are rough, though, the trip around Mary's point would be pretty rough.

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[Need2GetAway]

We rented a dinghy from Noah's and it was great --- except they are VERY hard to get back into out there where they moor. I was able to do it, but I work out and am pretty strong. I had to drag my husband into the boat though. lol. The trip in the dinghy is fairly long, but we went out to Waterlemon first and then came back slowly, stopping at lots of beaches and Caneel for drinks. We had a cooler. The dinghy rents for half a day or all day (we did all day).

There's a pretty good current out there too. We didn't have flippers, but we should have. If your friends are worrying about drowning they could rent float belts (don't know the real name). I was pretty scared out there and I'm going to do that next time. (Dorky maybe, but who cares?!)

There is also a pretty good snorkel there closer the the beach.

[snorkles]

Just got back last night and snorkeled Waterlemon Saturday. I had my son, his wife and their 14 year old son that had never been snorkeling before this trip. They were a little intimidated at first when we got to the deep part but bucked up and went on. It is not that far until it starts getting shallow near the cay. They soon relaxed and had a great time. However, there were many sea urchins in the shallows around the cay and you have to be very careful. It would ruin your trip if someone were injured stepping on them. I was a little disappointed with the marine life I saw there. I had not snorkeled there in several years. We actually had better luck about half way between Leinster and Waterlemon. Swam with a sea turtle, rays, trunk fish, large tarpons and a baracudda. Saw bigger starfish over there too. There were lots of them near the cay but they were small. The hike down was not that bad, but coming back was another story. It is not that easy for old codgers not used to much exercise. It was very hot!

[Lindy]

Thanks everyone! Maybe I'll just invite myself along with others making the trip out there. This might be the one time that I wear my self inflate life jacket to make hubby feel better. If I don't do it this trip then I always have an excuse to start planning the next one!

[Teresa_Rae]

I wouldn't do this snorkel alone, we have done it a lot and a couple times got a really strong current and could barely make it around the cay. One of those times was especially bad and pretty scary.

I also wouldn't count on strangers to be there in case of emergency. People snorkel very differently and to stay near others making the swim would be difficult. My husband and I have very different snorkeling styles and staying near him, even when we're making an effort to do so, is always a challenge.