USVI-On-Line

Amazing snorkel yesterday at Maho!! It was our first visit and with in a second of being there my husband is pointing to the left saying "look a tarpon" and I am pointing to the right saying "look a sting ray". Apparently a group of tarpons and sting rays have taken up residence here for the past few weeks. It was a bit odd at first to walk in the shallow water with so many rays swimming around. Didn't know if any were buried in the sand. Sure didn't want to bother them.

We snorkeled out along the side toward little Maho. I can't begin to tell you how many little silver side fish there were. At one point I realized there were so many that I actually couldn't see the bottom of the sea floor. Too cool!!

We saw a turtle, couple of baracudas and an octopus, but that all paled in comparison to the show all the other fish were putting on. We had a huge school of bar jack come cruising by. They coralled the small fish against the shore and then there was such a feeding frenzy. Pelicans were diviing, tarpons were jumping and I am sure many bellies were getting there breakfast.

We took a break on the beach for about an hour and didn't even think about getting out our books. Way too much fun watching the show of fish and birds in front of us.

We are going back this morning. If the show is still there, we want to be part of it again.

Thanks for the on island report. Looking forward to reading more adventures.

Sounds like our kind of day. We always end up reading very little of our vacation books when on STJ because we enjoy just taking in the scenery and the "nature shows" like you describe. We've had the experience a couple times of being in such a huge thick school of the little silver fish that you can't see the bottom nor out very far. It makes me a teensy bit nervous hoping a big fish with big teeth doesn't come ripping through there and accidentally get me. (Yes, I know, not very likely)

Love me some Maho!

we had the same experience two weeks ago (2 weeks already!! ) and it was insane. we have a couple small videos of the tarpon, stingray, and pelicans by the shore- one form land,one when i swam through them. Maho is also where we did our night snorkel.Sure Augie will include these adventures in the TR if he doesn't and anyone wants the videos- just let me know. pretty wild stuff! have a blast!!

Looking at it with is long sandy beach an gently sloping sand that runs far out it always struck me as poor snorkeling even thought i'd never been in the water in 4 trips.

Second morning after striking out on seeing turtles Maho struck me as a good place to find some munching on the grass. Easily found several greens and was surprised how good the snorkel was on the side around the rocks, found octopus, lots of tarpon, a hawksbill, and pompano/permit. We hit it several mornings after that.

Never been to this one, but we gotta go this time, sounds great

Klike had a barjack encounter also at Maho. Check it out ya might enjoy the pics.

http://www.virgin-islands-on-line.com/f ... highlight=

I love that beach!!! And I love to snorkel there. Saw lots of tarpon, etc. in July. My son was there with his new bride 4 weeks ago and I asked them if they saw any barracuda there and they said no, but lots of big tarpon. They showed me a picture of a tarpon . . . not a tarpon at all, but a very large barracuda and evidently they saw several! My daughter in law said it was good she didn't know it or she might not've gotten back in the water! LOL