USVI-On-Line

Day 2 AM - Head to the South side and Great Lameshur. Some years, we hike the Tektite trail and enter the water far out in the bay. However, it is a bit rough today, so we just start from shore and decide not to go too far. I’m on a mission to find an octopus or an eagle ray, We see several squid out in Donkey Cove. Also see a Porcupine Fish, founder, turtles and misc other fish. Here is last years picture of an octopus encounter at Great Lameshur, but alas, the octopus and eagle ray elude us this time! We have our lunch with us, so spend our downtime munching on lunchmeat wraps, and potato chips, and then do some beach combing. At one point while we are eating our goumet lunch, I take a deep breath and proudly proclaimed "I'm in my "happy place".


For our afternoon snorkel, we thought we'd head to Little Lameshur and try the snorkel along the right (west side) around to Europa Bay. However, Little Lamshur is really hopping today, and we can't find a parking place so head back down the road. If anyone has done that Europa snorkel, I'd be interested in your thoughts.


I've read good things (on the forum) about Blue Cobblestone and since the seas have calmed down a bit we decide to give it a try. It's a bit of a hike to Blue Cobblestone. John and Marcia decide they just want to veg on the beach, but John volunteers to hike to the site with us and take our shoes back so we can snorkel around to Salt Pond (now you know why we bring him along) . I really enjoy this snorkel and it will definitely be on my "must do" list for future trips. It is fairly deep (in places) but has a lot of activity. Saw eels, Queen Triggerfish (my favorite fish!) Filefish, and unfortunately another Lionfish. The Lionfish was in about 20 feet of water and my free-diving skills aren't so great, so the picture I have of him isn't the best. By the time we get back to the villa, we are famished (what is it about snorkeling that gives you such an appetite!) Someone suggest Pasta, so spagetti it is!
During dinner we discuss a rating system for the creatures we see. Here is how we categorized....

Level 5 - manta ray or dolphin (hey, it COULD happen)
Level 4 – eagle ray, reef or lemon shark, free swimming octopus, large eel, batfish, balloon fish, spotted drum
Level 3 – Octopus (hiding) nurse shark, small eel, queen triggerfish, squid, x-tra large barracuda, porcupine fish
Level 2 – file fish, turtle, stingray, scrawled cowfish, trunkfish
Level 1 – most everything else

What would be on your Level 4 or 5 list?

All this snorkeling and time in the sun is taking a toll - we are ready for bed by 9:00PM. Are we party animals or what?!?


Tomorrow: - an underwater thief at Francis Bay

Sounds like you're having a great time! Yes, dolphin and Manta are certainly a "5" for me as well.... but I get excited when I see anything!

I'm excited about taking my family this December who considers a turtle a #5. They will be blown away!!

We took my daughter on a cruise in 2009 and we had several ports of call where we were planning to snorkel. Our first stop in St. Thomas, we came over to St. John and guess what? North Swells kept us from snorkeling (little did I know the other side of the island would have been fine but I didn't think we'd have enough time or capability to get there!).
Another stop was St Lucia where we planned a snorkel excursion and guess what? We got all ready to go into the water and the Portuguese jellyfish were there, they were warning everyone to get out of the water. Our last opportunity to snorkel...... which is ALL she wanted to do on this cruise was Barbados where she did get into the water, but the water clarity was so poor, she didn't get a good taste of how amazing snorkeling can really be. With 8 days on St. John in December, she will get her taste! I CAN'T WAIT!!!

Keep having a great time. Thanks for the pics! That lion fish looks big... how big would you say it was?

By the time we get back to the villa, we are famished (what is it about snorkeling that gives you such an appetite!)

Gosh, I don't know. Maybe the fact that you guys do more in a day than I do in an entire vacation?

Your levels 4 and 5 are pretty hard to live up to. The only ones I've ever seen are one (very briefly!) free swimming octopus and a large eel (head not visible). However, I think my group saw EVERYTHING on your Level 3 list on this trip! Ditto for Level 2 except the cowfish (and I have seen that one, just not this trip). Other fish that seem special to me are large angelfish (esp queen, but really all of them), peacock flounder, trumpetfish, and that damselfish with stars sprinkled over its back.

Friends who decided to forgo the Carnival parade, went to Hansen Bay and played with adoption for 15 minutes. There is also a recent you tube video of folks who stumbled upon two at Leinster!! I still frown when I think we missed the manta by one week- but I am optimistic that she will be back!!