USVI-On-Line

Little snorkeling story about this location which happens to be one of my favorite spots to snorkel, tons of good size fish and easy. Well the water close to shore was cloudy that day so I decided to head for deeper water. Making the best of it out in about 20 ft of water, really like shallow snorkeling like to get up close and personal with the fishies. Then all of the sudden I see what looks like a six ft barracuda hovering a few ft from the bottom. Now I think this is cool as heck as he swims slowly around a little and I follow swimming right above him. He slowly starts to raise to the top, comes all the way to the top 3ft away from my mask totally perpendicular to me staring at me with eyes the size of 50 cent pieces and 1/2 inch daggers showing from his menacing mouth . We just have a stare down for at least 3 minutes and he wins I find my mind starting to second guess what this guy could do to me if he wanted too, even though in reality I know he was just checking me out but man he looked mean. I turned and swam away looked back and he was gone,now that really was an up close and personal snorkeling experience.By the way he was really more like 4 ft when he came up in front of me still big in my book.

Oooh, I wanna be there right now!! Thnx for the pic and Happy TGIF everyone!

Years ago there used to be a huge baracuda that patroled the beach at Solomon. He was usually in very shallow water and you could watch me from the beach as he made is rounds doing a big wide clock-wise circle. Good to know another cuda has decided to claim this area. We'll look for him in 6 days. Yahoo!!

Thanks for the great picture! It's just what I needed this morning!

Great pic!! I can take a cuda. At least this wasn't another shark story.

Hey _ I'm new to this forum....but not to SJ. We will be there in early July for the 6th year in a row. We LOVE St, John.....where was this picture taken? Looks like Honeymoon??? After 5 years, still haven't seen any turtles while snorkeling - any suggestions?

I've only been to STJ once but saw a lot of turtles at Francis and I think the other place was Hawksnest.

I have seen turtles at Salt Pond Bay on both of my trips there. Good luck. They are so cute! Beautiful picture BTW

Hey _ I'm new to this forum....but not to SJ. We will be there in early July for the 6th year in a row. We LOVE St, John.....where was this picture taken? Looks like Honeymoon??? After 5 years, still haven't seen any turtles while snorkeling - any suggestions?

I've seen them at every north shore beach I've snorkeled but your best bet is Maho, Francis and Lienster in the grass beds, morning seems to be the best, they like to hide in the rocks alot in the afternoon.I'm a snorkeling addict probably snorkel 3 to 4 hrs. every day that definetly increases your chances to see them. The pic is Solomon, around the corner is Honeymoon.

Take your time and you will see them, I have always seen them at Maho, Leinster and Salt Pond.

Thanks for the picture and story to go with it!

As for turtles,I am always lucky at Francis. Sit back and relax and watch for them to come up for air in the bay, then swim out in that direction. Usually works for me!

Tracy