USVI-On-Line

We are staying at Star Villa next year, very close to Frank Bay. I have read that we can walk to the beach, but we must be careful of sea urchins when entering the water. Can anyone elaborate on that?

We have stayed within walking distance to
frank bay for the last 3 years. I have stood on the "beach" ( its really all rocks) and tried to figure out a way to get in. I think one of the St. John books tells you that there is a way.
We just walk over to Gallows and go in using their pier. We love the snorkeling around there. Frank Beach is really good for finding sea glass if you are into that. I always find alot of small green glass, with beautiful patina and smooth edges...I call them my " St. John Emeralds"

We stayed within walking distance of Frank Bay in June. Ruth said that the snorkeling is real good but we never did snorkel there. We went there for sunset on most days and that was gorgeous. Starting at Gallows is a good idea because there are rocks and sea urchins if you tried to enter at the Frank Bay beach.

My avatar is at Frank Bay.

I only worry about the sea urchins after sunset. I don't recommend swimming here after dark. I also wear water shoes.
-Ruth

Ruth, what happens after dark with sea urchins. Is it because you can't see them?

On Sapphire in St. Thomas there are hundreds of them if you go far out to your left.

I found them beautiful, but certainly kept my distance.

I have this idea that they only come out at night! Someone please correct me if I'm being a dummy here.
-Ruth

Ruth, I don't think the urchins move much. I've certainly found lots of them during the day.

Thye are more active at night, if you all that active!

Behavior of sea urchins
Locomotion by tube feet but also by movement of the spines on the underside of the body. Sea urchins are generally nocturnal, during the day they hide in crevices. However some sea urchins such as Diadema sometimes form large aggregations in open exposed areas. Despite their sharp spines sea urchins are easy game for some fishes, particularly triggerfishes and puffers. A triggerfish grabs the sea urchin with its hard beak like mouth by the spines or it blows some water towards the sea urchin and turns it on its back. The underside of a sea urchin has much shorter spines and those are easily crushed. During the breeding season the body cavity is crammed with eggs or sperms. This is one of the main reasons urchins are so attractive to fish predators (Japanese also like them for the same reason).


Some sea urchins are camouflaged. They hold on with their tube feet onto some bottom debris like rubble or pieces of seagrass and carry them on their back. Some even carry live soft corals or anemones.

Sea urchins do move often and are much quicker than you would think. They probably keep still though when they sense someone or something is around.
We actually had sea urchin roe pasta on Elba in early September and it was really good. The Italians call it Ricci and it is very popular here on the Italian islands.

I ran into someone who swims in Frank Bay every day on my way home from work today. She said, "Of course the sea urchins are there all the time, but you can't see them when it's dark. That's why we only swim here in the daytime, silly!"

Duh.

So I don't know if we made Ksea feel better about swimming in Frank Bay......but lots of people do and the snorkeling is very good.
-Ruth

Hey Ruth, I was mostly concerned about Mr Ksea, Jr being able to get to the water without getting involved with the sea urchins. I'll be sure to have him wear his water shoes! Thanks for all the great info everyone!!