USVI-On-Line

My husband and I will be in St John for almost 2 weeks soon. Although we would love to do a hike and a snorkel everyday, somehow I don't think that will happen. Since it will be our first time there we would love recommendations for the most loved snorkels and hikes that are not to be missed!

As far as snorkeling it seems Waterlemon ranks the highest, am I right?

We are looking for 5 of the best snorkels and 5 of the best hikes. -As always, thanks so much!

Snorkels from the beach:

1. Waterlemon
2. Blue Cobblestone
3. Gibney (to the right of the beach and around the rocks)
4. Francis (right side of the beach out along Mary Point)
5. Scott Beach (if you are staying at Caneel)

There are lots of hikes I haven't done yet, but of the ones I have hiked my favorite is Ram Head. Go very early and bring lots of water.

Liamsaunt,

In Francis, how far have you snorkeled out along Mary Point?
We normally head back to the beach soon after we pass one of the small sandy beaches along the way to the point because by then, my fingers start to get numb. Our tendency to observe sea creatures makes us snorkel fairly slowly so we have never gotten out to Fungi Passage. After we turn around, we snorkel the middle (on the right side) of the bay towards the beach hoping to see turtles and we always see them.

I am curious if you actually snorkeled from the beach far out to the point around Fungi Passage and how it was. Is it easily doable? The current? I know swimming back to the beach usually requires a little more effort than swimming out due to a mild current in Francis. When I'm pretty far out and my fingers are numb, sometimes the beach looks so far (but I always make it back).

Don't forget Jumbie Beach along both sides of the bay.
Pretty good snorkeling.

Hi Pickle, we go pretty far out, but not around the tip, because I have heard that the current is quite strong out there, and there's also boat traffic.

I agree that the current is a factor coming back to shore, it takes quite a while to get back, and I'm usually a little tired by the time we get back to the beach.

I like Maho, Hawksnest, Lampshere

Snorkels:

1. Haulover
2. Jumbie
3. Francis
4. Maho
5. Gibney

Hikes:

1. the stairs to Jumbie (I don't do a lot of hiking but I plan to try...
2. Ram's Head (early in the morning with lots of water)
3. SOMEDAY, probably not this trip, Reef Bay.

For a challenge, try hiking to Brown Bay via Leinster/Waterlemon. Brown bay is grassy with some coral off to the left. Lots of conch there. On the way back, stop and snorkel around Waterlemon Cay. Bring lots of water.

Do you guys all use flippers? They are kinda big and awkward to carry. Doesn't carrying all your gear, towels, chairs, coolers get a little difficult if you hike to your snorkel spot or do you have a good bag to hold all your things to recommend.

I like to have flippers ... alot more control and can move faster if you get in the currents.

I found some smaller ones and they work great.

Have a great day

I have a net back pack that will hold three pares of snorkle gear got it at a dive shop. If I'm hiking I'm not taking chairs I have a packpac cooler one person carrys that and the other carries the snorkle bag

Any beach that requires the smallest of hikes, (even Salt Pond and Honeymoon) means no chair and no cooler for us. You should be able to fit fins snorkles, masks,towels, water and a snack for 2 in a good sized day pack (think carry-on ) Save the chairs for Hawksnest and Maho. There's nothing like that cold bottle of beer waiting for you in the cooler when you get back to your car.

Mmmmmmmmmmmmmmm, I can taste it already! Thanks for the tips!

Thanks everyone for your suggestions. I really appreciate it. Choosing an itinerary can be a daunting task for a newbie but with all of your help I think we can pull it off nicely.

First day wearing a parka in nj. Going bathing suit shopping on Wednesday at Everything but water. Thinking warm thoughts until we are on St John.

Do you guys all use flippers? They are kinda big and awkward to carry.

I definitely recommend flippers. You can swim much more efficiently with flippers which means you'll be able to see more. When we go on hikes to a snorkeling spot we put a couple bottles of water, bug spray, and sunblock in our snorkel bags. The cooler and everything else stays at the car.