USVI-On-Line

Hi - We are headed back to St. John in March after being away for a couple of years! Can't wait. This will be our second stay at a villa. Before that we had several day trips from St. Thomas. We are avid snorkelers and hardly come up for meals. I'm going through my mental list on where to go this time and I have a question for Francis Bay fans.

We have been there twice. The beach is great. We have found some good snorkeling if we swam WAY out on the right side but somehow not much else. And yet so many people here love Francis Bay. Where are we missing more good snorkeling?

Also - any areas that are problems accessing in our rental car? Lameshur was a little tough last time but we managed. Any others? We hope to get to some we haven't done before. Last time our villa agent recommended Kiddle Bay - has anyone done that?

Thanks for any advise. I think I just need to feel like this trip is almost here!
sue

First time to Francis I went right, same as you. Next time went left, swam all the way to Maho past the small beach, much better!

Here's some coral research data, you might find interesting...

http://ccma.nos.noaa.gov/products/bioge ... stj_20.pdf

http://www8.nos.noaa.gov/nccos/npe/proj ... 95&fy=2008

Saw a Reef shark on the far left side. Not that I was looking.

Had the same experience with the right side was very dissappointed. Did see the biggest stingray ever though there. Have to try the left next time. The right side at Maho is pretty good though. Really got good as ya got to the tip heading to little Maho seen a few really nice Queen Angel there.

so - to the left - close to shore - out far - or both?

thanks!
sue

We saw the BIGGEST angelfish we have EVER seen on the far right at Francis and the coral got prettier the closer to the point we got. We saw both types of turtles there (only one was a hawksbill) and lots of them.

If I were gonna do the far left, I would actually probably enter from the Maho side but that's me. I find most of the interesting fish between Maho and Little Maho at the point.

Hope that helps.

nothintolose