USVI-On-Line

Hey Ya'll, I have a couple questions about boating and snorkeling I'm hoping to get some inputs on.

First of all dinghys...I'm not much of a "boat guy"...if ya know what I mean (clueless). We have a party of five going next month and I'm sure we will rent a dinghy of some sort to go exploring and snorkeling...what's the deal with "parking" these boats...what do you do, tie it up to buoys? Any Other tips on how to be succesful while piloting a dinghy?

Anyone have experience snorkeling at Johnson's reef or other "secret" spots..?

Thanks!
Sherb

Oh Pia...you have no idea. I tried using my flippers. I tried as hard as I could. I didn't want tostand on the part of he motor (kind of like a little platform), that didn't feel right to me. Then husband decides he's going to pull me in by my vest. That didn't work, I got caught on part of the dinghy. Then he decides he will pull me by my bathing suit. That worked, but it wasn't pretty.

The dinghys are great. With five people go for the bigger one with the faster motor. That amount of weight will slow it down. Also, don't try to bring alot of things with you. It's not a huge space in there.

Head out to Waterlemon and then make your way back. Stop wherever you want. Watch your dinghy on the beach, the water can take it out easily, but you have an anchor to put into the sand.

A great day!

I've never done the dingy thing, but I've seen quite a few people struggling to get the thing to "stay."
I wondered if these people ever paid attention to the video. We've seen numerous attempts at Cinnamon and Maho of people trying to figure out how to use the anchor, not to use the anchor, etc. Always, some kind person ends up helping out and getting it to stay. They usually end up tying the rope to a tree. Makes us giggle to watch it. Good luck, and...watch the video!

Thanks Pia, Connie, and MG....

Appreciate the tips...we'll probably do the bigger boat with the console and rent it for a full day...cool...Sounds like alot of beer might be required....especially for my wife....
Cheers

Can't help on the dingy thing but I.ve always wanted to snorkel Johnsons Reef. I think Pia must be right there always waves breaking on it sometime not as bad as others we had the smoothest day ever at Trunk this trip and they were still breaking out there. Did get to snorkel the left side of Trunk this time, it was way better than the island I thought. Give it a try if the conditions are right. Plus ya don't have to share the beach much down there it's one of our fave spots. If your a cheapa$$ like me get there before 9 and you'll get in free

Right now, waterlemon and the plane at little cinnamon are my only definate snoreling destinations...I've also been getting crazy ideas by looking at the coral maps on the NOAA site...
http://ccma.nos.noaa.gov/products/bioge ... ocator.pdf

Any other suggestions for "must see" snorkel spots??

Just got back from 2 great weeks on STJ.

We found the best snorkling this year at Salt Pond - way out by the rocks - it's a long swim but we always find turtles and rays to watch on the way out and back. This year I watched a family of 7 rays all feeding together in a group in the middle of the bay. It was pretty cool.

Waterlemon was good too and we were treated to a large spotted eagle ray but only found 1 star fish.

I thought the numbers of fish were down this year and the water clarity was not too great but it may have been the volcanic ash that was in the air most of the time we were there.

I did notice that there were fewer people on the island this year. I think the mainland economy has really affected business on the island.