USVI-On-Line

We were hoping to spend time at some of the East End beaches this year - Vie's, Haulover, Brown Bay etc. BUT.....I've been reading St. John Feet, Fins and Four Wheel Drive and Pam talks a lot about LARGE BLACK SEA URCHINS and that getting into the water in these areas can be difficult. I AM TERRIFIED of Sea Urchins. Can anyone tell me is it really that difficult to get around them to get in the water and is the snorkeling worth it? 11 days and counting

Vie's and Haulover South/North hav few rocky sections with the small red sea urchins. We always wear water shoes. My 11 year old daughter is very afraid of sea urchins, so we make certain not to swim over them. If we get too close she tries to stand on my back.

Cheers, RickG

The urchins are there, no doubt, but not so thick that you can't merely go around them. Being black, they are very easy to see and avoid. IMHO, the rocks offer more of a challenge....

I agree with Rick - when it's a rocky entrance, wear water shoes or Tevas then throw them on the beach when you can put your flippers on. When you are coming back in just snorkel all the way in an scout out your trail back to the beach.

I have to say that they freak me out too...more than seeing a non-nurse shark has.

nothintolose

p.s. Vie's beach is great and so is her food. Warning you will burp the garlic chicken your entire snorkel

I hope Mr. Snorkelqueen will allow me to stand on his back! - NOT

They are very easy to see... and there is usually a path to navigate away from them. The taller ones in shallow water freak me out. Just take your time navigating back in to shore.

Yup, they are around, but easy to see. My mom bumped into one at Johnson's Reef (The one on the way to Salt Pond). Luckily there were many volunteers at Skinny Legs to urinate on the stings. It was painful, but the staff at Myrah Keating was great. I would stick to places that are sandy!

Elisa

I stepped on a sea urchin some years ago while lolling in the water off Vieques and I can vouch for the fact that it does hurt....sort of like getting stung by a bee several times. OTOH, in the aftermath I got waited on hand-and-foot by my then-GF for hours and hours until some local wandering up the beach clued her in that the pain usually subsides in a couple of hours at most. She poured the next rum and soda on my head!

I invested in water shoes before my next trip to the islands.