USVI-On-Line

Hi,
My wife and I will be on St John for 4 days over New Year's week. We're strong snorkelers. It's our first trip to the VI. Does anyone have opinions on snorkeling all 4 days on the island or would a day trip to the British VI be a must see?

Also, I imagine that the St John's will be pretty hopping that week. Does anyone have an inkling about avoiding crowded snorkeling sites?

Thanks,
Tim E.

I would suggest geting the "Feet & Fins" book. You will find info on out of the way snorkling sites. In general try some of the South Shore spots.

Such a dilema!
StJ offers so many excellent choices for snorkeling that if I were to find myself in this predicament I would stay on island for the four days and spend as much time in water rather than in transit to the BVI's.

The one spot in the BVI that I think offers superior snorkeling is the Indians (which are rock formations out in the open water). However, the Indians are unpredictable. Some ppl try to visit repeatedly and never have cooperative weather. If the seas are even a bit rough, forget it. If you're going over New Year's, chances are the Christmas winds will still be kicking. If you just have four days, I'd stay on St. John. I think your best bet is to rent a dinghy for the day from Noah's Little Arks and go to Waterlemon Cay and work your way back along the North Shore beaches.

alw1977 wrote:The one spot in the BVI that I think offers superior snorkeling is the Indians (which are rock formations out in the open water). However, the Indians are unpredictable. Some ppl try to visit repeatedly and never have cooperative weather. If the seas are even a bit rough, forget it. If you're going over New Year's, chances are the Christmas winds will still be kicking. If you just have four days, I'd stay on St. John. I think your best bet is to rent a dinghy for the day from Noah's Little Arks and go to Waterlemon Cay and work your way back along the North Shore beaches.

Ditto to what alw1977 said. We could snorkel the Indians all day if the weather is cooperative and the seas are light, it's an amazing place. We are also "power snorkelers" and this is the most impressive snorkeling spot we've ever been to - but the seas have to be right. There is fantastic snorkeling on STJ as well, especially for the strong snorkelers. You really can't go wrong staying on STJ. Have fun, its all good stuff.

Here is a picture of the rock outcropping call the Indians:


Another picture of an amazing number of fish that can be seen there:


More pictures from the Indians here: http://www.pbase.com/robertablake/bvi_boat_trip

As much as I love the BVI's, but if you have only 4 days on STJ you will find enough good snorkeling there. In my opinion the snorkeling is quite similar in those islands. Maybe even STJ has more snorkeling reachable from the beaches. If you would like more private snorkeling you can rent a dingy or take a private charter.

I would suggest a trip to The Baths on Virgin Gorda. Not really so much for the snorkeling, but it's just such a cool place.

Even at the peak of the season, Tektite offers almost totally deserted snorkeling. The underwater landscape is gorgeous, and we saw our first spotted eagle ray out here.
http://www.seestjohn.com/snorkeling_tektite.html
It's a little bit of an effort to get there, but I thought it was worth it.

Other less-crowded spots with great snorkeling are Blue Cobblestone and Haulover North/South.

Salt Pond Bay is gorgeous, but it can get crowded during the winter (people head over to the south side of the island when the North Shore gets a bit rough). But you can get away from the crowds and get a really great snorkel by heading out straight to the rocks out in the middle of the bay and exploring all around them. It's a long swim, but not a tough one, and it's one of our favorite snorkels on St. John...lots of bigger fish, sharks, turtles, and beautiful coral and sponge formations.

We never got to the BVI until our third trip to STJ. We'd intended to go sooner, but there was always so much we wanted to do and see on STJ that we just never got off the island. STJ will have plenty to hold you, particularly only being there four days.

Generally, the further you get from Cruz Bay, the fewer people will you be sharing the beach with. We've been on Haulover at midday in February and had the beach to ourselves. Pick up a guide book--we use "St John: Off the Beaten Track" and "Feet, Fins & 4WD". Either is fine. There's some overlap, but each covers stuff that the other doesn't. Load up your vehicle with food, drink, snorkel gear and go explore the island.

with only 4 days stay on island. Make Waterlemon Cay first pick. It's a flat one mile walk to beach and you should see sea tutles and starfish and no cruise ship people. If you are a small group maybe a dingy. I also second get Feet and Fins that what I used had great tips.

I would most definitely stay on St john.....the snorkeling is better than what you would see off a day trip boat.