Things to do in St. John, USVI - Insider's Guide

Tag: snorkeling

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Visit Mermaid’s Chair, St. John

Mermaids chair is a beautifully private tiny bay. Calling it a beach would be an overstatement, but depending on swell and tide level there can be a tiny pocket of sand just big enough for a towel.

Watch Sea Turtles on St. John

There are 3 different kinds of Sea Turtles on St. John or the Virgin Islands in general: Leatherback, Green Turtle and Hawksbill.

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Stingrays on St. John

Another interesting creature you might see swimming or snorkeling on St. John is a Stingray. Close to shore you are most likely to see the Caribbean Whiptail Stingray as in the photos, but if you venture further out or snorkel from a boat, you might also see a beautiful spotted eagle ray.

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Frank Bay, St. John, USVI

Frank Bay St. John is a lesser known beach that is only a few steps from town. It is a great beach if you have to kill some time before flying out or if you don’t have a car. It only has a few parking spaces so it is never crowded.

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Cinnamon Beach, St. John, USVI

It is a beautiful, long, white, sandy beach with plenty of space where you will always find some privacy, especially if you walk to the very far left end. It’s a beach for action: You can swim, snorkel, surf (when there is a decent Northern Swell), windsurf, sail, kayak, paddleboard and observe the site of a recent architectorial dig. There also is a loop trail through the ruins.

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Maho Bay Beach – St. John, USVI

Maho Bay Beach is another great St. John beach. The water is usually calm and it is nicely protected from the wind. It is usually the calmest spot on the North Shore and  a great spot for beginner snorkeling and paddleboarding and families with kids. When you stay close to shore, inside the bay, you will be safe even if the wind is howling.

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Trunk Bay Beach, St. John, USVI

Trunk Bay is St. Johns most famous and most photographed beach. It regularly makes it into the world’s top beach rankings. It also is one of the busiest beaches on St. John especially during the high season (winter months). And it is the only beach that actually charges an admission fee, unless you get there before 8:30AM or close to sunset (4 PM).

Go Snorkeling on St. John

Snorkeling the waters of St. John, USVI is  one of the most rewarding and fun things to do on St. John, it’s cheap and easily accessible for anyone, the water is warm and usually calm. You can see Angel Fish, Parrot Fish, Seargent Majors, Yellow Tail Snapper, Puffer Fish to name a few and of course Sea Turtles.

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Go Freediving!

A simple definition of freediving is: “at least and inch underwater on a breath of air”.

Freediving is about exploring the underwater world holding your breath until resurfacing rather than using a breathing apparatus such as scuba gear. You will get a feeling of true ease and relaxation under water, many people describe the feeling you get while free diving as soft, smooth, quiet, serene & peaceful. 

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Picnic at Salt Pond Beach (East End)

This beach feels different and also attracts a different crowd, since it is a very long drive from Cruz Bay and a relatively long walk down from the parking (about 15 minutes). Salt Pond is a beautiful bay with amazingly clear water. Bring a picnic and sit on the tables in the shade, enjoying the view.

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Mangrove Snorkel at Hurricane Hole

You have been to most of the famous snorkeling spots and are looking for something different? How about a Mangrove Snorkel?

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Visit Francis Bay, St. John Beaches

Francis Bay on St. John has just been ranked as “12 clear water beaches you need to see to believe” by Tripadvisor. Well, almost any beach on St. John could qualify for that, but Francis really is a great beach.

FIsh Identification Database St. John, USVI

Try to identify the fish you saw!

Ok, snorkeling and freediving is great on St. John, we have established this. Now how about after your snorkel, you try to identify the fish & other marine life that you have seen? We came across this totally amazing website. This is a website with over 4000 (!) photos of fish and other marine life, all taken while snorkeling on St. John.

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Fish Identification Field Guide

The most comprehensive field guide available to the tropical fishes of the Caribbean Sea, the Gulf of Mexico, Florida, the Bahamas, and Bermuda.

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Magical Mangroves Tour with Island Roots

Mangroves are flowering trees that live in saltwater or brackish water in mudflats near shorelines. Red Mangroves (Rhizophora mangle) are the most distinctive, with their complex ariel prop roots. These root systems, when submerged, support a diverse community of sponges, ascidians, algae, corals and crabs

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Charter a boat on St. John

The best way to explore the Virgin Islands is via boat and getting out on the water is the top priority of most visitors. With its warm, crystal clear, turquiose  waters, St. John is a paradise for boating.

Kayak Tour St. John, USVI

Kayak Snorkeling Adventures

A great way to explore St. John is to go on a Kayak Snorkel Tour with Virgin Island Ecotours!

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