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snorkeling off st john

 

St John pelican beach

Snorkeling the Islands Off St John USVI

From anywhere on St John many more islands are visible. These islands protect St John from the full force of the Atlantic Ocean and Carbbean Sea. They also offer excellent destinations to explore should you decide to sign up for a day sail.

They range from volcanic rock (above) to marble, tabular basalt, blue beach and hard pavement. The snorkeling off these islands can differ dramatically, from St John and even from eachother. Generally areas with more current support healthier coral. Large tour operators avoid areas with current, leaving these areas open to explore for smaller, more adventurous groups.

Snorkeling the Offshore Islands

St John and the USVI have many hundreds of smaller islands to explore. They range in size from a few sqaure feet to over 30 acres.

Each one has unique snorkeling and is less crowded and disturbed than locations on St John.

 

snorkeling mingoIslands in the National Park

There's excellent snorkeling at the Durloe Keys. A collection of three small islands less than a mile off St John. They are part of the Virgin Islands National Park. The largest of the three is 11.4 acres and 70' at it's highest. Beneath the water you will find a healthy forest of gorgonian corals. The coral is fed by the currents between the islands, making for excellent snorkeling.

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USVI island

Snorkeling the outer islands requires some sort of vessel. Some islands are so close a boat isn't even necessary, like Trunk Cay or Cinnamon Cay on the north shore of St John.

To get to the larger islands you can take a sail boat or power boat.

 

A sailing catamaran is an excellent choice because it can land right on the beach. And sneak into areas where larger boats don't dare to follow.

 

Whistling Cay is a small, steep island off the North Shore of St John. Rich in history, tropical plants and excellent snorkeling. Large boulders have calved off into the water and, over thousands of years, been colonized by coral. You can snorkel between near vertical walls covered in sea fans and hard coral.