Snorkeling St John's Virgin Island National Park

St John's Virgin Island National Park is a fantastic active vacation sport and has a premier snorkeling sites. There is so much to do and see, that a weeks' vacation is just too short. The clear turquoise waters and bays around St John's Island has some of the best snorkeling in the Virgin Islands. Every bay is worth a trip into the water for a day of exploring. You will find a variety of fish, coral reefs, tidal pool marine life and seabirds.

Renting snorkeling gear and instruction, as well as guides are found through outfitters all over the island. However, the best outfitters are Cinnamon Bay Water sports and Cruz Bay Water sports located in Cruz Bay on the North West side of the island. Several dive shops also rent snorkel and scuba gear and run trips to the reefs. While in Cruz Bay, stop in at the Visitor's Center for leaflets on snorkeling, park activities and about the park it's self. Schedule a guided tour with one of the on duty park rangers.

St John has many guided and self-guided snorkeling trails. The National park provides instruction and guides for beginners and advance swimmers. In addition, the island has many water sport outfitters that provide guided tours both in bay and further out destinations. Their boats will pilot you to the hot spots for the best snorkeling and diving. The National Park at Trunk Bay lifeguard stand provides a guided snorkeling trail. The tour is $4 for adults and is held only on Monday mornings. These guided tours are great for first time snorkelers with the trail marked with underwater signs that identify coral reef life. Trunk Bay also has self-guided tours as well as snorkel gear rentals. The trail is 200 yards that will take up to 30 min. Another self-guide trail is located in Haulover Bay. In the 30 feet of water, the trail leads into dense reef and rocky areas where you can find an abundance of sea urchins as well as a variety of fish.

Finding great snorkeling bays is not difficult as St John Island has over 18 different bays that have something to delight sightseeing snorkelers. Great Snorkeling bays include Wateremon Bay, Maho Bay, and Leinster Bay. However, any of the bays will provide great snorkeling.

On the northside of the island, Leinster Bay is a great bay for to see parrotfish, tangs and grunts in the shallow coral reef. Further out is a drop off where blue chromis, sea turtles and gorgonians swim. A long swim into Waterlemon Bay and the Cay brings extensive coral and marine life around the rocks. The cay is teaming with a variety of fish and gorgonians. Waterlemon bay is also the home to large orange cushion sea stars. You can also see sea turtles and peacock flounder swimming pass.

Maho and Francis Bays also on the north side of the island is a great beginners spot. Francis Bay holds a number of small coral and sponge shelters that attract smaller fish. For the more advance swimmers, Mary's point is a great spot for exploration. There the reef is deeper and varied; it is a great place to see turtles, pelicans fishing, and large predator fish chasing schools of smaller fish. Maho Bay is a sea grass paradise; creating a great place to swim with the sea turtles.

Salt Pond Bay on the southern tip of the island has multiple areas to explore the coral reefs. Out in the middle of the bay you find coral covering the jagged rocks and a live coral pillar. The gay is a good place to see schools of Bar Jack fish, squid and sea turtles.

The Lameshur Bays are remote snorkeling spots but holds a great deal to see. On the eastern side of Great Lameshur bay, you will find large boulders that have form sea caves, home of large snappers. Nearby, explore the star corals and the remains of an underwater aquanaut living habitat. Little Lameshur Bay explore the small cluster rocks in the shallow water where snappers and grunts swim and hid. In deeper water, schools of fish swim and turtles swim around you.

Many of the bays have beautiful beaches that are ideal for sunbathing or swimming in the clear turquoise waters. However, vacationers can't resist dawning fins and mask for a snorkeling trip into deeper water.