The Best Snorkeling In St Thomas Usvi
- Coki Point Beach: On the north shore of St. Thomas, Coki Point offers superb year-round snorkeling. Explore the coral ledges near Coral Worlds underwater tower.
- Cow and Calf Rocks: This site, off the southeast end of St. Thomas , is the islands best diving spot. Its also a good bet for snorkeling. Youll discover a network of coral tunnels filled with caves, reefs, and ancient boulders encrusted with coral.
Easily reachable by ferry, St. John also has a number of great snorkeling spots. The best:
- Hurricane Hole : You may not immediately think of a mangrove forest as a great place to snorkel, but here coral grows in abundance on the mangrove rootsattended by huge starfish, sponges , and anemones. Its magical. SerenaSea runs snorkeling and sightseeing tours out of Coral Bay to Hurricane Hole.
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Waterlemon Cay/Leinster Bay : Easily accessible Leinster Bay, on the northern shore of St. John, offers calm, clear, uncrowded waters teeming with sea life.
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Haulover Bay : A favorite with locals, this small bay is rougher than Leinster, with a pebbly beach. The snorkeling, however, is dramatic, with ledges, walls, and nooks to explore.
Note: This information was accurate when it was published, but can change without notice. Please be sure to confirm all rates and details directly with the companies in question before planning your trip.
Best Beaches In St Thomas Us Virgin Islands
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Home » Adventure » Best Beaches in St Thomas US Virgin Islands
Who would have thought that St. Thomas, USVI has plenty of stunning beaches to choose from? From secluded shores to hidden coves, and waterfront parks to beach bars, youll be spoiled for choices. In fact, there are around 40 beaches here. Each one has its own unique character that is sure to charm tourists. No wonder cruise ships love to visit the island.
What’s in this post:
All Of The Best St Thomas Beaches
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by Kristin Young | Updated On: January 26, 2022 | St. Thomas
If youre treating yourself with a bucket-list-worthy vacation that includes sailing around the spellbinding archipelago that is the US Virgin Islands or if St. Thomas is the lucky island that got to make it as your vacation destination for the year, youll surely be trying to find the best St. Thomas beaches to visit, and weve got you covered. One of the top things to know about the beaches in the US Virgin Islands is that they are all public, but only up to the tree line. So, although some of these beaches are public, the only access is through a resort or by boat.
Naturally, being a Caribbean Island already gives it that level of awe that it so deserves, but St. Thomas has its own secret gems that make it that extra bit special.
I was going to give a rundown of which we like the best, but really, theyre all so great in their own way. These are a few of our top picks:
- Best Beachfront Accommodations:Sapphire Bay
Explore the best of St. Thomas and hike your way to secret beaches or sail across the waters before stopping at famous beaches. Hop in a taxi and spend the day at one of the party beaches, or venture to the coolest snorkeling spots on the island. You can even stay on some of the best beaches on St. Thomas.
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Honeymoon Beach St John Usvi
Honeymoon Beach is an off-the-beaten-path destination offering excellent snorkeling and other watersports in a secluded area within Virgin Islands National Park.
You can relax in a hammock on the white sand beach and snorkel close to shore or rent kayaks and stand up paddleboards and paddle to nearby Caneel Bay Beach, Henley Cay, or Hawksnest Beach. The Caneel Bay resort was decimated by back-to-back hurricanes in 2017 and has yet to be rebuilt. Youre likely to have this Caribbean paradise all to yourself as you snorkel and explore the crystal clear waters.
The area is protected as a UNESCO Biosphere Reserve and is rich with sea life. You can see up to 12 different species of sea turtles roaming the seagrass beds, as well as stingrays, spotted eagle rays, dolphins, sea fans, tropical fish, elkhorn coral, cuttlefish, blue tangs, and nurse sharks.
Snorkel gear and watersports equipment are available to rent at Honeymoon Beach, and there are various facilities, including a beach bar and grill. To get there, take a taxi shuttle from Cruz Bay with Virgin Islands Ecotours or hike a gorgeous one-mile section of the Lind Point Trail, which takes around 30 minutes.
Magens Bay The Most Beautiful Beach In St Thomas
Considered the most beautiful beach in St. Thomas, visitors will absolutely adore visiting this visually stunning beach with crystal-clear blue water. In fact, since so many people love this beach, its actually considered one of the best 10 Beaches in the entire Caribbean.
This horseshoe-shaped Beach is 1 mile long, it has beautiful white sand, and you can see the rugged northern coast in all of its splendor. There are many activities to participate in when spending the day on this beach including sunbathing, playing in the sand, swimming, walking, people watching, and more.
And if you enjoy outdoor water sports, youll definitely appreciate some of the many fun filled activities that you can participate in. There is snorkeling, kayaking, paddle boarding, surfing, boogie boarding, and a plethora of other activities that you may enjoy.
This stunning beach destination is sandwiched between two mountains. They charge a $5 entrance fee for non-residents, and if you already live here on St. Thomas, then you only have to pay $2 to enjoy the picnic tables, rental shops, bathrooms, wheelchair ramps, great restaurants, beach bar, and much, much more.
The only real drawback is the popularity of this amazing beach. So many people love it here that I can get really crowded at times. This is especially true when there are a plethora of cruise ships visiting the island at the same time.
- Equipment Rental
Parking & Beach Access:
Parking/Entrance Fees:
GPS: 18.3612° N, 64.9241° W
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Lindbergh Bay Beach Best Beach For Public Use
Lindbergh Bay Beach is an amazing place to visit because its open to the public, the water is crystal clear and very tranquil, and its easy to get to on the southern coast of St. Thomas. They named this beach after the world-famous aviator Charles Lindbergh. But it also has the very popular nickname Emerald Beach, which is part of the stunning hotel front that is also available for public use.
Youll love visiting this beach because it has a wide stretch of stunning white sand. And the beach is very active because there are a lot of things going on, which makes it very fun and exciting for everyone. Theres kayaking, windsurfing, paddle boarding, and other fun filled water sports to participate in.
Do you like going to restaurants while you spend the day on the beach? There are actually two open air bars and plenty of restaurants for you to enjoy. You can grab a snack, sit down for lunch, or buy a cold drink or alcoholic beverage to whet your thirst.
If you plan to visit the beach with children in tow, youll appreciate this beach because it also has an amazing playground right at the end. And the clear waters are amazing for swimming and the water doesnt get very rough, which is also another wonderful reason why this is such a great public beach for kids.
Features:
Location: Route 302, St Thomas, U.S. Virgin Islands, 00802
GPS: 18.3360° N, 64.9659° W
Best Snorkeling Spots In The Us Virgin Islands
These island reefs just offshore are home to eagle rays, lobsters, schooling fish and even seahorses.
The U.S. Virgin Islands offer snorkelers a wide mix of underwater attractions. St. Croix alone delivers reefs, plus a pier where small critters have taken up residence among the sponges that cover the pilings. Choose St. Thomas for its amenity-packed beaches, and for dayboats that visit offshore reefs. St. John, the most undeveloped of the three islands, offers so much solitude on the beaches and reefs, where you can swim face to face with trumpetfish, schools of fish and sea turtles. These are the best sports for snorkeling in the U.S. Virgin Islands.
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Are There Any All
Yes, St. Thomas and the US Virgin Islands is home to only one all-inclusive resort. The name of the resort is Bolongo Bay and its a beach resort thats comfortably nestled in the gorgeous white sands along the shore of the Caribbean Sea.
This one-of-a-kind beach resort was originally founded by the Doumeng family nearly 50 years ago in 1974. Guess what? This wonderful family still owns and operates this all-inclusive resort to this very day.At the resort, guests experience unlimited cocktails, 100% dining à la carte, a large selection of imported or bottled beer, complimentary water sports, house champagne and wine, catamaran sailing, and so much more. Visit their website to book your all-inclusive beautiful beach resort vacation in the near future.
The Caves Norman Island Bvi
Located at the southern end of the British Virgin Islands, Norman Island allegedly inspired Robert Louis Stevensons famous pirate novel Treasure Island. According to local legends, pirates once used the Norman Island Caves to hide their treasure, earning this area the name Treasure Point.
This snorkeling spot is best for intermediate to advanced snorkelers since the current can be stronger than in other areas. The Caves are accessible only by boat, so youll need to book a private charter or guided tour or visit with your own vessel.
As you swim through the series of caves, youll see schools of colorful tropical fish, pelicans, gulls, ferns, orange cup coral, and red sponges. Bring a dive light if you want to explore deeper into any of the caves, as it can get quite dark.
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Can I Buy Something Similar Cheaper Elsewhere
One of the most common questions that a lot of customers ask is, Can I buy something similar cheaper elsewhere? The short answer is no. When you are looking for a quality beaches in st thomas for snorkeling, the most important thing to know is that cheap is not always better. You should carefully research the best beaches in st thomas for snorkeling before buying and consult the prices on some online sales websites to make the best decision.
Buck Island Reef National Monument
Best for: Pristine coral reefs
Buck Island is a protected wildlife refuge, preserving its unique ecosystems and many endangered and threatened species. This popular snorkeling destination has an abundance of coves where you can come face to face with sea turtles, stingrays, and more. But what draws visitors to these crystal-clear waters is the barrier coral reef system, which is one of the most pristine in the Caribbean.
Turtle Cove and Shipwreck Cove are some of the top spots to snorkel on Buck Island, with excellent visibility and unique features like the Cartanza Senora wreck. In addition to marine life, you can also see a variety of birds on the island.
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What Beach Has The Best Snorkeling
We plan on staying in a condo down on Sapphire beach . I have read in the reviews that Sapphire beach is a good spot for snorkeling.
But in reading reviews on other beaches I see a lot of ppl saying that Trunk Bay on St Johns is not a very good snorkel spot.
Are there certain areas around St Thomas and St Johns that are better for snorkeling?
We have never snorkeled before and don’t really know a lot about it but I do know snorkeling is better around coral reefs right? SO how to know where those reefs and snorkel spots are?
My only source of information about everything has come from Trip Advisor. Are there some other websites I should be looking at for better information?
Sapphire beach is a very good place to snorkel. For significantly better snorkeling you will almost surely have to snorkel off a boat.
Steve
Sapphire and Secret Harbour are the best snorkeling beaches on St Thomas with Coki and Smith Bay Park right behind. Trunk Bay on St John has an underwater snorkel trail with identifying plaques. It used to be gorgeous many years ago but has deteriorated a lot although still enthralls many novice snorkelers. There are other great snorkeling spots off beaches on St John and you can certainly find loads of information about them on the St John forum. The search engine can also be very useful – just change the selection to “by date” for more recent posts. I think you’ll be more than happy with what you’ll find right on your doorstep – enjoy a great stay here!
Hi Peggy,
Are There Pink Sand Beaches In St Thomas
As hard as Ive tried to find the elusive pink sand beaches in St. Thomas, I must admit that I do not believe they exist. Lindquist Beach is one that gets an honorable mention because the sand is very slightly pinkish in color, but its not necessarily considered a pink beach. There are many amazing pink sand beaches in the Caribbean, but none of them seem to exist in St. Thomas, USVI.
If youd like to visit a pink sand beach in the Caribbean in the near future, consider the following options:
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Is The Best Beaches In St Thomas For Snorkeling Right For Your Needs
The question that you have to ask yourself before buying any of the best beaches in st thomas for snorkeling is whether or not they will suit your needs. Besides, you must clearly define what your needs and purposes are. From there, you can choose the best product and serve it according to your requirements.
Well See You On The Beach
So, there you have it, the top 10 St. Thomas beaches to enjoy on a cruise. Now that you know which beaches to hit on your next cruise to St. Thomas, start planning for your travels.
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Some important things to note is that some of the Islands beaches have remained closed after Hurricanes Irma and Maria of 2017. Beaches such as Bolongo bay, Morningstar beach, and Limetree beach are yet to be reopened.
But that still leaves more than a handful of other beautiful beaches still open to enjoy while in St. Thomas. Just remember to pack plenty of sunscreen especially for the beaches that lack shade. Carry good water shoes, a lot of the beaches on the eastern end of the island have rocky shorelines.
Dont try to experience everything in one day, just slow down and pick what best suits your needs and start from there. Remember to relax, you are on vacation after all. Happy Cruising!!
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How Many Competitors Does It Have
Many different factors go into answering this question. The number of competitors can vary greatly depending on the best beaches in st thomas for snorkeling you are dealing with and the scope of your business model. Knowing how these factors can affect your market share is important when deciding whether or not you should enter a new market.
Buck Island Reef National Monument Usvi
Located 1.5 miles off the coast of St. Croix, the 880-acre Buck Island Reef National Monument has an impressive coral reef system that draws thousands of snorkelers and divers every year.
The elkhorn coral barrier reef surrounds two-thirds of the island, creating a rich marine ecosystem home to many threatened and endangered plant and animal species. Despite damage from the 2017 hurricanes, Buck Islands coral reef continues to be one of the best in the Caribbean, with elkhorn coral reaching heights of up to 30 feet.1
The quiet lagoon is known for its calm, turquoise waters and is an excellent destination for snorkelers of all skill levels. There are many day trips and boat transfers to the island from various tour operators, or you can take your own private boat .
In addition to snorkeling, swimming, and diving, visitors can hike along the islands scenic walking trails or relax on the gorgeous white sand beach.
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Watermelon Cay St John Usvi
Located at the eastern end of Leinster Bay, Watermelon Cay is known as the top snorkeling spot on St. John. Getting to this remote beach requires a 20-minute walk along a flat, scenic trail. Because of its secluded location, Watermelon Cay rarely gets too crowded.
The area boasts an incredible diversity of marine life, with plenty of opportunities to view conch, starfish, sea turtles, sea fans, blue tangs, bluehead wrasses, parrotfish, and more. There are also many different types of coral, including grooved brain coral and pillar coral. Since the beach is rocky and there are many sea urchins, its a good idea to bring water shoes or snorkeling booties.
Watermelon Cay occasionally has strong currents, making this option best for more experienced snorkelers and confident swimmers. The western side of the cay is better protected from waves and wind.
In addition to swimming and snorkeling, visitors can explore the ruins of the 18th-century Annaberg Sugar Plantation nearby.