15 Incredible Spots for Snorkeling in St John USVI by a Local (2026)
Ready to go snorkeling in St John US Virgin Islands? You’re in the right place! I’ve found 15 of the best spots to snorkel in St John.
Grab your snorkel gear and let’s get ready to dive into the underwater world of my favorite Virgin Island!
I have spent over a year living in the USVI and nothing gets me more excited for the weekend than St. John’s underwater treasure trove. The marine life beneath the surface is vibrant and with the incredible clarity of the Caribbean Sea, you’ll have a front-row seat.
The calm waters in St John make for an excellent snorkeling adventure. Visibility changes throughout the year, but overall, it’s some of the clearest water I’ve seen in the Caribbean.
Whether you want to follow schools of fish or search for sea turtles in the sea grass, St John has it all!
Best Places to Snorkel in St John Virgin Islands
Before we start: A few rules to snorkeling in St John!
- Never touch any sea animals, sea turtles, or coral reefs under the water 🤿
- I like to keep you safe, so it’s best to never swim alone 👯♀️
- ALWAYS use reef-safe sunscreen. It protects the corals ☀️
Now on to the best snorkeling beaches in St John USVI!
1. Maho Bay Beach
This is St John’s number one spot, not just for snorkeling. With an exciting atmosphere, charter boats, and truck food, Maho Bay Beach is the place to be.
But what of the world beneath the surface? Well, a gorgeous beach that curves into the distance first welcomes you. Then the sandy banks roll out like the red carpet into a lush seagrass bed.
As you explore, you’ll find intermittent reefs and hard coral where marine life and often turtles and rays dance between the seagrass and reefs.
Don’t forget to grab the best snorkel gear for your trip – I don’t go anywhere in the Caribbean without it!
2. Pelican Rock from Hanson Bay Beach
Arguably the most underrated snorkel spot on the island, Pelican Rock is a peaceful treasure. However, it is a bit of a swim from Hanson Bay Beach, so it’s not a great choice for beginning swimmers.
The swim there is just as fun, though. You’ll hover over seabeds where pompanos, rays, jacks, and turtles roam.
Soon the corals of Pelican Rock come into view, where the enormous structure and intricate mini canyons will certainly put a smile on your face.
3. Hurricane Hole Mangroves
For something a little different, Hurricane Hole takes you away from pristine beaches and places you atop some incredible habitats. The intricate network of natural canals connects mangrove habitats and bays, providing calm waters and unique marine life.
The ecosystem here is very different from your classic sea corals and reefs. Along the mangrove shoreline, you’ll find many juvenile species from starfish to barracuda, not to mention southern stingrays.
4. Trunk Bay
The view from Trunk Bay is one of St John’s most photographed spots. Yet once you reach this beauty, you’ll see it only gets better. There are three shallow reefs in the small bay, but this spot has an even more memorable point of difference.
On the protected side of Trunk Bay, you’ll swim among calm glass-like water following the Underwater Snorkeling Trail – a popular thing to do in St John. This provides great insight into what you’re seeing, which can include blue bell tunicate corals, yellowtail snapper, blue tangs, and damselfish.
5. North and South Haulover Bay
For those seeking more advanced snorkeling, consider exploring North and South Haulover Bay. The North Bay faces Tortola and can boast some strong currents.
However, as you snorkel to the left of the beach, you'll see vast coral structures and an abundance of sea life. This includes deep water specials along with turtles, reef sharks, and lobsters.
On the other side, the South Bay is split into a western and eastern side. The former has boulders and interesting caves. Keep an eye out for the sheer cliff that drops into the abyss in the center of the bay.
Don't forget your reef-safe sunscreen ►
6. Salt Pond Bay (left side when looking at the water)
Salt Pond Bay is a great snorkel spot for intermediate to advanced swimmers. The best reefs are found a decent way offshore, so you’ll need to be able to get there and back effectively.
The rewards, though, are there to be discovered. As you look towards the water, set your eyes to the left of the central reef. This is where you can float above spectacular coral pillars that are equally enjoyed by tropical fish.
Salt Pond Bay is beloved among the local snorkeling crowd. But parking is limited and the beach is small, so I always get there pretty early.
As you can see, the shoreline gets a little rocky, so don't forget your water shoes.
7. Honeymoon Beach
As one of the most scenic waterfronts on St John, Honeymoon Beach is an amazing place to both snorkel and sunbathe. It's conveniently located near Cruz Bay, so this is a great stop for a day trip to St John.
The pristine waters welcome you with open arms. But for some of the the best snorkeling St John has to offer, head to either side of the beach.
Here you’ll find reefs and corals where colorful fish, conch, and the odd ray can be spotted. Like always, you can feel confident that a turtle will also come to say hi!
Protect the coral reefs in St John with reef-safe sunscreen(required by law) ►
8. Francis Bay
Further along the coastline away from the heart of Maho Bay Beach, Francis Bay is very similar. The main pros for coming here are simple: you’ll be away from the crowds.
Most of the bay is covered in rich seagrass beds which, of course, attract their fair share of turtles. As you further explore the bay’s edges, you’ll find some rock walls and corals where colorful fish dart from side to side.
9. Maho Bay
Intermediate to expert snorkelers should consider venturing beyond Maho Bay Beach to explore the bay’s outer reaches. By doing so, you’ll venture beyond the seagrass to the reefs and rocky outcroppings that boast a greater variety of marine life.
You may still spot some turtles, but I've had great luck spotting tangs, damselfish, and angelfish swimming among the purple sea fans, gorgonians, and anemones.
Booking travel soon? Here are my favorite reputable USVI resources
- Book your villas a vrbo.com
- Find tours at viator.com
- Search for hotels from booking.com
My Local USVI Partners
- Key N Go Car Rental (Use CaribbeanUncovered to let them know I sent you!)
10. Watermelon Cay
As one of the more remote snorkeling spots on St John, Watermelon Cay rewards those who head off the beaten path. Some charter boats stop here on snorkeling tours, but for most, you'll have to hike a mile from Annaberg Plantation to the crystalline turquoise sea.
On arrival, you’ll find a tiny atoll, Watermelon Cay, that is encased with lively reefs. After a brief swim offshore, you’ll be among the captivating beauty of an underwater world in full swing.
Uncover hard and soft corals, rays, turtles, and an abundance of colorful fish. The cay also has a pebble beach to relax on. Pebbles, of course can be uncomfortable, so don't forget your water shoes!
You'll soon find that the trip here is more than worth it.
11. Kiddel Bay
The coral rubble and pebbles of Kiddel Bay tend to scare away vacationers. Aka add this to your St John itinerary ASAP.
You'll definitely need your water shoes for this. Not only will the parking lot be more empty, but you’ll have one of St John’s best “quiet” beaches at your disposal.
This works great for snorkeling too, as Kiddel Bay can often feel like your own private paradise.
Along the western end, large monoliths rise out of the sea. Beneath them lie underwater canyons, arches, and tunnels (all great for freedivers) where corals, sponges, fish, and crustaceans can be discovered.
12. Long Bay
Curling around the southern end of Hansen Bay is Long Bay. Her fine, ivory sands see relatively few footsteps compared to other beaches on St John. A part of this is the location, being tucked away in the sleeping eastern end of the island.
But if you're like me and willing to make the journey, you will find immediate peace. You'll see distant boats come and go and only a few villas interrupt the natural skyline.
Then comes the snorkeling. As is par for the course on St John, you'll find a nice mix of seagrass and coral with all the usual suspects making an appearance.
13. Salt Pond Beach
Salt Pond Bay may have some fantastic snorkeling but don’t worry, there is still plenty of fun to be had if you want to stick closer to shore. At Salt Pond Beach, you’ll have an abundance of shallow, crystalline water that has excellent clarity.
As you float above sea level, you won't have to contend with much, if any, swell. For this reason, it's one of my personal favorite snorkeling spots.
In the seagrass below I often can find rays, giant hermit crabs, and turtles.
14. Lameshur Bay
You can escape some of the visiting crowds here at Lameshur Bay. The beautiful expanse gets grander, thanks to fewer swimmers as marine life seeks a peaceful alcove.
Snorkeling in Lameshur Bay starts with a lush seabed that flows with the soft current. Soon coral joins the party and smaller fish filter out among the larger species. Common sightings here include turtles, rays, and sprightly octopus. Don't worry - all the crawlers beneath the surface tend to keep to themselves.
BONUS TIP! If you’re up for the challenge, continue to swim to Yawzi Point where larger coral beds and schools of fish hang out.
15. Hawksnest Bay - My FAVORITE!
Hawksnest Bay is a conglomeration of smaller beaches that offer some great snorkeling, but even better sunbathing. These include little and regular Hawksnest Beach, Caneel Bay, and Gibney Beach.
The best snorkeling can be found at the reefs that lie at the center of Hawksnest Beach and towards the right of Gibney Beach.
These reefs have a wide variety of corals along with schools of parrotfish, wrasses, and French striped grunts.
Bonus: A few more options
Don't forget, this isn't ALL of the snorkeling in St John. You can also visit Cinnamon Bay, Denis Bay, Caneel Bay, and more.
Grab the best snorkel gear before you go! 🤩
FAQ: St John Snorkeling
There you have it, the best places to snorkel on St John. But to help you out more, I’ve answered some frequently asked questions about this beautiful island.
Does St John have good snorkeling?
Yes - St John has good snorkeling. It's particularly friendly as much of the snorkeling can be found in shallow water, making snorkeling on St John friendly to all swimmers.
Beginners and experts alike can make the most of the often calm conditions and the vibrant life below sea level that exists right off the beach. Colorful schools of fish, rays, and turtles are common sights in USVI.
Which Virgin Islands has the best snorkeling?
Out of the three main US Virgin Islands, St John has the best snorkeling. This is primarily because of the larger beaches, calm waters, and wide open bays that provide ample reefs and exotic marine life.
St Thomas has several worthy locations as well, such as Coki Point Beach. St Croix is the gateway to Buck Island, a national monument with a vast reef system and recorded sightings of 250 unique fish species.
What beach in St John has the best sea turtles?
Maho Bay is one of the best beaches in St John for spotting sea turtles. It has wide open sea beds that are great for seeing turtles without getting in their way.
For similar reasons, Honeymoon, Francis Bay, and Salt Pond are also great options.
You'll have some fantastic opportunities to witness sea turtles in the wild in St John. In fact, I've seen turtles at most of the snorkel spots listed above.
Are there coral reefs in St John?
Yes - you'll find ample reefs spread around the waters of St. John. Each is presented differently.
As I mentioned above, some beaches feature reefs towards the bookends, while others have small cays within the bay that boast some great coral reef snorkeling.
The best part is many of the coral reefs in St John are accessible by land!
Is it safe to swim in St. John?
Yes - it is safe to swim in St John. St John has some fantastic, calm swimming. Many protected beaches receive little to no swell, making them beloved among young families and those seeking relaxing swimming.
However, Haulover Bay and sections of Trunk Bay receive strong currents and swell.
As many beaches are within the National Park, you’ll see signs that warn of tough swimming conditions. Take note and stay within your abilities.
Are there sharks around St. John?
Yes, there are sharks around St John. The USVI has a reputation for great shark diving. Before you change your flight plans, the sharks in this region aren’t from Jaws.
Reef sharks are the most common species around St John thanks to the tropical waters of the Caribbean.
Tiger sharks, the second largest predatory shark on earth can also be seen here. With the right respect and space, sharks have historically rarely attacked humans.
Can you take coral from St John?
No - you cannot take coral for St John! The entire Virgin Islands protect all native coral, plants, and animals under the Indigenous Species Act.
St John is 60% national park. This includes beaches such as Maho Beach and Watermelon Cay. Thus, this landmass and sea area are protected under strict rules.
As the overused but accurate saying goes, take only photos and leave only footprints.
Can you take dead coral from the Virgin Islands?
No - you can not take dead coral from the Virgin Islands. Yes, even those pretty whitewashed corals that lie on the beach.
This is all about maintaining the natural balance of the ecosystem. In the same way a decaying tree adds nutrients to the soil, dead coral can create new sands, ocean habitats, and help the renewal of coral reefs.
Is there sea glass in St John?
Yes, there is sea glass in St John, but you've got to know where to look.
Searching for sea glass and going snorkeling don't always work hand in hand. This is because the best places to begin your search require heavy wave action.
Some good options include Hart, Frank, and Coral Bays.
Can you swim in Salt Pond St John?
Absolutely - you can swim in Salt Pond! Not only is it one of my favorite snorkel spots, but much of the bay is protected with little to no swell.
As you head further out, you’ll be met with some strong currents, so stay closer to shore if you want to keep your swim simple.
Summary of the Best Snorkeling in St John USVI
As you can see, there are over a dozen fantastic places to snorkel around St John. They range from relaxing to adventurous and allow you to see the beauty of the US Virgin Islands that lie beneath the surface.
Grab your own snorkel gear and you can hop from beach to beach all day long!
The wide open bays, particularly at Maho Beach and Hawksnest, allow you to feel alone in the water, even at some of St John's most popular spots.
With the majority of snorkeling spots being close together, on the island’s northwestern side, it’s easy to hit up multiple destinations in a day. But be sure to keep some cash handy so you can ride the “safari” from beach to beach.
Learn more about getting around St John here ►
Read More
- St John Boat Charters
- Hiking in St John
- St John Luxury Villas with Private Pools
- Places to Stay in St John USVI
- Best Time to Visit USVI
- Hiking in St Thomas
- Best Caribbean Islands to Visit in January
- Is St John Safe?
- Is St Croix USVI Safe?
- Bahamas vs US Virgin Islands
- Beaches in St Thomas
Booking travel soon? Here are my favorite reputable USVI resources
- Book your villas a vrbo.com
- Find tours at viator.com
- Search for hotels from booking.com
My Local USVI Partners
- Key N Go Car Rental (Use CaribbeanUncovered to let them know I sent you!)
