With warm, crystal clear waters and amazing sights to be seen including caves, coral reefs, shipwrecks, and beautiful tropical fish, there is a whole underwater world just waiting to be explored when you go on a St. John scuba diving adventure. And there is plenty to explore! There are over a dozen St. John dive sites, including a few shared with the island of St. Thomas and the British Virgin Islands.  Diving in the U.S. Virgin Islands is ideal for both beginners and experienced scuba divers looking for a new perspective.  Check out this list of the 5 best places to experience St. John scuba diving!

For more information on outdoor activities you can enjoy during your CimmaronStJohn vacation, read about our recommended local eco-tours and water sport outfitters ! You will love St. John scuba diving, snorkeling, kayaking, paddleboarding, and other exciting escapades.

Step 1: Get Certified for St. John Scuba Diving

One thing to remember for St. John scuba diving is that you do need to be a certified diver.  If you are not certified, check out a dive with Low Key Watersports and their Discover Scuba Dive.  Low Key Watersports in St. John offers inexperienced divers an instructional introductory course and then a shallow dive with one of their instructors.  Participants must be at least 10 years old to dive.

Wreck of the Rhone

Known as one of the best wreck dives in the Caribbean, the Wreck of the Rhone is a popular, historic dive near St. John.  The Rhone was a 367-foot merchantman sail-steamer that sank in 1867 as the result of a hurricane.  Now, this dive spot can be found in the calm waters of Salt Cay.  Movie goers will also recognize this location as the site of where The Deep was filmed.

Carval Rock

On the western tip of St. John is Carval Rock.  This dive boasts incredible views of tropical fish, including sharks and steep rock formations in up to 80 feet of water.  Because of the strong currents at Carval Rock, beginner divers should probably steer clear of this specific dive.

Congo Cay

Head west from Carval Rock and explore the many grottoes of Congo Cay.  The combination of soft coral and the abundant amount of reef fish make Congo Cay a feast for the eyes.  One particularly great thing about Congo Cay is that there are shallow areas for beginners as well as deeper crevices.  Divers should be able to see not only tropical fish but turtles and sharks as well. There are also ancient Taino rock carvings at Congo Cay alongside a freshwater pool in the Reef Bay Valley, if you’re looking for a land adventure as well!

Grass Cay

One wonderful area to experience St. John scuba diving is Grass Cay.  Grass Cay is a hot spot for adventurous divers who want to experience night diving.  After the sun sets, lobsters, crabs, and octopus make appearances that are rare during the daytime hours.  Grass Cay is worth the trip for the array of sea life found in this beautiful location!

Where To Get Your Gear

While you’re on vacation, there is no need to bring all of your diving equipment. Both Low Key Watersports and Cruz Bay Watersports in St. John have scheduled dives that include all equipment with the exception of the wetsuit.  With dives departing daily, Cruz Bay Watersports offers a Two-Tank Morning Dive.  This opportunity features two dive locations with 45 minutes spent at each destination.  Cruz Bay Watersports also offers a night dive perfect for beginners.

Return to Your Private Vacation Home

After a day spent experiencing St. John scuba diving, you’ll need the perfect spot to kick back, relax, and enjoy the sea breeze.  Here at CimmaronStJohn, we have everything from a scenic two-bedroom condo to a gorgeous 6-bedroom villa to make your vacation dreams come true. Let us help plan your trip to our beautiful island!  Just call us at 340-715-2666 to get started on your amazing vacation in the Virgin Islands.

Nothing sounds better than an afternoon lounging on St. John’s gorgeous beaches. But did you know that hiking is actually one of the most popular activities on St. John? St. John Island hiking trails offer adventurers of all skill levels views of the lush landscape, cascading waterfalls, rocky shorelines, and sandy stretches that capture the true essence of our island. The Virgin Islands National Park is actually home to over 20 trails worth exploring on your next visit! The next time you are up for St. John hiking, check out this guide to six excellent trails.

For more information on where to go adventuring in St. John, download our Mobile App on your Apple device or Android device! It includes some St. John hiking trails that you will love.  Image courtesy of The Watch Judge.

St. John Hiking for All Skill Levels

Easy Trails

Drunk Bay Trail

If you are in search of an easy walk with no hills, check out the Drunk Bay Trail. This quarter-mile walk opens up to the rocky shores of Drunk Bay Beach. Along the trail, you’ll see wild orchid-lined paths. You might even come across a donkey on your adventure. Once you reach the beach, take in gorgeous views and look for rocks along the shoreline.

Lind Point Trail

Another trail that is fairly easy to navigate is the Lind Point Trail. This St. John hiking trail leads to both the beautiful Honeymoon Bay and Salomon Bay Beaches. The highest point reached along the trail is 160 feet at the Lind Point Battery Overlook. Find a bench along the trail to rest and soak in the beauty of the Cruz Bay harbor.

Difficult Trails

Cinnamon Bay Trail

The more experienced hikers will enjoy the Cinnamon Bay Trail. The beginning of the trail starts off with a steep hill. After a strenuous hike up the hill, find the flat rock that makes a perfect bench for relaxing and catching your breath. Along the trail, you’ll see bay rum trees and a variety of fruit trees. The Cinnamon Bay Trail is 1.1 miles and mostly woodsy and shaded. Once you reach Centerline Road, head left and you will meet up with the Reef Bay Trail.

Reef Bay Trail

The Reef Bay Trail on St. John, which is Virgin Island National Park’s most popular trail, offers two different expedition experiences. If arrangements are made in advance with the National Parks Service, hikers can stride down the trail and then have the Sadie Sea boat charter give them a ride back to Cruz Bay. For more of a challenge, hikers should park at the trail head on Centerline Road, hike down, and then climb back up. Along the Reef Bay Trail, hikers will have the opportunity to see sugar mill ruins, deer, petroglyphs, and a 40-foot marvel among St. John waterfalls. The petroglyphs are decades old and said to have been carved by the Taino Indians!  These carvings can be found near the freshwater pools at the base of the waterfall. At the bottom of the trail, take a dip in the ocean at Reef Bay to cool off.

Johnny Horn Trail

The Johnny Horn Trail is a 1.8-mile trail with steep hills up to 400 feet. The steep incline is worth it to see the incredible views and historic ruins. There are five spur trails off the main trail. The first side trail leads to a great snorkel spot at Watermelon Cay. Hikers should keep an eye out for aloe lining the trail and the ruins of an old Danish guardhouse on Leinster Point.

Bordeaux Mountain Trail

To ascend Bordeaux Mountain on St. John, USVI, you must begin at Little Lameshur Bay on the south coast of the island. Here, you will discover the starting point of the Bordeaux Mountain Trail. A short dirt road leads to a small parking and picnic area, alongside the beach, and from there, the 1.8-mile hike begins. Walk along a rough, sun-exposed access road before a sign directs you onto a more shaded trail. Pass geologic survey markers and enter an overgrown tropical forest as you get closer to your destination. Another mile of hiking will bring you to the Bordeaux Mountain Road, which leads to an unmarked use trail to get to the very top. The forest canopy hides most of the views at the peak, but this rewarding summit will bring you much closer to St. John nature!

Stay With CimmaronStJohn

After you’ve explored St. John hiking, be sure to return each day to a CimmaronStJohn luxurious vacation rental. All of our villas, condos, and homes include breathtaking views of the beautiful, blue waters surrounding St. John. To start planning your getaway to St. John, give us a call at 340-715-2666. One of our elite guest services experts is ready to help you plan the vacation of your dreams!

The island of St. John is home to some of the most incredible snorkeling in the Virgin Islands.  Discover colorful fish, coral reefs, and other fantastic sea creatures at a variety of St. John snorkeling locations around the island. Some areas are off the beaten path while a few other spots are quite popular amongst the locals and tourists.  Grab your mask, snorkel, and fins and check out this list of the 8 most amazing spots for St. John snorkeling!

For more information on outdoor activities you will love near your CimmaronStJohn vacation rental, you can read our St. John Activities Guide! If features some of the best ways to explore the land and waters of the Caribbean, including St. John snorkeling.

8 Amazing Spots for St. John Snorkeling

Great Spots for Beginners

First-time snorkelers or families with children should check out Trunk Bay.  The beach can get busy at times, but this is an ideal location for viewing bright tropical fish and coral along the famous underwater St. John snorkeling trail.  Close to shore, this trail winds along and offers some great and well-traveled views. And unlike many other St. John beaches, a lifeguard is on duty.  Salt Pond Bay is another busy beach location that offers great snorkeling.  Be on the lookout for the sea turtles swimming in the sea grass beds and the large Queen Conch.  And swimming off the center of the bay, you’ll see the large rock hump!

Other Popular Snorkeling Spots

Some of the most popular snorkeling can be found at Haulover Bay and Waterlemon Cay in St. John.  Haulover Bay is named for the thin strip of land where at one time, boats could be hauled over between Coral Bay and Sir Frances Drake Channel.  Once you make it down to the beach, head to the left for the best St. John snorkeling.  Sights to be seen while swimming here include seafans, tunicates, and Caribbean fish.  There is also a variety of coral to be found here, including hard and soft coral and sponges.  Waterlemon Cay is quite calm, with few waves and a shallow reef. You will find incredible wildlife here, including turtles and starfish!=

Off-the-Beaten-Path Spots

A few of St. John’s less crowded snorkeling areas includes Hurricane Hole, Kiddel Bay, Grootpan Bay, and Little Lameshur Bay.  Hurricane Hole is known for its mangrove trees.  In these calm waters, you’ll see a variety of creatures like jellyfish, anemones, and colorful fish.  At Kiddel Bay, you’ll find underwater caves and gullies to explore not far off from the shore.  Grootpan Bay offers snorkeling at a range of 5-feet deep to 25-feet deep.  In deeper water, you’ll find a variety of sea life including rays, tangs, and lionfish.  Lameshur Bay is a great location for both beginners and more experienced snorkelers because of its shallow areas and deeper spots further out.  Snorkelers at this location will be pleased to see Caribbean lobster, octopus, and coral banded shrimp.

Start Planning Your St. John Snorkeling Trips!

Here at CimmaronStJohn, we offer spacious and luxurious properties with amazing views! And some are within a convenient location to premier St. John snorkeling spots.  Just 15 minutes from the Virgin Islands National Park and some idyllic snorkeling is our 2-bedroom, 2.5-bath Villa Jumbie with views of Coral Bay Harbor.  Families will enjoy a stay at La Sirena Villa.  This villa has 3 bedrooms and 3 bathrooms, features awe-inspiring views of Kiddel Bay, and is just a short walk from the beach.  If you desire to snorkel at Salt Pond Bay, you’ll enjoy the 2-bedroom, 2-bathroom Salt Pond Vista Villa, which is less than 5 minutes from the bay.  For reservation information or to start planning your St. John getaway, call us at 340-715-2666!