Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
SNORKELING ST JOHN
St John offers loads of snorkel hot spots accessible from shore. The park service pub-
lishes an oft-photocopied but useful brochure called
Where's the Best Snorkeling?
,
which you can pick up at the park visitors center. You'll pretty much see the same
fish, turtles and coral whether you swim on the north or south side of the island; the
main difference is that it's warmer on the Caribbean south side versus the Atlantic
north side. Gold stars go to the following:
» Salt Pond Bay
» Leinster Bay/Waterlemon Cay (
Click here
)
» Francis Bay (
Click here
)
» Yawzi Point
Salt Pond Bay
ACTIVITIES BEACH
Strap on your hiking shoes and snorkel mask for this essential South Shore beach, located
a few miles from town down Rte 107. You will see a parking lot at the top of the hill and a
broad trail leading down to the beach (a 10-minute walk). The bay itself provides excellent
snorkeling in calm waters; keep an eye out for turtles and squid. At the beach's south end,
the
Ram Head Trail
takes off and rises to a windswept cliff jabbing out into the sea. The
trek is a 2-mile round trip through rocky exposed terrain, so bring ample water and sun pro-
tection. The
DrunkBayTrail
, a beachcomber's delight, also takes off from the beach. See
Click here
for details. The beach has no facilities except portable toilets. It's on the Vitran
bus route if you don't have a car. Watch your valuables here.
Great Lameshur Bay & Little Lameshur Bay
SECLUDED
BEACH
You reach these secluded beaches by following the bumpy dirt Lameshur Rd (Jeeps only)
along the South Shore from Salt Pond Bay. The first cove you hit is Great Lameshur Bay,
a stony beach that will likely be deserted. Continue down the road less than 450 yards and
you'll reach Little Lameshur Bay, with a wide, sandy apron, picnic facilities and toilets.
Beginners can snorkel around the rocks off the beach's west side and see snappers and oth-
er fish. Experienced snorkelers can head along
Yawzi Point
, the peninsula that separates
the two bays. The long swim to the tip pays off with views of an active reef and big, coral-
