STX beach guidance

Cane Bay on the Northshore is good for snorkeling, though it may be crowded,

about a hundred yards west of the Divi is good place as long as it isn't choppy,

I never felt unsafe at a particular beach but I do leave my windows down and nothing left in my truck. I do avoid the beaches during Easter weekend as it gets very crowded.

Hubby and I went to the beach at South Slob where the remaines of that pier are. Only 10 minutes on the beach and our car alarm went off. Thieves broke in with a screwdriver and took purse and hubby's wallet.

I like going snorkeling at the beach shack at Tamarind Reef. I see more things than the Buck Island trail. I go SCUBA at Cane bay. I used to snorkel Cane Bay but never see as much as when I go to Tamarind Reef at Green Cay Marina

The Buccaneer beachs have good snorkeling. Also west by Cottages and Sandcastles. There is a park at the very end of the road that Cottages by the Sea is on - there is excellent snorkeling off that.

I go to the beach alone quite a bit and I would never go to any beach were I would be the only one there.

Why would anyone leave their purse in the car? You wouldn't do that in any city, why would you do it in STX?

Well I guess that in the city you wouldn't be swimming.
Before I shipped my vehicle down, I made a special hidden / locked compartment that they probably couldn't find and if they did wouldn't be able to get into without very special cutting equipment. Then I leave the vehicle unlocked.

The actual island of Green Cay (across from Tamarind) has gorgeous snorkeling. We've seen a 5 1/2 foot nurse chark, squid, thousands of conch shells, and sea fans. It gets very shallow where the waves break and it's awesome!

Hotel on the Cay in Christiansted has nice snorkeling all the way around the island. By the reef, we've often seen schools of sting rays and eagle rays, fish, sea turtles, and tons of sea urchins in various stages of development. Make sure to wear a device that shows that you're snorkeling, as many boats and wave runners come through there.

The pier in Frederiksted has great snorkeling and diving. Word is that there's a white sea horse that has taken up residence under the pier.

At the Buccaneer, by the pool in the Grotto, there is a reef that serves as an entry way to the ocean. Great place to snorkel all around there and out to the little points where the white waves break.

Dorsch Beach in Frederiksted (By Sandcastles) has that clean, white, powder sand you see in photos. Not sure about snorkeling, but it is very beautiful. Rainbow Beach is another Fsted beauty. The Hurricane washed up sand and actually gave them a beach again! not as rocky as it used to be either, and always a wonderful sunset 🙂

I've never had a problem with people at the beach, maybe it's b/c i'm a local. never leave ANY valuables in your car - in fact, sometimes it's best to leave it unlocked, lol, they usually take that as a sign that there's nothing of value. I dislike Divi's beach b/c of all the seaweed and the rough waters. Cane Bay and Carambola are gorgeous, but with the winds how they are now, it might be too cloudy for snorkeling. You can always try Buck Island, but i am a MUCH bigger fan of Green Cay Island.

top 5 beaches for winter
Anywhere on the west end. The water is calmer and clearer there in winter. I always always take guest to sandy point, not a good snorkel beach but one of the prettiest beaches I've seen in the caribbean. Park around Cottages and snorkel south. Sand is smooth with large boulders which mean fish. Swim the old pier to see fish and coral.

Shoys has more coral then fish, and is a very pretty and safe beach.

Places like Jack and Issacs and even Divi are too rough this time of year and you probably won't see much.

Personally I wait till winter is over unless I have guests.

Anytime you are on a deserted beach I would use caution. I would leave the car unlocked with nothing in it. I would not leave my spouse on the beach alone, etc...

Thanks for all your suggestions. They're very interesting and helpful.

Betty, your comment about Divi was interesting. I was there last weekend and it was, indeed, rough. But I thought I might get some better visibility if I swam out a bit. Visibility did improve once I got over the sea grass and, voila: an eight-foot spotted eagle ray swimming circles underneath me. Amazing. I also saw a small stingray in about the same place.

I also hit Cane Bay last weekend and it, too, was rough and didn't have super visibility--but enough for me to catch a small octopus (squid?) and a sea turtle.

I'm definitely going to hit the places you all have recommended. The F'sted pier and Buccaneer/Green Cay areas seem to be consistently mentioned by people when I ask.

Thanks again.

Bernie

Indeed, this has been VERY informative! Thanks to ALL! 😀

linda
i agree about the beach at sandcastles. also the water is usually calmer there.

Definately Davis Bay at Carambola. Go all the way down to the left and go out and around the rocks and you will see octopus, schools of squid, yellowtails, blue tang schools and some baracuda. The water usually can be calm and that is the best time. Also snorkeling around 8 in the morning is the best time to see the fish....also calmer at that time.