ST. John :snorkeling at Waterlemon Cay to see Sea Stars

[4boysandus]

We will be on a cruise on February 20th and will be in St. Thomas. We want to go over to St. John to go snorkeling at Leinster Bay/Waterlemon Cay and especially want to see the sea stars. I've been trying to find a reasonibly priced tour to do this, but most need 4-6 passeneger and we only have 2 of us. We wonder if anyone has done this trip alone by getting the ferry over and a taxi to Leinster Bay? If so, where can you rent snorkeling equipment? And is there time to do this and get back to the ship with time to spare? Thanks for any info!

[4boysandus]

ALSO.....we will be on the Serenade of The Seas from 8-6 on the 21st, and wondered if anyone wants to do this same excursion? I have replies from several charter boat places that will take us there but it needs 6 people.

[The Islander]

To do this on your own you'd have to take a ferry to St. John. Then take a taxi to Leinster Bay trail's starting point. Hike toward Waterlemon Cay; go pass the beach a bit toward the rocky point so you get closer access to swim to the cay. You'd want to arrange for the taxi driver to return for you at a set time as there generally aren't taxis waiting around this area. If there are taxis in the area they are typically on tour visiting Annaberg Plantation which is just above the Leinster Bay trail area. Or instead of a taxi you could rent a jeep in Cruz Bay.

 

You would need to bring your snorkel gear with you, there are no amenities at Waterlemon. If you needed to rent some, then you'd want to see about renting gear at the Cruz Bay Watersports shop in Cruz Bay - its close to the ferry dock.

 

Allow about an hour to an hour 15 minutes for getting to St. John from St. Thomas. Then the taxi ride from Cruz Bay to Leinster trail is 20-25 minutes. And the hike is about 25-30 minutes. All one way.

 

--Islander

[PABirder]

4boysandus - not sure if you will have enough time for it (on a cruise) but if history serves (i.e. no recent reef bleaching events), you should be well-rewarded for the trouble of getting to Leinster - my favorite snorkeling location!