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Last year we went to Secret Harbor Beach. Do any other beaches compare as a total package for seclusion, amenities and snorkeling?
I think Secret Harbor is one of the resort beaches that fewer locals go to on weekends and cruise ship guest on weekdays... perhaps because its further to get too.. Ritz beach is the same - because of distance... Lindberg (not in the same area - down by airport) stays quiet also but not really secluded like Secret Harbor. I think the hotels along that "strip" from Secret Harbor... Elysian... Ritz offer more seclusion in general... because of location. The beach at Secret Harbor would rank the nicest though in my opionion...
--Islander
My husband and I plan to go to St. Thonas in November over Thanksgiving week into December. What about Sugar Bay is this a good area for snorkeling? I also heard that Coki beack is great. Please advise.
Iris, I have actually never snorkeled at Sugar Bay's beach so can not comment on it. I would think that maybe around the rocks would be fair snorkeling.. but definately beach hop to other because to check out snorkeling and a different environment - lots of great beaches here. Coki is great yes... for a couple reasons- easy to get to, clear water, abundance of fish, you can feed them if you want, the water is not deep...
--Islander
thanks Islander, what other beaches do you suggest we beach hop for greatn snorkeling. We are serious snorkelers and have our own equipment. Any help you can give us would be great! Also, we love to fish. How is the deep sea fishing? Where should we go or possibly book? thanks again.
Iris,
Coki Beach is very good, Sapphire Beach is good, Secret Harbor is good, Hull Bay is good - but be careful of the boats docked threre - best bet is to stay to the coast line... which applies somewhat to Secret Harbor also not because of boats but because its where the fish are. Brewers Bay has snorkeling along the coast - a bit more difficult to find the good spots the bay itself has a sandy bottom so not much to see. Head to St. John where you can hop to Trunk Bay, Cinnamon Bay, Lameshur Bay, Waterlemon Cay, maybe Salt Pond Bay. Maybe two day trips to St. John. I am sure those spots will keep you busy! Have a great trip and I look forward to hearing about how things went and how you spent/enjoyed your vacation here. If you have other questions feel free to ask.
--Islander
If you want to charter a boat for the day, the caves at Norman Island are awesome (Norman Island is the largest of the uninhabited BVI, and located in the SW part of the BVI chain). I was there this weekend and it's some of the best snorkeling in the VI in my opinion. The caves are small and easy to explore with some schools of small fish and a few lobsters hiding in there. Just off the entrance it drops off to 30-40 feet which is cool if you want to do some freediving.
I also like Coki Beach, Secret Harbour and Sapphire for snorkeling on STT. St. Croix's Buck Island National Park is supposed to be superb but I have not been there. There's also good snorkeling off some of the cays surrounding St. Thomas, such as Great St. James. You could hit these by renting a dinghy for the day.
Lonely Planet publishes diving and snorkeling guides to the USVI and BVI. The books are geared more towards dive sights but still might be of interest. See:
