Don't forget East Ender...always right on...

Thank you Blu...

Dawn: If you are going to do a lot of driving around, you'll want a car. The taxi prices really add up. On the other hand if you are going to be gone all day several days, you may only need a car for 2-3 days to see the sights. If you are out on excursions all day, you will probably want to go back, fix something in your place, get take out from Blue Moon, call Senor Pizza for delivery or something low key. When you have the car, you can go out to dinner!

IMHO, I don't ever use the car ferry to St John. If I am going to go over there, I usually want to spend some time and have dinner. The car ferry doesn't run late enough. But that is just me! 😉

Thanks East Ender!

I"m with East Ender - only if I have visitors do I take the barge to STJ....taxi to Oppenheimer/Gibney (sorry guys, it's going to be Oppenheimer to me :)...) or to Pastory Gardens....or just walk 30-45 in to Solomon across the trail.

If you plan correctly your trips, then you may be able to do without a car the first FEW days (then opt to get a car for the day on STJ and stay for dinner in Cruz Bay and take the late ferry back, if you want and not pay for 2 cars) then arrange for one the last few days. I'm not sure how you were planning your itenerary...but...

You may want to check the cruise ship schedule before going to Coki. It is a small beach, as beaches go....and when the taxis drop off the CS visitors, it can get so crowded as you won't have an easy time finding a spot to yourself without being elbow to elbow. Fish at Coki are used to being fed....but if you want to see the most variety, then Secret harbour is the place to be. I have it on good authority (a man who does the fish count for reef.org) that SH has more varieties of fish than anywhere on island...and he's been here 15+ years...and they are also used to being fed (I outta know, as I have bite marks on my fingers.... j/k. I do feed them while I am diving, though)

Hope this helps!

Now you have my curiosity going. What exactly do you feed the fish? I know lettuce for the iguanas (anything else) but not a clue what to have for the fish.

26 days and counting!

we use dogfood (or I used to use catfood, personally because the kibble is smaller & dissolves more quickly), in a sandwich-sized ziploc bag...with holes punched in it. Always remember to toss the bag in the trash when you're done, lest the turtles think it is a jellyfish and try to eat it =)

ETA: Some places sell regular dog biscuits, but personally, I prefer to keep my fingertips on the ends of my fingers rather than in the fish's mouth!

Ok, here is an obvious newbie question. WHy do you put holes in the baggie? Do you soak the food till it's soft and then toss it out to the fish? Hey, I'm a ciry girl, I've never done anything like this before, I can't wait!

26 days and counting!

The holes allow water to get to the food and let it soften. In areas where fish are fed on a 'regular basis' it will last longer....and it's much easier to get the fish fed without having to hold an individual piece of food...versus lightly squeezing a ziploc bag.

Hope this helps Lady Blue....keep a close eye on yer fingers 😉 (j/k)

LadyBlue,
In addition, after the food in the bag is soggy, it will start to come out through those same holes...so you really just have to give the bag a little squeeze anytime you want a burst of food to be released and to draw the fish to you (if they aren't swarming around you by this point, which they usually are)

Another option is frozen peas. I have been using that for 15 years in Hawaii and the fish love it. In fact they are so used to people feeding them peas there that you don't even have to open the bag any more. They follow you everywhere you go even with the bag closed. Then when you open the bag and let some of the peas come out they swam you and you feel the flutter of them all over your body. Also I have had feed several fish with the peas but you have to be careful with parrot fish and puffers. I have been bite by mistake cause I didn't let go fast enough.

Anyway just another option. I have also seen people feed cheese and bread but I always have stuff with the peas.

After reading the dry dog/cat food thing again I think I am going to do that instead. Heck I can bring my dogs dry food instead of having to go get frozen peas. GREAT IDEA! In fact one place in Hawaii (Hanauma Bay) has outlawed using peas. They make you buy pellet food that is meant for fish. I guess they think it is not healthy for the fish being feed pea, cheese, bread etc.

15 weeks to go. Don't know how I am going to make it. Boo Hoo!

Just one more thing that makes me prefer STJ: in the national park, no fish feeding permitted.