Ok, I'll go first. My favorite beach is Chenay Bay. I often go to the beach alone and this is the perfect for a "mature" woman to go and feel comfortable. Nice beach, lots of chairs (they don't charge to use the chairs anymore, but I use common sense -- if the resort was full and there were lots of it's guests on the beach, I'd drag my chair out of the car) shade and an easy entry into the water. There is quite a bit of sea grass close in, but snorkeling is really good if you swim out to the point to the right of the bay.

Beach accessible snorkeling? I have a new favorite. Ric and I swam out to Long Reef from the Cormorant this weekend. The reef is really worth seeing. I've been here two years and the only reef I've seen like this one is at Buck Island.

My $.02, and worth both pennies.

Linda

FORGOT TO SAY I'M ON STX.

Favorites:

Beach:
St. John - Trunk Bay (I know, I know...touristy. But, still amazingly beautiful...not just the beach and water, but also the foliage/flora in the grove area). My second fav is Hawksnest.

St.Thomas - Platform. I like the seclusion and solitude - and the water is so clear, like Coki. Second favorite, Megans.

Snorkel:
St.John - I haven't really done much snorkeling on STJ. I'll have to defer to more experienced STJ snorkelers.

St Thomas - Sapphire. I've seen amazing marine life at Sapphire.

Islander, not fair as this is a trick question. I find the favorite changes from visit to visit depending on what we're there for. Sometimes we want to be alone, others we want to look around and experience. That's what makes USVI (especially STJ) so appealing. If our mood changes from day to day or even hour to hour, we just pick up and go to the beach that fits the mood.

Dial a beach...can't beat it.

Ok Chris... 🙂

So tell us your favorite beaches and what 'mood' they fit. I agree, beaches have different atmospheres - so lets here your run down.

Thanks Linda J & Bluwater for your input!

--Islander

St. Croix : Buck Island..What a nice beach adjacent to the reef. Its pristine!

St. John: Honeymoon Beach (caneel bay)..Secluded & big & little Maho

St. Thomas: Secret Harbor..uncrowded and beautiful

Beach accessible snorkeling spots:

St. Croix : I would say Buck Island, but its only accessible by boat. I dont have another fav for St Croix.

St. John : Waterlemon key.

St. Thomas: Secret Harbor..Great Marine life right off the beach!

Water Island?
Favorite Beach: Honeymoon
Favorite Snorkeling: Sprat Bay

Wait a second- if we give away our favorite spots then they'll become everyone's favorites, get overrun and risk losing their secluded or peaceful appeal- I ain't tellin'- I want snorkle spot xxx to be peaceful and quiet starting Nov 5th for one glorious week!

Hello all

St Croix beaches

Turtle Beach on Buck Island for the beauty and snorkeling

Shoys Beach for the solitude and swimming

Cane Bay Beach for the scuba diving and beach bar

Grapetree Beach for my mood swings (there ya go chris @ Work)

Davis Beach at Carombola for weddings (daughter was married there)

Alright, alright...but I agree with karrieb.

STX: Turtle Beach does it all
STT: Magens for swimming and watching the 'crowds'
Coki for snorkeling
STJ: Trunk for scenery when no crowds
Cinammon for swimming and watching the 'crowds'
Francis for snorkeling with turtles
Waterlemon for starfish and coral
Lameshur Bays for seclusion
Salt Pond for exploring

Thank you Chris!- But 'ya would have to go and mention the awesome turtles at Francis!!! ( I guess I need to learn to share)

STJ For snorkeling - Hanson's bay. Amazing very large reef.

STJ Farvorite beach is Honeymoon. Its just the ideal tropical beach and very uncrowded. Soft white sand, lots of palm trees and calm water. It also has great snorkeling by the way.

I'm a little STJ "centric" so I would say beach...Maho. Snorkeling...Waterlemon (like Jurassic Park)

I have to agree with those above who chose Honeymoon. What a perfect beach. For snorkeling, I really loved Salt Pond, but did not enjoy the beach that much. It was really hot, no shade, not pretty sand, but great snorkeling!!!! For pretty beach, nice snorkeling, and some shade, Cinnamon hands down. (The snorkeling is at the Cay off the beach.) Cinnamon also has showers, restaurant, flushable toilets, and that is a nice thing to have when nature calls.

I concur with Wes. Waterlemon Cay was fabulous SO-0 many starfish and colorful fish I felt they were placed there as a tourist lure! Plus the adventure of swimming out to the island at Waterlemon and the hike there made it so much more worthwhile!
At Trunk bay we saw a baby octupus and so clutterfish that was exciting.
I have to say all the beaches of St John are truly beautiful and unique. Some are more busy than others, some with more foilage and shade, some with more fish and fauna. However, you just cannot beat the beautiful sand, and colors of the caribbean, especially in St John.

Thank you to all those that responded - still taking votes if anyone wants to add their favorites. 😉

--Islander

All the beaches on STJ suck. There is no good snorkeling, swimming or sightseeing on any of them. Please be sure to stay off all these beaches on the dates between Feb 12 to the 19th 2006. I have heard a prediction that there will be terrible conditions on all the beaches of STJ on these dates............
Just kidding. I know that I can't have the beaches all to myself on STJ but thought I would try. Each beach on STJ has it's unique delights, too many to list. But I can almost guarrantee you can find one to your liking. STJ all the way!!!

We plan a trip to W.Isl. in Dec. with our snorkel gear. How far is it to walk to Sprat Beach from the ferry dock? Is the snorkeling better there than at Honeymoon? Any tips for us??
Thanks.
Nancy

Hello Nancy,

The walk to Sprat Bay...hmmmm. I've never walked it. The road is somewhat steep when getting from the beginning of Sprat Bay estate to the beach. I have walked to Limestone, and Sprat is further away. Guessing here based on walking part of the way and having driven to Sprat - I'd say 45 minutes to an hour.

It’s a great beach but Honeymoon is an easier, shorter walk. And has Pirate's Ridge a short 5 minute walk away for getting drinks/food.

--Islander