St John certainly isn't "too far away" - less than a mile at the closest boundary.
The peace and quiet of the anchorages is a sharp contrast to most BVI destinations. Plenty of NPS moorings available at a fair price, excellent snorkeling opportunties and no crowds.
This may help:
https://www.nps.gov/viis/planyourvisit/virgin-islands-marine-visitor-use-information.htm