Any tips or advice on doing this? Is it a fine idea, or is there a better alternative? We are newbies with dinghies, but thinking this might be easier than hiking down on land to snorkel there. We're land-based and would rent the dinghy in Cruz Bay.

It's in the lee of St. John and if you stay close to shore, inside Johnson Reef, it should be fairly calm.

It's a pretty long way 6-ish miles as the crow flies ... not really hike-able.

If I was going to make that trip in a dingy I'd bring a hand-held VHF radio, GPS, PFD's for everyone, and water.

A small center-console boat would be much better than a dingy for this trip.

What he said!

I have done it in a dinghy rented from Noahs Little Arks in Cruz Bay.No problem. If you rent from them they will give you a map of showing you where you can go. You do need to be able to get back in the boat in deep water though.

We usually get a 1/2 day center console dinghy from Calypso. Plenty of time to make it to Waterlemon and back. I always pick a calm day. But, if you park your vehicle at the trail head by Annaberg Ruins its a FLAT 1mile hike along the shoreline Take only water and snorkle gear its an easy hike.

If it's not blowing 15k+ otherwise rent a 20'+ power boat for the day.
If Water Lemon is a must on a inflatable then make it your first stop and the return will be basically a relaxing run to the other bays.

I wouldn't do that run in a normal dinghy with 10hp outboard. Like others said a big center console dinghy or take Fretts taxi from Cruz to Annaberg and walk the mile.

We did this exact dingy trip in 2011 on our first visit to the islands. Even with their 4 person center console dingys, going out can be really rough if there is much wind/waves. The ride up the Drake channel can be real rough. The hike and the swim out to Water Lemon versus getting beat up in the dingy is the question. We've done both and aren't in the greatest shape either and I would vote for the hike and swim. My back didn't tolerate the jarring in the dingy well at all.

Yes, take a taxi from town to the Anneburg ruins and walk the trail, which is mostly flat and easy, to the beach at waterlemon. Take the time to walk through the ruins while you're out there.

Remember, if you tie up at the dinghy line at Waterlemon Cay you have to climb back in the dinghy. We've done the dinghy with the larger Calypso console and it was just fine on a calm day. The walk from Annaberg is flat and shaded, so no big deal. Pick the experience you prefer and be ready to pass on the dinghy if its rough.

Cheers, RickG

just did the trip. Great time on the dinghy from Noah's. We had the 16' for a 1/2 day. visited WaterLemon, Francis Bay, Jumbie, Honeymoon and Solomon.

16 foot dink is great. What hp engine did it have?

We just sailed back from North Sound Virgin Gorda today to Compass Point. We stopped at Water Lemon on the way. The wind was as light as my limited experience has ever seen. A center console dingy ride to Water Lemon on a day like today would be great. As you will note on this board its always about the weather and being flexible with it. Make sure you know the buoys marking Johnson Reef if you use any kind of boat.

For the record, I'm pretty sure you were going against customs regulations by stopping at waterlemon before checking in. Fines can be pretty steep too.

Matt - he's talking about leaving from Cruz Bay (STJ) and going to Waterlemon (STJ). These are wholly within the USVI. I.E. There will not be any international boundary crossing if he limits his travels to the north shore of STJ and Waterlemon.

I realize that, I was referring to the post above mine by dalegoldy commenting how on their way back from Virgin Gorda they stopped at Waterlemon. Just thought it should be mentioned for anyone else that might read this so they don't think that is ok.

Ahhhhhh sooooo.
Quite right.