3 Nights in STJ

We are looking to pick up a boat in STT, heading to STJ, and then on to the BVI. We will only do 2 or 3 nights in STJ. With a limited amount of time before heading to the BVI, which anchorages would you pick?

We are looking at a sleep aboard the night before and leaving the next morning. What is an approximation of travel time to the first anchorage? I know that it depends on which anchorage that we pick.

You can't really go wrong with any of the north shore anchorages of stj. The Caneel anchorages can be a little rolly from all of the ferry traffic. Our favorites are Leinster and Maho. West End is a quick motor from Leinster. Maho is prbly not much more than an hour from Red Hook.

Leinster Bay is great stop. Lots of mooring balls. (You pay on the honor system into a box on a raft.)If you like to snorkel, Waterlemon Cay in the bay is one of the best spots on St John. Just be careful of the current, which can occasionally be very strong around the west end. The Annaberg sugar plantation is an interesting visit ashore. If you dinghy over, be cautious of the coral heads and don't stray too far west of the landing area. (Check Google Earth - stay in the light blue!) From Leinster Bay, West End / Sopers Hole for clearance into the BVI is a 10-15 minute motor (1.85 NM).

Leinster and Maho for overnight. Some of the others are beautiful but rolly almost always. For short snorkel stops, Hawksnest and Cinnamon (turtle watching).

Trunk Bay is worth a day-stop.
Beautiful beach and there's a snorkel trail right off the beach for beginners.
There are day-moorings, and it's very close to Cinnamon / Maho for the night.

Trunk Bay is completely bleached out do to it's high volume of tourists and of course warmer water. If you want to snorkel I would suggest Leinstar or the Mary's Point at Maho

Have to agree, Trunk Bay has been a dead reef for close to 30 years due to run off and construction.
Mary Point and Whistling Cay are decent snorkel spots.

I believe the best snorkeling in St.John is Salt Pond. It's also a very quiet, protected anchorage.

Sad to hear about Trunk bay coral.
I read a NOAA report about Caribbean coral a couple of years ago, and there was a lot of discuss of it being "loved to death". Sunscreen, runoff, anchoring, etc., etc.

It does seem that the more remote coral is doing better - The Dogs, Indians, Pelican Island, Monkey Point, etc.

Walt, you forgot the major cause, Global Warming, sea temperatures are at an all time high.

Evan, Evan, Evan....
Here are the global Tropical surface temperatures according to the University of Alabama at Huntsville.
See Link: http://www.nsstc.uah.edu/data/msu/v6.0/tlt/uahncdc_lt_6.0.txt



Which dramatic temperature increase are you talking about? The one where this month's global tropical temp is less than what is was in 1983? <img src="http://www.traveltalkonline.com/forums/images/graemlins/jester.gif" alt="" />

Carol will not allow this too much longer but, every scientific pole on the planet.

Yeah, you're right. Come on guys!! Lay off the global warming stuff..

First time snorkeling anywhere was STJ Watermelon Cay Wonderfuly beautiful. 2nd was Trunk Bay and I didn't like ti as much as Watermelon Cay.

Trunk Bay is done, almost completely bleached, too many tourists. The south side has some excellent snorkeling as well. Maho/Francis has some very good snorkeling at the point

He was talking about the special interest and politicians poll. That clearly shows the end of the world is coming.