Salt Pond Bay Snorkeling Guide [Rated + Reviewed]

by Nichole | Last updated Jul 25, 2025 | St. John, Best Snorkeling Caribbean

St. John is one of our favorite Caribbean islands for snorkeling, and that’s saying a lot. My husband and I are avid snorkelers and have explored underwater worlds across the globe, from the Maldives and Moorea to Bonaire and Belize.

During our time on St. John, we snorkeled 11 different sites, and Salt Pond Bay stood out as a true gem. Not only is the snorkeling great, but it can be paired with a rewarding hike to Ram Head, making for one unforgettable adventure.

In this guide, I’ll share everything you need to know … how to get there, where to snorkel, and the vibrant marine life you might encounter.

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Table of Contents

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St. John Snorkeling Rating System

All of my snorkeling guides are rated based on a system I created to help differentiate all the sites we’ve visited, including Salt Pond.

Please see the key below.

The symbol used to represent the overall snorkeling experience: 🤿

OVERALL SNORKEL RATING KEY

🤿 🤿 🤿 🤿 🤿 = World-class snorkeling and worth traveling just for the snorkeling alone!

🤿 🤿 🤿 🤿 = Incredible snorkeling and should be on your list of top things to do!

🤿 🤿 🤿 = Decent snorkeling and worth the effort!

🤿 🤿 = Worth consideration if you are running out of things to do!

🤿 = Not worth it!

Love underwater adventures?

Check out my curated guide to 11 incredible snorkeling locations around St. John.

Snorkeling map of top St. John USVI Snorkeling Sites

Salt Pond Bay Snorkeling

Salt Pond Bay beach

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Rating: 🤿 🤿 🤿

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How to Get There

Hi, I’m Nichole—the discerning traveler, wine lover, and adventure seeker behind Enriching Pursuits.

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If you are coming from Coral Bay on Centerline Road, take a left on Route 107 and follow it down PAST Concordia. When we first visited, we accidentally drove into the Concordia Resort.

Once you pass Concordia, the road will turn sharply right and the dirt parking lot will be on the left.

The parking lot fills up quickly!

We went twice to Salt Pond Bay: once around 9:30 am (only 1 other car there) and once around 12 pm (the parking lot was full and we had to wait for a spot to open up).

Salt Pond Bay parking lot

After you park, walk down a dirt uneven path for about 7 minutes until you reach a beautiful crescent-shaped beach with gorgeous clear water.

Wear proper footwear. I wore my Cressi dive booties and then just slipped on my favorite travel fins at the beach.

Also, there is no shade along the dirt path and the beach. You are exposed to the full sun. Bring a hat, sun shirt (here is what I wear snorkeling), reef-safe sunscreen, and plenty of water.

Don’t forget your waterproof snorkeling bag to keep your valuables safe.

Love my Ugo!

Salt Pond Bay trail

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Snorkeling Map

Map of where to snorkel at Salt Pond Bay beach

The best snorkeling is on the right side along the rocks as you face the water. The water is usually calm.

There is also great snorkeling along the first set of jagged rocks out in the middle. If you decide to make the long swim out there, be SUPER CAREFUL because there is boat traffic.

There is also more current, so you need to be a strong swimmer. I always wear a snorkel vest.

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Entry

Entry into the water is easy. The water is shallow and has a sandy bottom.

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St. John Fish Sightings

One of the highlights was seeing a shoal (family) of squid along the rocks on the right side. We also saw patches of colorful coral.

In addition, we saw a moon jellyfish, but it was easy to navigate around.

Although we did not see any turtles or stingrays, they are often spotted due to the presence of seagrass beds.

Squid at Salt Pond Bay in St. John USVI

Gorgeous yellow coral at Salt Pond Bay in St. John USVI

Brightly-colored elkhorn coral at Salt Pond Bay in St. John USVI

Final Thoughts

The southern side of St. John USVI offers some exceptional snorkeling sites, and Salt Pond Bay is one of them.

It’s also the starting point of a fantastic hike called Ram Head. I would advise starting your day early with the hike to beat the heat and ending it with a fantastic refreshing snorkel at Salt Pond Bay.

Also, if you are an avid snorkeler, do not miss two other fantastic snorkeling sites on the south end: Little Lameshur Bay and Grootpan Bay.

I’m Nichole, the author of all the blog posts on Enriching Pursuits. Think of me as your geeky discerning travel friend who dives deep (Google Page 20, forums, travel groups deep!) to uncover the best ways to enjoy exceptional outdoor adventures and foodie experiences.

My husband and I are experienced snorkelers, day hikers, and casual cyclists who also love delicious street food, an incredible glass of wine, and the occasional Michelin-starred meal.

Balancing full-time careers, we cherish every second of our vacation days and love sharing tips to help you do the same. If this sounds like your kind of travel, subscribe below or drop me a note with any questions. I’d love to hear from you!