11 Best St. John Snorkeling Spots: The Ultimate Guide

To help differentiate between all of the St. John snorkeling spots, I have created a rating system to help you decide which ones to try out. 

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!

Ready to get in the water? 🐠

Here’s a map of the 11 snorkeling spots my husband and I explored during our 9 days on St. John. This island kept us busy!

If you’re curious how we fit it all in without completely exhausting ourselves, take a look at our day-by-day St. John itinerary. I share exactly how we balanced snorkeling, hikes, and a few “sit still and enjoy the view” moments. We are definitely planners!

If a snorkeling spot catches your eye, click into the Mini Guide. That’s where I break everything down: how to get there, exactly where to snorkel, and what you might see once you’re in the water.

Each one also includes a snorkeling map based on where we actually swam. No guessing, no vague directions.

And every photo you’ll see? Ours. Shot with my go-to underwater camera while we were out there exploring.

No stock images, no filler. Just real moments from a very memorable snorkel trip.

SUPER IMPORTANT!

If you’re planning a full-on snorkel trip and know you’ll be in the water a lot, I cannot stress this enough: bring your own well-fitted snorkeling gear.

Rentals can be hit or miss. A leaky mask or uncomfortable fins might not sound like a big deal, but after 30 minutes of adjusting, clearing water, and getting annoyed, it absolutely is.

If you’re not sure what to get, I put together a full guide with the exact snorkeling gear I use and love. It’s all been tested over years of chasing reefs around the world.

Alright, now for the fun part.

Let’s talk about the 11 incredible snorkeling spots we explored around St. John.

Salt Pond Bay Beach is an excellent snorkeling spot that pairs perfectly with a hike to Ram Head.

The crescent-shaped beach is stunning, but note that it requires a short 10-minute sun-exposed walk down to the shore.

One reason we love staying in Coral Bay is the easy access to top southern snorkeling sites like this one.

Getting there is simple, with plenty of parking, though it can fill up later in the day.

In the water, we spotted some colorful coral, a moon jellyfish, and even a family of squid.

Waterlemon Cay quickly became one of our favorite snorkeling spots.

Getting there involves a short 20-minute hike along a dirt path. Just a heads-up, the water entry can be a bit challenging due to the number of sea urchins, so wearing dive booties is a good idea.

Once in the water, we were rewarded with patches of vibrant coral and sea fans, French angelfish, a pair of sleeping nurse sharks, a family of squid, and lots of colorful fish.

I absolutely love nurse sharks. One of the best places we’ve seen a bunch of them is Shark Ray Alley in Belize.

Maho Bay quickly became one of our favorites during our time in St. John.

We found it especially great for families. The calm, shallow water is perfect for beginner snorkelers, and the nearby Maho Crossroads makes things easy. It’s right across the street and offers food, drinks, and rentals for chairs, kayaks, and paddleboards.

Parking fills up fast, so try to arrive early.

The bay has lots of seagrass beds, which means you have a good chance of spotting turtles grazing. We saw several during our visit, along with smaller marine life like a yellowline arrow crab.

Haulover Bay North is a well-loved snorkeling spot and one we really enjoyed.

Finding the entry point can be a bit tricky if you don’t know where to look. It requires a short 5-minute walk through the woods to reach the shoreline.

This is definitely a spot where dive booties come in handy because of the rocky entry and sea urchins.

Conditions can vary, so be mindful of wind and current before heading in.

In the water, we spotted huge purple sea fans, large schools of blue tang, and a big stingray cruising along the bottom.

Hansen Bay Beach is easy to find, clearly marked by a sign off the road.

It’s a quiet, laid-back spot that offers a nice break from the busier north shore beaches. If you’re looking for a relaxing beach and snorkel combo day, this is a great choice.

Thalia, the friendly local who owns the land in front of the beach, keeps the area clean and welcoming through donations. She also rents out beach chairs, so you can lounge under the palms between snorkel sessions.

Entry into the water is shallow and sandy, making it easy to start exploring. We saw several turtles and plenty of tropical fish during our time here.

Trunk Bay Beach has a large parking area, but it fills up quickly and for good reason.

Often listed among the most beautiful beaches in the world, it’s well worth the small $5 entrance fee. If you’re planning a visit, be sure to check out my 8 planning tips for a fun and easy beach day.

This is also another fantastic option for a beach + snorkel combo day. The beach offers great facilities, making it easy to grab a drink or a bite to eat between swims.

While the snorkeling wasn’t the best we’ve experienced, we still enjoyed hopping in the water. We spotted a few coral patches, sea fans, and plenty of sergeant majors.

The setting alone made it worth it.

If the parking lot at Trunk Bay is full, just head next door to Cinnamon Bay Beach.

The beach is stunning, and in our experience, the snorkeling was actually better than at Trunk Bay.

Entry into the water is simple and smooth. We spotted patches of colorful coral, lots of fish including sergeant majors and French grunts, and even caught a quick glimpse of a fast-moving lemon shark.

We chose to snorkel at Blue Cobblestone Beach after our hot and sweaty hike to Ram Head, we were more than ready for a refreshing dip.

Entry was tricky, with lots of rocks and sea urchins to carefully navigate.

The snorkeling itself wasn’t really worth it. We saw a few blue tang and small pockets of coral, but nothing too exciting.

That said, the cool water felt amazing after the hike, and for that alone, it was worth the stop.

Little Lameshur Bay Beach is an excellent snorkeling spot, but getting there takes some effort.

You’ll need to rent a Jeep with my favorite car rental company to handle the rough, unpaved road, which keeps the crowds away. We shared the beach with just a few others, making it feel like a hidden gem.

We snorkeled to the left toward Yawzi Point. Conditions can be challenging here, so use good judgment and only go in if the water is calm.

I was especially glad to have my snorkeling vest for this one.

In the water, we spotted a porcupine fish, a flamingo tongue snail, and plenty of beautiful brain coral, soft coral, and sea fans. The adventure was well worth it.

Grootpan Bay is another scenic and worthwhile snorkeling spot.

Like Lameshur Bay, getting there takes some effort. You’ll need a Jeep to handle the narrow, bumpy dirt road, which only fits one car in some sections.

Be sure to wear dive booties. The entry involves walking over pebbly terrain with sea urchins scattered around.

In the water, we saw large schools of fish including blue tang, along with vibrant hard and soft coral and plenty of swaying sea fans.

Are you a turtle lover?

If so, you’ll really enjoy Francis Bay Beach.

Francis Bay Beach is easy to reach and has plenty of parking. The water is calm, and getting in is simple thanks to the soft, sandy bottom.

We saw an incredible number of turtles here. The only other places we’ve seen this many were Tres Trapi in Aruba and Salt Pier in Bonaire.

Along with the turtles, we also spotted schools of blue tang, a lionfish, and even a stingray.

All of these St. John snorkeling spots are easy to access right from the shore.

But I totally understand. Sometimes it’s nice to have a guide show you the top spots without the guesswork.

One snorkeling tour really stood out during my research:

• Stormy Pirates Boat Charters

They offer multiple snorkeling stops, plus fun foodie perks like a floating taco bar, pizza delivered straight to the boat, and access to Lovango Resort and Beach Club on a private island.

The snorkeling in St. John, USVI genuinely surprised me. It was better than I expected.

What made it even better? Every single spot we explored was accessible right from the beach. No tours, no boats, no hassle. Just grab your gear and go. It made our days super flexible and full of spontaneous underwater adventures.

Overall, I’d rate snorkeling in St. John a solid 4 out of 5 snorkels. Great variety, calm waters, and plenty of sea life to keep things exciting.

Still planning your trip?

Don’t miss my travel guide packed with the best experiences to do in St. John, perfect for building your dream itinerary.

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Questions about the St John snorkeling sites we visited?

Let me know in the comments below!