Trunk Bay

Talk to the life guards on the beach. They have been working at the national park for a long time and can give a lot more detail than I can. This is a great snorkeling site for both beginners or advanced. Try to get there before the place is inundated by the cruise ships.

I have been to Trunk Bay a few times to snorkel in the winter. Each time I noticed the beach may be a bigger draw than the snorkeling or diving. You must beat the cruise ship passengers there because it gets swarmed. One time we went early in the morning and we were the only ones there. It is a moment I will never forget, and it's possible for you if you get there first thing. This is the most lovely place I have ever seen. Lush mountains dotted with donkeys overlooking the sea. The visibility was not the greatest either time, the surface was choppy, and there was considerable damage to coral, as well. They do have an underwater trail for beginners. Despite all this, I enjoyed it. I think that St John probably has some other great shore diving spots. We chartered a boat and went around the island away from Trunk Bay and saw amazing animal life: a nurse shark and turtles, all just yards from the shore. I wish I could be more specific (so people could have entry points), because the conditions were great (both visibility and quality of reef). Do be careful though. Our guide, seeing we were strong swimmers, took us to a spot near the channel, and we got sucked into it and literally flew through the water. The captain had to catch us with the dingy. Lots of current in places.