Snorkeling the PRISTINE waters of Hurricane Hole on St. John, USVI (Mangroves and Sea Turtles!)

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Hi! We’re Andrew and Laura - two professional scuba divers, sailors, outdoor enthusiasts, and ocean adventurers. Join us as we share wild stories, ocean views, and useful tips with you from under (and above) the sea!
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With so many picturesque beaches, snorkeling is one of the favorite pastimes on St. John in the US Virgin Islands. Departing from shore, the white sand quickly tapers into beautiful coral reefs booming with life while green sea turtles graze in the seagrass beds nearby. What's not to love about that?
Well, I'm here to tell you about my favorite snorkel site on St. John that's NOT one of those white sand beaches. In fact, it's not a beach at all. Rather a forest. A mangrove forest, to be exact!
Hidden on the East End of St. John is Hurricane Hole - a series of small bays lined with mangroves. It's the best snorkeling spot on the island and one of the coolest places to visit in the US Virgin Islands.
If snorkeling isn't your thing, Hurricane Hole still provides an immense amount of beautiful scenery for boaters, kayakers, and paddleboarders. So even if you're not snorkeling, I recommend visiting!
As the name would suggest, it's a popular anchorage for sailors as they "hole" up in the face of hurricanes. Between the surrounding mountains and the strong root system of mangroves, the natural landscape provides the best fortification in the Virgin Islands for mariners come hurricane season.
Hurricane Hole's collection of bays and creeks consists of:
- Popilleau Bay
- Borck Creek
- Whitesand Bay
- Princess Bay
- Otter Creek
- Water Creek
- Nathaniel Bay
Towards the end of the video, we visited Lime Out VI - a floating taco stand in Coral Harbour. Before ending the day snorkeling with a green sea turtle at Hansen Bay Beach! If you haven't done a similar trip, I highly recommend you do it!
To discover a boat charter or means of exploration, check out our full article:
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#mangroveforest #stjohnisland #usvirginislands #snorkeling #caribbean #islandlife #oceanlife
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For more adventure ideas in the US Virgin Islands, head to our website at:
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