PegNDerek's Snorkeling
Where intelligent life returns to the Sea
Honeymoon Bay, St.
Johns Island, SUVA
Captain Nautica Power Raft Shore Excursion out of St. Thomas
Ship: Millennium (Celebrity Cruises)
Sailing Date: December 29th, 2002
Date of Snorkel: January 2nd, 2003
Equipment Availability: we have our own which we take with us, but snorkels, masks, fins and vests are provided on board the power raft, along with a large clear plastic “dry bag” in which to put towels, shoes, outer wear, etc…
Water Access: Short Ladder over the side of the boat, or directly from the Beach.
This was the second of two stops that we made on the Captain Nautica Power Raft (really a glorified speed boat—The Ocean Rider) Excursion out of St. Thomas. This was the better spot for snorkeling by far, although Christmas Cove on St. James was not bad. (see our review)
Honeymoon Bay is the best snorkeling site we have visited in the USVI, and perhaps one of the best sites we have been to ever! This area of St. John’s is a major hang out for pleasure yachts and other small craft, so the fish are basically provisioned from the variety of food stuffs that get blown or tossed overboard. They must eat well—very well—since they are without a doubt some of the largest reef fish we have ever seen! The usual variety was present, but their shear size was astounding! Blue Tang, Yellow-Tail Snappers, hundreds of Angelfish (including one Gorgeous Queen Angelfish that was approximately a square foot in area), Grunts, Tomtates, Butterflies, various Parrots, you name it and it was there in super-large proportions! Even the Butterfly fish were large!
The water here is very shallow (we needed our gloves to help maneuver among the algae covered rocks) and the visibility was excellent. Light for photography was also excellent even though we were here in the late afternoon. The beach was pristine despite its relatively small size, and one could see the fish swimming right up into the shallows of the beach front.
Two Warnings:
(1) Honeymoon Bay is adjacent to a “clothing optional” beach that lies just beyond the trees on one side of the beach. The site may be alarming for children, although we did not happen to see any “disrobed” people.
(2) While speed boats are a terrific way to get from one snorkeling spot to the other, this one was extremely uncomfortable. There was virtually no padding on the benches where one sits along the sides of the boat. The over-grown adolescent who drives the speed boat likes to hit every wave as hard as possible for the maximum roller-coaster effect, including cutting behind passing boats to take advantage of the waves in their wakes. This is lots of fun but very hard on one’s butt as the boat roars into the air and flops back down!
Snorkeling Grade: A+
