St Johns scuba and more
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Roguewarrior2
Contributor
Scuba Monster
Contributor
We are headed to St. John this November or early December 2009 for my b-day and wedding anniversary. We were married on Trunk Bay, St. John October 2004 and spent 17 days on the island. Actually, I was searching this forum for current information too. What specifically are you looking for information on .. diving, other activities, accommodations? Any ideas as to where you want to stay? We rented a villa in 2004 and dived with Cruz Bay Water Sports. I was a newbie diver then - they certified me and I plan go back for my AOW. It has been almost 5 years since I've been there, so I am curious about the other posts/opinions as well.
OP
Never been dont really know anything about it. just decided to go dive there. we have a villa, looking to dive with 6paq divers. any good bars, resturants, dont miss topside activites?
Scuba Monster
Contributor
I am sure a lot has changed on St. John in 4 1/2 years, but here are some of the things we enjoyed.
Since we are headed back at the end of the year, I checked the restaurants that are still there which we tried, liked, and therefore would try again.
Fish Trap - fresh grilled food, open atmosphere and casual
Morgan's Mango - went there for lobster one night, which was quite tasty
Paradiso - fancy, pricey, but fine dining nice
Shipwreck Landing - open air in the casual town of Coral Bay (I remember there were lots of roosters running around)
As for Bars, most of the evenings, we would enjoy the sunset from our villa with a beverage and didn't venture out for night life. But the two bars that stand out for happy hour were:
Woody's - lots of activity and people watching
Quiet Mon
Definitely rent a 4 wheel drive and take day trips around the island - there is a lot to see and beautiful vistas everywhere you look. We rented a car on St. Thomas from a rental car company that allowed you to take the car on the ferry to St. John, which worked out. The ferry was a little hard to negotiate getting on and off by car; however, the car rentals on St. John were not as nice. There is isn't much space to for rental lots, so the cars seemed well used.
We bought a book called "St. John - Feet, Fins & Four-Wheel Drive" and used it as a guide to tour the island. The book has many suggestions for places to stop along the roads and how to find spots off the beaten path including trails & beaches. If you can't find a copy before you go, check the local shops in Cruz Bay.
Leinster Bay has some excellent snorkeling. We saw huge green sea turtles, stingrays, octopus, and huge starfish that were bigger than 12 inches across. The trail to Leinster Bay starts at a Annaberg sugar ruin, which is a picturesque place to begin your walk. I prefer diving over snorkeling, but snorkeling at Leinster was pretty cool.
We did lots of excursions ... diving, 1/2 day sailing on the Spit Fire, sunset cruising & snorkling cruising (Cruz Bay Watersports), jet skiing, parasailing. My favorites were the excursions we took over to the BVI's. One all day excursion through New Horizons took us to The Baths on Virgin Gorda with a lunch stop on the way back at Marina Cay, BVI and another stop on Jost Van Dyke. You will need a passport to do the BVI excursions. It is hard for me to write more about the diving adventures or sites, since I was certified that trip and was a newbie just learning how to dive.
You can't miss the white sandy beaches on the north shore. To this day, the scenic north shore beaches of St. John are my absolute favorite in the Caribbean. I can't wait to go back!
Have fun & post a trip report when you get back! When are you going?
Since we are headed back at the end of the year, I checked the restaurants that are still there which we tried, liked, and therefore would try again.
Fish Trap - fresh grilled food, open atmosphere and casual
Morgan's Mango - went there for lobster one night, which was quite tasty
Paradiso - fancy, pricey, but fine dining nice
Shipwreck Landing - open air in the casual town of Coral Bay (I remember there were lots of roosters running around)
As for Bars, most of the evenings, we would enjoy the sunset from our villa with a beverage and didn't venture out for night life. But the two bars that stand out for happy hour were:
Woody's - lots of activity and people watching
Quiet Mon
Definitely rent a 4 wheel drive and take day trips around the island - there is a lot to see and beautiful vistas everywhere you look. We rented a car on St. Thomas from a rental car company that allowed you to take the car on the ferry to St. John, which worked out. The ferry was a little hard to negotiate getting on and off by car; however, the car rentals on St. John were not as nice. There is isn't much space to for rental lots, so the cars seemed well used.
We bought a book called "St. John - Feet, Fins & Four-Wheel Drive" and used it as a guide to tour the island. The book has many suggestions for places to stop along the roads and how to find spots off the beaten path including trails & beaches. If you can't find a copy before you go, check the local shops in Cruz Bay.
Leinster Bay has some excellent snorkeling. We saw huge green sea turtles, stingrays, octopus, and huge starfish that were bigger than 12 inches across. The trail to Leinster Bay starts at a Annaberg sugar ruin, which is a picturesque place to begin your walk. I prefer diving over snorkeling, but snorkeling at Leinster was pretty cool.
We did lots of excursions ... diving, 1/2 day sailing on the Spit Fire, sunset cruising & snorkling cruising (Cruz Bay Watersports), jet skiing, parasailing. My favorites were the excursions we took over to the BVI's. One all day excursion through New Horizons took us to The Baths on Virgin Gorda with a lunch stop on the way back at Marina Cay, BVI and another stop on Jost Van Dyke. You will need a passport to do the BVI excursions. It is hard for me to write more about the diving adventures or sites, since I was certified that trip and was a newbie just learning how to dive.
You can't miss the white sandy beaches on the north shore. To this day, the scenic north shore beaches of St. John are my absolute favorite in the Caribbean. I can't wait to go back!
Have fun & post a trip report when you get back! When are you going?
islandmon
Contributor
St. John in the U.S. Virgin Island is my neighbor, I live in St. Thomas U.S. Virgin Islands. For the best scuba go to Chris Sawyer Dive operation. I have scuba with and for years I have never heard anyone having a bad time. Visit this website for diving. The best Scuba Diving in the Caribbean world is in St. Thomas Virgin Islands
The beauty of the Virgin Islands will make you want to stay.
The beauty of the Virgin Islands will make you want to stay.
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