Things to do in St. John, USVI - Insider's Guide

Category: Water Activities

A list of water / water sports activities and things to do on St. John, USVI: snorkeling, boating, paddleboarding, diving, stand up paddling, boat trips

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Top 10 Things to do in St. John, USVI

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Wondering what to do while on St. John? Our page currently has 99 activity suggestions for St. John. Wondering where to start? Here is our ultimate top 10 list.

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Visit Mermaid’s Chair, St. John

Mermaids chair is a beautifully private tiny bay. Calling it a beach would be an overstatement, but depending on swell and tide level there can be a tiny pocket of sand just big enough for a towel.

Watch Sea Turtles on St. John

There are 3 different kinds of Sea Turtles on St. John or the Virgin Islands in general: Leatherback, Green Turtle and Hawksbill.

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Stingrays on St. John

Another interesting creature you might see swimming or snorkeling on St. John is a Stingray. Close to shore you are most likely to see the Caribbean Whiptail Stingray as in the photos, but if you venture further out or snorkel from a boat, you might also see a beautiful spotted eagle ray.

Are corals animals, plants or rocks?

With their hardened surfaces, corals are sometimes mistaken as being rocks. And, because they are attached, “taking root” to the seafloor, they are often mistaken for plants. However, unlike rocks, corals are alive. And unlike plants, corals do not make their own food. Corals are in fact animals.

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Go Fishing with World Class Anglers

St. John’s oldest charter fishing business has a new boat and a new website! If you are an experienced angler or you’ve never fished before, come share the fun and excitement of sport fishing on their 35′ Carolina Classic named “World Class“.

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Visit Pizza Pi, the USVI Pizza Boat

Update: Pizza Pi has reopened for the season and now is open daily!

Here is a great activity for the whole family. Visit Pizza Pi, a food boat that is moored in Christmas Cove.

Go Snorkeling on St. John

Snorkeling the waters of St. John, USVI is  one of the most rewarding and fun things to do on St. John, it’s cheap and easily accessible for anyone, the water is warm and usually calm. You can see Angel Fish, Parrot Fish, Seargent Majors, Yellow Tail Snapper, Puffer Fish to name a few and of course Sea Turtles.

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Go Freediving!

A simple definition of freediving is: “at least and inch underwater on a breath of air”.

Freediving is about exploring the underwater world holding your breath until resurfacing rather than using a breathing apparatus such as scuba gear. You will get a feeling of true ease and relaxation under water, many people describe the feeling you get while free diving as soft, smooth, quiet, serene & peaceful. 

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Recreational Fishing on St. John

General recreational fishing permits are presently not required for recreational fishers in Virgin Islands. This includes persons who engage in fishing for the sole purpose of providing food for themselves or their families and those who catch and release fish.

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Go for a nightpaddle on St. John

You have been on St. John for a while and checked all the basics of your bucket list, like Peace HillCaneel Hill Trail, Annaberg Sugar Plantation, Reef Bay Hike….. and are looking for a new adventure?

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Day Trip to Jost van Dyke

One of the most popular destinations for day trips is Jost van Dyke. Named for an early Dutch settler and former pirate, rugged scenery and colorful folklore make up Jost Van Dyke.  With fewer than 300 inhabitants, it measures just four miles by three.It retains the island culture that much of the Caribbean has lost. Jost Van Dyke is a little island with a big reputation.

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Mangrove Snorkel at Hurricane Hole

You have been to most of the famous snorkeling spots and are looking for something different? How about a Mangrove Snorkel?

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Paddleboarding on St. John

The Virgin Islands are a stand up paddler’s paradise offering everything from calm bays for beginners to crossings and crazy downwinders for experienced paddlers and if you are lucky you might find some really good uncrowded waves, too!

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Visit Francis Bay, St. John Beaches

Francis Bay on St. John has just been ranked as “12 clear water beaches you need to see to believe” by Tripadvisor. Well, almost any beach on St. John could qualify for that, but Francis really is a great beach.

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Spend a weekend on Anegada, BVI

Have you been to Jost van Dyke, Norman, Willy T. and Virgin Gorda already? Looking for something new/different? How about Anegada in the British Virgin Islands. It is about a 50 mile ride and the ocean can be rough, so it is a bit of a stretch, but it is ideal for a weekend trip.

FIsh Identification Database St. John, USVI

Try to identify the fish you saw!

Ok, snorkeling and freediving is great on St. John, we have established this. Now how about after your snorkel, you try to identify the fish & other marine life that you have seen? We came across this totally amazing website. This is a website with over 4000 (!) photos of fish and other marine life, all taken while snorkeling on St. John.

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Go Surfing on Tortola

You can find some great surfing in the Virgin Islands, especially in winter (key season: November to February but can extend into May). During summer you can have those odd days with world class surf after a tropical storm.

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Go on a Sunset Cruise or Sail

Sunsets on St. John are spectacular and even more beautiful from the water. Imagine sitting on the boat, sipping a cold drink and seeing the sun drop into the water or behind the rock.

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Go on a day sail with Sail Pepper

The Pepper is a wooden island sloop built on St. John, USVI. She is modeled after the traditonal sloops used by islanders long ago throughout the Caribbean. Join sail pepper on a one-of-a-kind, family friendly sail for a taste of St. John’s history while exploring beautiful island waters.

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Magical Mangroves Tour with Island Roots

Mangroves are flowering trees that live in saltwater or brackish water in mudflats near shorelines. Red Mangroves (Rhizophora mangle) are the most distinctive, with their complex ariel prop roots. These root systems, when submerged, support a diverse community of sponges, ascidians, algae, corals and crabs

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Charter a boat on St. John

The best way to explore the Virgin Islands is via boat and getting out on the water is the top priority of most visitors. With its warm, crystal clear, turquiose  waters, St. John is a paradise for boating.

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Go Diving from St. John

Join Low Key Watersports on their daily scuba diving  tours and discover why St. John is more fun UNDER the water.

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Rent a dinghy on St. John

Want to explore St. John’s beaches and shoreline but don’t like a captained powerboat charter? Prefer to be  your own Captain? Rent a Dinghy from Noah’s Little Arks Dingy Rental right on the Beach in Cruz Bay, St. John and you will be able to spend the entire day cruising the waters of St. John’s North Shore as your own captain!

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Paddleboard to Salomon Beach

If you’re a free, active spirit , and would rather not use a car to get to the beach, but don’t fancy a mile-long hike then a paddle to Salomon beach might be for you.

Kayak Tour St. John, USVI

Kayak Snorkeling Adventures

A great way to explore St. John is to go on a Kayak Snorkel Tour with Virgin Island Ecotours!

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