Ditleff Point Beach, St. John USVI
There are some incredible opportunities for those who have the desire to get in a great deal of snorkeling in the US Virgin Islands. Perhaps the best opportunities are on St. John, where the water is usually calm and is always clear and pristine. If you’re the type of beach goers who wants to experience as much of the underwater delights that you’ll find in the Caribbean waters, then you’ll most definitely want to make a trip to Ditleff Point.
Ditleff Point is a relatively small beach, but is protected by the beautiful shoreline that is lined with soft, tan sands --the result of Hurricane Marilyn revitalizing the beach after Hurricane Hugo washed away all of the sand. This new layer sand is incredibly soft underfoot and provides a great spot to lay down a beach towel and get a nice little Caribbean sun tan. There are beautiful shaded areas --covered by maho and sea grape trees.
This beautiful paradise is easily accessible by the sea; however, those who want to take a chance and snorkel their way to the little beach by way of Klein Bay have that choice as well. Warning: this is only to those with extensive snorkeling experience. Though it is accessible through a bit of a dive and swim, it isn’t advised for those who are just beginning to learn how to snorkel.
There’s so much to explore on Ditleff Point that just a bit of water sports won’t be enough to drink it all in. If you’re the exploring type, you’ll have to take a hike along the shoreline and get a view like no other of the island. From the beach you can walk towards a bit of rocky point. From there you can see the incredible reef that keeps guard at the coast --compliments of southeastern swells that come in from the Caribbean waters. There are also small tide pools thanks to the small reefs that line the shore. If you walk a bit further south, you’ll come face to face with a narrow passage.
All these little natural marvels are perfect for finding some of the underwater wildlife. You’ll be able to see some of the beautifully colored fish that swarm around the rocks and within the reefs. If you’d rather take a more hands on approach to viewing the marine life around Ditleff Point then you’re in luck. It’s perfect for snorkelers of all levels of experience. Near the shore the water is shallow. The waters deepen gradually, allowing everyone the chance to experience the water at their own pace. For those just beginning, there’s plenty to view near the shore --the least of which is the reef, turtles, squid, rays, and starfish. If you’re more experienced and decide to travel a little further out to the deeper ends of the sea, you’ll experience incredible sea life: beautiful coral, eels, lobsters, octopus, shrimp, and plum worms. There are also archways, tunnels, and painted walls throughout the water.