Haulover Beach North, St. John USVI
There are a couple places in St. John where the land is there to provide a channel between one part of the island and another. Haulover Bay is one such location. Though Haulover Bay North is not much of a place for sightseeing or tourist type attractions, it is quite an interesting location in and of itself. For a chance to get away from the run off the mill tourist traps that dot St. John, haul all your things over to Haulover North and take in as much of the beauty of the shoreline as you possibly can.
Given its namesake by sailors who discovered it was easier to literally “haul over” their small vessels along the stretch of land separating the Sir Francis Drake Channel from Coral Bay than take the oftentimes treacherous route around the East End, Haulover North is the perfect spot for those who want to take a stroll along a Caribbean shoreline and breathe in the incredibly scents of the Caribbean Sea. The north-western side of Haulover North is relatively flat, stretching for about 100 yards. If you’re walking along this flat strip of land, you’ll notice the small salt pond on your way to the coral rubble beach. The north-eastern side also provides some interesting views if you’re interested in accessing the beach from that end. Following the shoreline for about half a mile, you’ll come to a small sandy beach.
Snorkeling in both areas is somewhat treacherous and is really only recommended for those who have a great deal of experience snorkeling. The snorkeling on the north-western side is rather dangerous, as the waves break along the shoreline and over the reef, relatively shallow in comparison to other parts of the sea. There are a variety of hard coral: star, brain, Elkhorn, stag horn, and pillar. You’ll also be able to see some exquisite gorgonians: sea fans, sea plumes, and dead man’s fingers. There are a couple different schools of fish that frequent the reef --tang, snapper, grunt, parrotfish, and angelfish.
From the north-eastern side, however, the water is a bit calmer. As you enter the shallow end of the water, be wary of the sea urchin that makes its home on the shoreline. The grass along the eastern coast toward the point attracts an array of underwater wildlife, including rays, green turtles, starfish, and conch. There’s a small bit of sea forest housing mangroves. There’s also a garden of sea coral past the mangroves that should provide special interest. Then you’ll come across some of the most beautiful array of coral and gorgonians: purple sea fans, star, Elkhorn, and brain coral. You’ll be able to see some parrotfish, angelfish, jacks, grunts, and schools of blue tang along the reef.
Haulover North is a small stretch of land but the underwater wildlife that inhabits the area is most definitely a sight to behold. With little in the way of amenities, there’s nothing more entertaining than just taking a picnic basket to the shoreline and enjoying the view.