Beaches · North Side

Leinster Bay / Waterlemon Cay

Ask serious St. John snorkelers to name the single best spot on the island, and Waterlemon Cay comes up more than any other beach in this directory. The setup is a package deal: park near the Annaberg Sugar Mill ruins, walk the roughly one-mile Leinster Bay Trail along the shoreline, then swim about a quarter mile out to the cay itself, where the reef wraps almost the whole way around. Trip reports describe schools of fish thick enough to swim through, plus regular sightings of turtles, rays, barracuda, and octopus — reviewers who've snorkeled a lot of St. John consistently rank this at or near the top. The trade-off is effort and risk: the trail is rocky underfoot (water shoes come up often), and currents around the far side of the cay can get strong enough that guides recommend swimming with a buddy and staying alert to conditions rather than pushing past your comfort level. Past the trailhead, a spur climbs to the Windy Hill great house ruins and an old Danish guardhouse, with a panoramic view across Leinster Bay to the British Virgin Islands that several hikers call worth the detour on its own. No facilities beyond a bathroom near the parking area — bring your own gear and water.

Leinster Bay, North Side, St. John