Snorkel· St Croix· Virgin Islands (BVI, USVI and Spanish Virgins)

Jack and Isaac Bays Preserve

17° 45.0′ N · 64° 34.3′ W

Two remote powder-sand beaches on the southeast tip, reachable only on foot, with clear water, reef snorkeling and leatherback nesting beaches. Protected by The Nature Conservancy within the East End Marine Park no-take zone.

British Virgin IslandsUS Virgin IslandsSpanish Virgins

Practical

Coordinate from GoToStCroix's listing (Isaac Bay; OSM labels Isaac Bay at 17.7494 N, 64.5718 W and Jack Bay at 17.7461 N, 64.5810 W). Isaac Bay has deeper water and fewer rocks, so it is the better snorkel; water is usually calm but can turn choppy with some current (GoToStCroix). No-take zone: all fishing, spearfishing, traps and conch diving prohibited, no personal watercraft; the beaches are wildlife preserve zones for nesting turtles. No facilities. Access by the trail from Route 82 (see Jack and Isaac Bays Trail); the south-coast reef makes landing a dinghy here a local-knowledge affair.

Best for

Wild-beach snorkeling at the island's tip

Season

Turtle nesting roughly March to October: keep off marked nests

Nearby