Its luscious and extensive sandy bottoms means snorkeling in Magens Bay, St. Thomas, is not ideal, but you can still spot plenty of critters that crawl underneath and around the waters.
Paradise. That is the one word that comes to mind when visiting U.S. Virgin Islands. With miles of coastline that hug the tranquil, turquoise Caribbean waters, there are no better places to relax. Beaches on U.S. Virgin Islands consistently make the best of beaches list on accredited publications. St. Thomas, the heart of the islands, has over 100 miles of coastline in dab smack middle of the Caribbean which offer unparalleled views. Among countless number of beaches on St. Thomas, the standout is Magens Bay Beach on the northern shore. The warm, sparkling, white sand makes it amazing to bury your toes in and relax, but this also means that snorkeling in Magens Bay offers limited marine life to explore.
Magens Bay, St. Thomas, U.S. Virgin Islands Travel Profile
Closest Major Airport: Cyril E. King International Airport (St. Thomas, USVI) – 10 kilometers (6 miles) away, 20 minute drive
- The only commercial airport in the U.S. Virgin Islands is Cyrile E. King International Airport, which is in Charlotte Amalie in St. Thomas. It is one of the busiest airports in the Caribbean. It’s about a twenty minute drive from Magens Bay, which is on the north shore of the island, whereas the airport is on the southern shore. However, depending on whether your accommodation is on St. Thomas, it can take anywhere up to an hour.
Closest Major Metro Area: Charlotte Amalie, St. Thomas
- Charlotte Amalie is the capital of U.S. Virgin Islands. Named after the queen consort of King Christian or Denmark, it was once notorious for pirate activity during the 17th century. The city has a population of approximately 15,000, making it the largest city in the U.S. Virgin Islands. The city is notable for its Danish architecture, as well as its extensive shopping options and vibrant nightlife.
Recommended Method of Transportation to Destination: Fly into Cyril E. King International Airport, Drive to Magens Bay.
- There aren’t many options to choose from on getting to the U.S. Virgin Islands, so this will be simple. Fly into Cyril E. King Airport, rent a car, and then drive to your accommodation. Since Charlotte Amalie is the main point of transportation to the entire USVI, there is the convenience of being center of all connections. Nothing else to think of, because any other alternatives will be inefficient and/or expensive.
Introduction
The Virgin Islands were named by Christopher Columbus, who passed by the islands during his second voyage, after Saint Ursula and the 11,000 virgins. For most of its post European settlement history, the Virgin Islands were under the rule of the Danes. The Dane rule never went smoothly as settlement plans never went according to plan. The Danes encountered two slave rebellions over two centuries, eventually resulting in abolishment of slavery by mid-19th century. Without slavery, profits dropped, and with the Virgin Islands bleeding money, the Danes sold it to the United States, who wanted to turn it into a naval base.
The U.S. Virgin Islands consist of three islands: St. Thomas, St. John, and St. Croix. St. Thomas and St. John are in the north and next to each other. St. Croix, which is the biggest island, is approximately forty miles south of St. Thomas. Each island has its own flavor, which makes USVI island hopping amazing.
St. Croix is famous for its Danish architecture that accompanies the miles of coastline and boats that sail around. St. Thomas is the urban center of the islands and its main city, Charlotte Amalie, features plenty of good shopping and nightlife. Last but not least, St. John is the smallest of them all, but is home to miles of coastline with hidden coves and tranquility inside the Virgin Islands National Park.
Where to Go Snorkeling in Magens Bay, St. Thomas, USVI
Magens Bay Beach is one of the most population beaches in St. Thomas. It is located right in middle of the island on the north shore, therefore very accessible from anywhere on the island. It can get very crowded from time to time, but of course that just means it is worth checking out. Magens Bay is very deep geographically, as the Peterborg peninsula juts out towards northwest and forms a long rectangle. As such, the waters are usually very calm, which would mean that snorkeling in Magens Bay may be worth the time.
It would appear that Magens Bay has the perfect recipe for a dual beach and underwater activity day. But what makes it one of the most stunning beaches in the world, the prevalence of amazing, white sand, also deprives it of becoming a legitimate snorkeling destination. There is only sand and no corals at the bottom of the beach So unfortunately, the snorkeling in Magens Bay can be wanting. But if you decide to take the dive in, you will see a wide variety of critters at the bottom including turtles, shells, and smaller fish.
There are better options for snorkeling in St. Thomas aside from Magens Bay. Coki Beach and Secret Harbor, which are located on the eastern shore of the island, provide more ideal environments for snorkeling. In addition, if you are island hopping across the Virgin Islands, there are plenty of amazing spots in St. John, such as Trunk Bay, as well as St. Croix, which includes Buck Islands, to go snorkeling or other underwater activities. All in all, you are never short of opportunities to enjoy the sun and the beach while you are in the U.S. Virgin Islands.
Ideal Itinerary:
Given the much better alternatives nearby, snorkeling in Magens Bay should be skipped. Any time you spend at this marvelous spot will be just to enjoy the sun and relax. You can certainly spend some time looking at the limited marine life in and around the beach, including the turtles native to the islands, but no time should be wasted on getting prepared to go snorkeling.
Snorkeling in Magens Bay, USVI Rating: 1/5 Snorkels – Yuck, Do Something Else!
Magens Bay is a place to stop and take a picture on your way to Saffire Beach to snorkel.
Agreed!
I not to mention my guys were analyzing the best guides found on your web site and then immediately got a terrible suspicion I had not expressed respect to the website owner for those strategies. Those men had been absolutely passionate to see them and have now definitely been loving them. We appreciate you genuinely quite considerate and also for finding this form of marvelous useful guides millions of individuals are really desperate to know about. Our own honest apologies for not expressing gratitude to you earlier.