Some of St. John’s best snorkeling is found around Great Lameshur Bay and Little Lameshur Bay—side-by-side bays along the island’s south coast. Great Lameshur is scattered with rock and coral; the best snorkeling is on its eastern side. The remains of Tektite, an underwater living habitat for aquanauts built in the late 1960s, lie submerged under 50 feet of water here. Little Lameshur has a sand and rubble beach. There is good snorkeling around the rocks that jut out in the middle of the bay. If you are lucky to visit on a calm day, follow the western shoreline as far as Europa Bay for some exquisite snorkeling.

On land, hike the less than 0.5-mile trail to Yawzi Point, the tip of the headline that divides Great and Little Lameshur Bays. The trail travels through an arid landscape of cactus, bromeliads, thorny bushes, and trees. There are pleasant views of both bays and a cooling breeze at the end.

Getting to the Lameshur Bays

The road to Lameshur Bay is improved. The two-lane blacktop Route 107 ends a few miles past Salt Pond Bay, but don’t worry. After a few hundred yards of easy, dirt road, the pavement returns. It is a steep ascent and then a steeper descent into Lameshur. Drive slowly and watch for oncoming traffic. After you reach Great Lameshur Bay, the road is again unpaved. Parking is available off-road at both Great Lameshur and Little Lameshur.