Jimbo in Ma. Posted July 9, 2005 #1 Share Posted July 9, 2005 Has anyone been here lately, I am a family of 5 and want too relax on the beach and snorkle and enjoy the water, I do not want to waste time going over to St John. Is this the best beach for my needs, I want a clean beautiful beach that the family can enjoy for most of the day! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The Islander Posted July 10, 2005 #2 Share Posted July 10, 2005 Its a beautiful beach, small with lots of palm trees, good snorkeling, good restaurant on the beach for lunch, beach bar for drinks, clean restrooms, taxis usually available outside the resort lobby or you can ask them to call one - its a nice beach. --Islander http://www.***** Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
PrincessJen Posted July 22, 2005 #3 Share Posted July 22, 2005 Are there watersports at this beach? I'm traveling with 2 other couples & we are really looking for a relaxing beach that's not too croweded with watersports, food & restrooms. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Starz723 Posted July 22, 2005 #4 Share Posted July 22, 2005 I will be at Secret Harbor Beach on July 27. I too am seeking a nice beach with good snorkeling and not a huge crowd. I was told by a 1st mate on a Charter I took last year to St John that Secret Harbor was just what I was looking for. I will leave a report when I come back. Hopefully we dont have to divert any ports due to storms. :eek: Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
pklopp Posted July 22, 2005 #5 Share Posted July 22, 2005 Islander - how does the snorkeling compare to Sapphire and Coki? Considering doing the Air Force 1 Tour that goes to Coki & Sapphire. Are you familiar with the Air Force tours? Many thanks. Peggy Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The Islander Posted July 23, 2005 #6 Share Posted July 23, 2005 Hello, Jen - what types of watersports? There is snorkeling, diving, might have kayaks. There is food, bar, restrooms. Peggy - Snorkeling at Coki is better. I know of Air Force 1, heard good things. --Islander http://www.***** Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
pklopp Posted July 23, 2005 #7 Share Posted July 23, 2005 Thanks, Islander! Peggy Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
suezcruise Posted July 24, 2005 #8 Share Posted July 24, 2005 Secret Harbor is wonderful! Picturesque beach with white sand and palm trees with hammocks. There is an Inn there with small beach front restaurant/bar and snorkle rentals. Not very crowded, very laid back, no music or water sports. Great snorkeling off to the left, a lot of big parrot fish, turtles to the right. The iguanas seem happy to share their beach. There were a few roaming around, but never bothered anyone. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
fastbysean Posted July 25, 2005 #9 Share Posted July 25, 2005 How do you get to Secret Harbour? we are will be there in january. thanks for the help!! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
PrincessJen Posted July 28, 2005 #10 Share Posted July 28, 2005 I was looking for water sports along the lines of jet skiing & parasailing. However I think that Sapphire beach would be our best bet. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The Islander Posted July 28, 2005 #11 Share Posted July 28, 2005 Hello, PrincessJen - no jet skis or parasailing at Secret Harbor. Yes at Sapphire. Fastbysean - you can take a taxi to Secret Harbor. Or if you rent a car you can drive there on your own, its past Sapphire/Red Hook area - out towards the Ritz Carlton on the east end of the island. --Islander http://www.***** Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
love2cruiseseattle Posted July 28, 2005 #12 Share Posted July 28, 2005 Hello "The Islander" We will be in St. Thomas in early November and would like any recommendations of must things to do. We were there a few years ago and did an island tour and went to Coki Beach. Thank You, Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Snorkuba Posted July 28, 2005 #13 Share Posted July 28, 2005 I would recommend Sapphire Beach - see link below.. http://www.virginislandsdailynews.com/index.pl/article_home?id=7046405 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The Islander Posted July 29, 2005 #14 Share Posted July 29, 2005 Hello love2cruiseseattle, It very much depends on what you are interested in. If you like to hike then a visit to St. John would be a must. If you have interest in diving then thats another must. What do you think you'd be interested in - beach time, boating, fishing, hiking, parasailing? --Islander http://www.***** Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
love2cruiseseattle Posted July 29, 2005 #15 Share Posted July 29, 2005 I think we would be interested in beach time. I have heard that St. John has wonderful beaches. What are your recommendations and also for St. Thomas. Thanks for the help, Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The Islander Posted July 29, 2005 #16 Share Posted July 29, 2005 Hello love2cruiseseattle, St. John does have beautiful beaches - you can't go wrong with any of them. So if you plan to head there, just pick - LOL. Take a look at http://www.*****/stjohn/beaches_stj/ you will see lots of great beach options on St. John. Some of them have amentities and many don't, so that might affect your decision. Also the less traveled ones you will have to arrange a taxi pick up or rent a car because taxis don't readily wait there for passengers like they do at the popular ones like Trunk Bay and Cinnamon Bay or the ones with hotels like Caneel Bay. On St. Thomas you also have some great options; I like Magens Bay, Sapphire Beach, Emerald Beach, Morningstar (if swimming isn't as important as laying out and having drinks beachside - the water area is a little rocky there). On the same site mentioned there is a St. Thomas Beach guide too - so you could try it for pics and info. Hope that helps. --Islander http://www.***** Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
love2cruiseseattle Posted July 29, 2005 #17 Share Posted July 29, 2005 Yes it does help. Thank you very much. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
phantomtales Posted July 30, 2005 #18 Share Posted July 30, 2005 Can you rent chairs and umbrellas at Secret Harbor? How about floats? I will be there on 8/15/05 duing a honeymoon cruise. We are hoping for a relaxing beach day. Is Secret Harbor our best bet? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The Islander Posted July 30, 2005 #19 Share Posted July 30, 2005 Hello Phantomtales, No umbrellas, most beaches in the VI don't have them. There are chairs. No floats that I have ever noticed, but there is a square wooden float anchored in the center of the bay you can swim out to and lay on. --Islander http://www.***** Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
phantomtales Posted July 31, 2005 #20 Share Posted July 31, 2005 Thanks! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
richtersl Posted July 31, 2005 #21 Share Posted July 31, 2005 We stopped at Secret Harbor when we were in St. Thomas this past April to just take a peek at it. You will have plenty of shade there. No need to worry about umbrellas. It's cute beach and I would not hesitate to spend the day there. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Snorkuba Posted August 2, 2005 #22 Share Posted August 2, 2005 Since no one clicked on the link to read about secret harbour I copied the article. Rain causes sewage flow at Secret Harbour beach Daily News Staff Saturday, July 23rd 2005 ST. THOMAS - The Department of Planning and Natural Resources on Friday advised people not to fish or swim at Secret Harbour beach because the water does not meet quality standards. Aaron Hutchins, director of the DPNR Division of Environmental Protection, said Friday that heavy rains had inundated the holding tank at the Secret Harbour Beach Resort sewage treatment plant Thursday. As a result, raw sewage was released into the water, he said. Water-quality testing showed an increased concentration of bacteria in the water, according to a DPNR advisory. The advisory urges parents to instruct their children to stay away from the beach. Ernest Halliday, general manager of Secret Harbour Beach Resort, said Friday afternoon that warning signs had been posted at the beach. Hutchins said the Environmental Protection Division will conduct follow-up testing and will lift the advisory when bacteria counts return to a safe level. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Starz723 Posted August 3, 2005 #23 Share Posted August 3, 2005 I was at Secret Harbor last Thursday. The signs were still posted. I did see Marine Biologists there and I spoke to them about it. They told me the run off dissapates soon after it hits the water, but they must post the sign nevertheless. I asked them if I would get sick and they told me no because the runnoff was days ago. I watched them checking the water. I live in Brooklyn and swim at the beaches here and Im sure Im swimming with tons of bacteria all the time. They should come here and check our beach, Im sure they would close it down, lol. I went swimming and so did my son and BF. We did not get ill. For that matter, it looked like it didnt stop anyone else. Perhaps on the day it happened they didnt go in. The water was crystal clear. FYI, many beaches in the USA have run off. Los Angeles has many street sewers go directly into the ocean. Malibu is always high in bacteria. Mrytle Beach, SC goes directly into the ocean. I watched it with my own eyes. So its not uncommon. Secret Harbor was an absolutely gorgeous beach, with nice shade. It is a marine sanctuary and the snorkeling was great. I saw sea turtles, starfish, parrotfish, squid, octupus, many tropical fish I cant identify and a sting ray. Lots of tame iguanas running around,..I loved it. It was a wonderful long beach day. Its a quiet, non touristy beach. I would go back in a heart beat! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
irish872 Posted August 10, 2005 #24 Share Posted August 10, 2005 Just read about Secret Harbor and it sounds like it just be what we are looking for. Can anyone advise how far it is from the cruise docking area and if there a fee to use the facilities? my wife and I will be arriving there on the Massdam. Thanks, Dan and Teri Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
richtersl Posted August 10, 2005 #25 Share Posted August 10, 2005 It depends on where the Maasdam will be docking. If you are docking at Havensight, then Secret Harbor will be about a 15-20 minute cab ride. If you are docking at Crown Bay (I think that's the name of the other location) it will be a longer ride and Islander will be able to give you a better estimate on how long it will take to get to Secret Harbour from there than I can. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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