Yawzi Point Snorkeling Guide: One of St. John’s Best South Shore Snorkel Spots
Discover snorkeling at Yawzi Point between Little and Great Lameshur Bay on St. John, including how to get there, where to snorkel, trail access, and why visiting by boat can make the experience easier.
Why Snorkelers Should Know About Yawzi Point
When people talk about snorkeling on St. John, the conversation usually starts with Maho, Trunk Bay, Waterlemon Cay, or Salt Pond.
Yawzi Point deserves to be part of that conversation.
Located between Little Lameshur and Great Lameshur Bay on St. John’s South Shore, the point offers a rocky coral shoreline with considerably more underwater structure than you’ll find in the center of either bay.
The National Park Service specifically identifies the tip of Yawzi Point as a good snorkeling area, noting the fish and other marine creatures that use the rocky coral shoreline as habitat.
It also tends to attract visitors willing to venture farther from the island’s easiest-to-reach beaches, which can make Lameshur feel like a completely different side of St. John.
Where Is Yawzi Point?
Yawzi Point is the peninsula separating Little Lameshur Bay from Great Lameshur Bay inside Virgin Islands National Park.
The geography is easy to understand once you’re there:
- Great Lameshur is the larger, rockier bay.
- Little Lameshur has the sandier beach.
- Yawzi Point extends between the two.
Visitors can reach the area by driving the rough road into Lameshur, hiking the short Yawzi Point Trail, or arriving from the water.
What Makes Yawzi Point Good for Snorkeling?
The biggest advantage is structure.
Instead of snorkeling across a mostly open sandy bottom, you’ll be following a rocky shoreline where coral, ledges, crevices, and changing depths create places for marine life to gather.
The National Park Service recommends snorkeling especially around the tip of the point and notes that numerous fish and other creatures can be found along the rocky coral shoreline.
That makes Yawzi particularly appealing to snorkelers who enjoy exploring slowly rather than simply swimming out over a large bay.
Where Should You Snorkel at Yawzi Point?
If conditions are appropriate, focus on the rocky shoreline and the tip of Yawzi Point rather than staying in the middle of Little or Great Lameshur.
A simple way to think about it is:
- Begin from a protected entry point or directly from a boat.
- Follow the rocky shoreline rather than heading immediately into open water.
- Spend time looking into ledges and crevices where fish may be sheltering.
- Only continue around the point if wind, swell, current, and your swimming ability make it comfortable.
- Turn back before conditions or fatigue become a problem.
There is no prize for swimming the farthest. The best snorkeling experience matches the conditions and your ability.
Can Beginners Snorkel at Yawzi Point?
That depends on the day.
Little and Great Lameshur can provide relatively protected areas, but snorkeling around a point naturally exposes swimmers to more wind, swell, and moving water than staying close to shore in a bay.
Beginners should:
- Stay closer to protected water.
- Avoid rounding the point when conditions are uncomfortable.
- Snorkel with a buddy.
- Pay attention to wind direction and current.
- Save the more exposed portions for a calmer day.
Confident snorkelers may be able to explore more of the point when conditions cooperate.
How Do You Get to Yawzi Point from Land?
Driving to Lameshur is part of the adventure.
The National Park Service recommends four-wheel drive for the rocky Lameshur access road and notes that some rental-car companies prohibit their vehicles from using it.
Once at Lameshur, visitors can reach Yawzi Point via a short trail.
The Yawzi Point Trail is approximately 0.3 miles and follows the crest of the peninsula. Side trails lead down to small rocky beaches that can provide quiet snorkeling entry points.
That means you can combine a short hike with a snorkel rather than spending the entire visit on the beach.
Why Yawzi Point Is Easier by Boat
Yawzi Point is accessible from land, but it’s one of the St. John snorkeling locations where a boat can make the day considerably easier.
Arriving from the water allows you to:
- Skip the rough road into Lameshur
- Avoid carrying snorkel gear along the trail
- Start closer to the section of reef you actually want to explore
- Adjust the snorkel based on wind and current
- Combine Yawzi with other South Shore snorkel sites
We’ll admit our bias, but Yawzi is one of those places where arriving by boat isn’t simply about convenience. It can also make it easier to explore more of the reef without using a large portion of your energy getting to and from the water.
There Is History Above the Reef Too
Yawzi Point isn’t only interesting underwater.
The short trail passes Danish colonial-era stone ruins associated with Great Lameshur Estate. Historical research identifies remains that include an estate-house foundation and structures connected with the area’s agricultural history.
The early Lameshur estates were closely associated with cotton production, which was particularly important along St. John’s drier South Shore before sugar became more prominent here.
That gives Yawzi an unusual combination: visitors can snorkel beneath the point and then walk through centuries of history above it.
Where Did the Name “Yawzi” Come From?
Nobody knows for certain.
One theory links the name Yawzi to yaws, an infectious tropical disease that historically occurred in the Caribbean. A 1794 estate inventory mentions a “sickhouse” at Lameshur, and historians have considered whether a relatively isolated location near Yawzi Point could have been associated with illness or quarantine.
The St. John Historical Society has investigated this possibility but has not found enough evidence to prove the connection.
It’s a good example of the difference between local historical theory and established fact.
Combine Yawzi with Little Lameshur
If you’re making the trip from land, Little Lameshur is an easy place to spend the rest of your visit.
After snorkeling, you can:
- Relax on the sandier beach
- Swim in the bay
- Explore nearby estate ruins
- Walk Yawzi Point Trail
- Continue exploring other South Shore destinations
This flexibility makes Lameshur particularly good for groups where not everyone wants to spend the entire day snorkeling.
What Should You Bring?
For a land-based Yawzi Point snorkel, consider bringing:
- Mask, snorkel, and fins
- Plenty of drinking water
- Reef-conscious sun protection
- Sturdy footwear for the rocky trail
- Towel
- Snacks or lunch
- A dry bag or waterproof phone case
- Bug repellent if you plan to explore on land
There are fewer conveniences here than at beaches such as Trunk Bay or Cinnamon Bay, so arrive prepared.
Yawzi Point Snorkeling FAQ
Make Yawzi Part of a South Shore Snorkel Day
Yawzi Point becomes even more interesting when you stop thinking of it as an isolated destination.
A South Shore day can combine it with places such as Reef Bay, Salt Pond, Little Lameshur, Great Lameshur, and other boat-accessible reefs. That provides a very different snorkeling experience from the better-known bays along St. John’s North Shore.
If you’ve already snorkeled Maho, Trunk, and Waterlemon, Yawzi is a great excuse to explore a different side of the island.
Sources & Further Reading
- National Park Service — Snorkeling in Virgin Islands National Park
- National Park Service — Yawzi Point Trail
- St. John Historical Society — Lameshure Bay Explore
