Do you like to be out on the water as much as possible during your St. John vacation? The answer is that is likely a hell yeah! While chartering a private boat for the day to explore all the hidden bays and offshore cays in the US Virgin Islands is the ultimate, luxury, water based activity, if you’re looking for more options to add to the itinerary, check out our friends over at Wharfside Watersports!

Places to Visit by Dinghy on St.  John

Wharfside Watersports offers an array of dingys, Zodiacs and a Medline 9 power boat to rent so you can be your own captain for the day! For seasoned St. John travelers who are farmiliar with the island’s waters and all its white sand beaches, being your own captain can be quite the adventure!

Imagine cruising along the coastline, feeling the sea breeze in your hair, and witnessing the breathtaking beauty of the island from a unique perspective. We’d suggest taking your Wharfside Watersports dingy rental up the Northshore of St. John making multiple stops along the way at Solomon Beach, Honeymoon Beach, Denis Bay, Cinnamon Bay. You could visit Trunk Bay early in the day before the crowds arrive and spend as much time as you want snorkeling with the turtles at Maho Bay. Another excellent snorkel spot to visit with your Wharfside Watersports bareboat rental is Waterlemon Cay. For those of you more daring cruise over to the Coral Bay side of the island to snorkel the Mangroves at Hurricane Hole or hit up the Lime Out for tacos!

Rules for Bareboat Rentals

While being your own captain can be fun there’s also a responsibility that comes with it. As the captain you are responsible for the safety of your friends and family and for abiding by local boating practices especially while in the Virgin Island National Park. Most bays within the park have dinghy channels to access the beach that are marked with large red and green buoys. There’s often swim zones marked by white buoys where boats are not allowed to enter. Also be on the lookout for moorings specific for dingys where you can safely tie up your boat.

BVI Boat Excursions

Keep in mind bareboat rentals (meaning no professional captain) limit you to the waters surrounding St. John. For obvious reasons, safety being the number one, renting dingy’s without professional captains don’t allow travel to the British Virgin Islands.

If you are really wanting to visit that area you’ll need to book a BVI boat excursion with one of the many tour operators based out of St. John. Island Roots Charters offers both full day and extended day trips into the British Virgin Islands with very professional and experienced captains so you can just sit back, relax and enjoy the adventure!

But for those of you looking to add MORE water-based activities to your Virgin Islands adventure, Wharfside Watersports is your go-to hub for bareboat rentals. Perfect for a day of island-hopping or reaching those snorkeling spots off the beaten path. So, grab the helm, set sail, and let the sea be your guide on a dinghy adventure around St. John!