What can you see?

Almost everyone who comes sailing on Independence goes snorkeling. Whether you are an expert with your own gear or a first timer, we want you to have a wonderful experience. We keep fins and masks in a variety of sizes from "small child" to "big guy" and take care to ensure a good fit. We provide noodles or ski belts for flotation and the mate is on watch or in the water ... Safety first!

What can you see? Our good friend Claudia on the term charter boat, Antiquity, took some great pictures and I wanted to share them with you so you would have an idea of what you can see in the beautiful waters surrounding St. John and St. Thomas. They were all taken in anchorages that we visit on Independence. I can't promise that you will see them all when you go snorkeling, but it will be fun to look for them!

Here is one of Claudia's photos. See the rest on the website for Independence and let's sail to a great spot and go snorkeling!

Happy New Year

Well, maybe it is global warming and maybe it's climate change but whatever it is, it's cold up north right now!! The weather in St.Thomas has been interesting too, warm and sunny thankfully, but challenging. We Virgin Island sailors are spoiled by the steady easterly trade winds, usually a little north of east in the winter and a little south of east in the summer. This Christmas season we have had gorgeous surfing waves out of the north and winds out of the south and west. It has made it interesting to find calm anchorages and clear water for snorkeling and we have had some fabulous sails as far up the channel between Tortola and St. John as Leinster Bay.

Christmas Cove on Great St. James has always been a great snorkle stop and the water has been so clear this holiday season that we have stopped there almost every day. The rays, turtles and starfish have kept our guests company in the water so, even though we would like the easterly trade winds back, we have had a great start to this winter.

Yesterday, on our way across Pillsbury Sound to the Cove, we had a very special treat. Two adult dolphin started chasing us and jumping and splashing in the surf just passed Steven's Cay. Anita Roth got a fantastic photograph of them and she has promised to email it to me and I will make sure it gets posted, it was awesome!

Happy New Year and when you get tired of the snow, come on down to St. Thomas and let's go sailing on Independence.