The Underwater Snorkel Trail ***STSJ - Sept/Oct 2006
8/8/06
2:20 PM
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trunk Bay, John LearnSt. about undersea life on Trunk Bay’s Underwater Trail
Trunk Bay on St. John is one of the is wide thin and photographed beaches2:20 in PM the Page rounded and sways *STSJ most - Sept/Oct 2006 8/8/06 70 Caribbean. An awe-insipiring heartback and forth to shaped bay, its setting in the stunning the rhythm of the Lydia Harris Virgin Islands National Park By offers clear tides; Finger Coral Baya on St. John large is one ofpores, the most photographed water, fine white sand, plenty ofTrunk shade, has the Caribbean. awe-inspiring heart-shaped gift shop, watersports center,beaches snack in bar, grows inAn thick colobay, its setting in the stunning Virgin Islands National Park showers, restrooms, changing areas and nies, and its brances offers clear water, fine white sand, plenty of shade, a gift a picnic pavillion. None of which seems have swollen tips. shop, watersports center, snack bar, showers, restrooms, unusual - on the surface. So what makes changing areas andOf a picnic pavilion.interNone of which seems particular trunk bay stand out from other beaches? threatened species, under the US Endangered Species Act on unusual – on the surface. So makes Trunk Bay stand est is what Elkhorn the World Conservation Union’s Endangered Species List. out from other beaches? Coral. Among the The underwater self guided snorkeling trail! But there’s good news! US Geological Survey research Caribbean's The underwater self-guidedmost snorkeling trail! Rent or bring your own snorkel gear scientist Caroline abundant coral ***STSJ - Sept/Oct 2006 8/8/06 2:20 PM Page 70 and step into an undersea world of coral Rogers reports that only 30 years ago, this sea life "appears and fish. The 650-foot underwater trail in March it became to be recovering in (maintained by the National Park Service) By Lydia Harris the first coral to some areas," particufeatures plaques that provide a wealth of be proposed for Trunk Bay on St. John is one of the most photographed larly in Trunk Bay, information about the sea-life you'll see entry as a threatwhere Elkhorn Coral beaches inthe thewater's Caribbean. beneath surface.An awe-inspiring heart-shaped ened species, under "is coming back natbay, its setting in the stunning Virgin Islands National Park species in Trunk Bay are supported by the US Endangered Species Act on the urally,"theshe says. Keep an eye out for colorful Angel Fish, offers clear water, fine white sand, plenty of shade, a gift Studiesthe USGS, of the National Park Service, Friends World Conservation Union's Endangered Parrott Fish, Sergeant Majors, Yellow Tail shop, watersports snackswells bar, up showers, restrooms, speciesof in the Trunk VI Bay National Park, University of the Species List. Snapper and Puffercenter, Fish, which By Lydia Harris are supported by the and the Disney Wildlife changing areas and a picnic pavilion. None of which seems Virgin Islands when Trunk it's threatened. sea Bay on St. John isAlso one ofwatch the most for photographed But there's good news! US Geological USGS, National Park threatened species, under the US Endangered Species Act on beaches inswim the An awe-inspiring heart-shaped Conservation Fund. unusual –that on theCaribbean. surface. Sothen what makes Bay stand turtles effortlessly pop up Trunk Service, Union’s Friends of bay, its setting in the stunning Virgin Islands National Park Survey research scientist Caroline Rogers the World Conservation Endangered Species List. head for air from time to time. outtheir from other beaches? offers clear water, fine white sand, plenty of shade, a gift reports that thsi sea lift "appears to be Admission to Trunk Bay is $4 for adults;
Learn about undersea life on Trunk Bay’s Underwater Trail Learn about undersea life on Trunk Bay’s Underwater Trail
"Keep an eye out for colorful Angel Fish, Parrott Fish, Sergeant Majors, Yellow Tail Snapper and Puffer Fish..."
the VI National Park, University of the Virgin Islands and
shop, watersports center, snack bar, showers, restrooms, agesWildlife 16 Geological and youngerSurvey are free; Golden But particularly there’s good news! US research recovering in some areas," in the Disney Conservation Fund. Among theareas coral Trunk Bay, you'll see: changing and ainpicnic pavilion. None of which seems The underwater self-guided snorkeling trail! threatened species, under the US Endangered Species Act on Age and Golden Access annual cardhold– onwith the surface. whatgorooves makes Trunk that Bay stand Trunk Bay where Elkhorn Coral "isCaroline comBrainunusual Coral, foldsSoand scientist Admission to Trunk Bay is $4 for adults; ages 16 and the World Conservation Union’s Endangered Species List. from other beaches? $2.Golden Age and Golden Access annual ing back naturally," she says. reports Studies of look out remarkably like a brain; Fan Coral younger free; Rogers that ersareare
The underwater self-guided snorkeling trail!
But there’s good news! US Geological Survey research cardholders scientist Caroline
this sea life "appears Plaques guide the way toRogers undersea life on Trunk Bay’s Underwater Trail. reports that
Plaques guide the way to undersea life on the trail
this sea life "appears
***STSJ - Sept/Oct 2006
8/8/06
are $2.
Swim among the fish along the trail
to be recovering in
Rent or bring your snorkel to beown recovering in gear and step into an some areas," particusome areas," particuundersea world of coral and fish. The 650-foot underwater 2:20 PM Page 70 larly in Trunk Bay, larly in Trunk Bay, trail (maintained by theElkhorn National where Coral Park Service) features where Elkhorn plaques that provide"isa coming wealthback of information about the seal- Coral naturally," she says. ife you’ll see beneath the water’s surface. "is coming back natStudies
of
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in Trunk Bay Keep an eye outspecies for colorful Angel Fish, Parrott Fish, urally," she says. are supported by the Sergeant Majors, Yellow Tail Snapper and Puffer Fish, which Studies of the USGS, National Park swells up when it’sService, threatened. watch for sea turtles Friends Also of species in Trunk Bay the VI National University of the Islands and that swim effortlessly then pop Park, up their heads forVirgin air from the Disney Wildlife Conservation areFund. supported by the time to time.
Learn about undersea life on Trunk Bay’s Park Among the coral in Trunk Bay, you’ll USGS, see: BrainNational Coral, Underwater Trail with folds and grooves that look remarkably like a brain;Friends Fan Service, of
Plaques guide the way to undersea life on Trunk Bay’s Underwater Trail.
By Lydia Harris
Admission to Trunk Bay is $4 for adults; ages 16 and younger are free; Golden Age and Golden Access annual cardholders are $2.
Coral is wide, thin and rounded and sways the back VI andNational forth to
Park, University of the Virgin Islands and the Disney Wildlife Conservation Fund.
Rent orBay bring own is snorkel step into an Trunk onyour St. John one ofgear theand most photographed the rhythm of the tides; Finger Coral has large pores, grows undersea in world coral and fish. 650-foot underwater beaches the ofCaribbean. An The awe-inspiring heart-shaped in thick colonies, and its branches have swollen tips. trail (maintained by the National Park Service) features bay, its setting in the stunning Virgin Islands National Park plaques that provide a wealth of information about the sealoffers clear water, fine white sand, plenty of shade, a gift Of particular interest is Elkhorn Coral. Among the ife you’ll see beneath the water’s surface.
Admission to Trunk Bay is $4 for adults; ages 16 and
shop, watersports center, snack bar, showers, restrooms, Caribbean’s most abundant coral only 30 years ago, younger areinfree;Swim Golden Age Golden Access annual among the fish and along the Trunk Bay Underwater Trail. Keep anareas eye and out for colorful Angel None Fish, Parrott Fish,seems changing a picnic pavilion. of which www.virginislandsthisweek.com Oon V E M B E R / D E C E M B E R 2 0Photos 1 6 by Page 79Muller Erinn March itFish, became the firstthreatened coral to species, be proposed forUSentry asare a Species Sergeant Majors, Yellow Tail Snapper and Puffer which under the Endangered Act cardholders $2. N unusual – on the surface. So what makes Trunk Bay stand swells up when it’s to threatened. Alsolife watch sea turtles the WorldTrail. Conservation Union’s Endangered Species List. Plaques out guide way undersea on for Trunk Bay’s Underwater fromthe other beaches?