Waterlemon cay

United Statesreef5 m maxbeginner

Conditions & tides

Channel site — tidal current funnels through here and can run fast, changing quickly with the tide. It is usually strongest around mid-tide and eases near the slack windows below. Dive with a local operator who knows the timing.

Waterlemon cayUnited States

Good · 5/5

conditions visualisation

Good5/5

Calm and diveable right now — best window today 8 AM–6 PM.

Wind7 kn WSW

Current~0.1 kn E · model

Swell

0.5 m · 5s · NNW

Water

29 °C

Max depth

5 m

Conditions through the day

7 AM7 PM

Calmest current near slack — 01:00 & 15:30 local

Sunrise 06:21 · Sunset 17:43 local

Show details

Tide · local

Outlook — select a day for full conditions

On-face swell 0.0 m — the component of the swell aimed at this site’s exposed face. Strong-current reef: plan a drift and enter near the slack windows above. Current is a regional model value (Copernicus, ~9 km grid) — a guide to the area, not a precise reef measurement. Imagery © Esri · not depth or visibility.

Scored by DiveConnect's site-physics model

Marine forecast via Copernicus Marine. Score is a rule-based guide from swell/wind vs. the site's exposure — always dive your own assessment.

Dived here today? How were conditions vs. what we showed?

About this site

Waterlemon Cay sits at the very end of the north shore beaches of St. John, in the US Virgin Islands. The approach is a walk of about 20 minutes along the shoreline from the Annaberg Sugar Mill ruins, and the cay itself needs a swim of roughly 100 yards (91 m) from shore. It is a beginner-level reef best known for snorkeling.

As soon as you enter the water you are among sea turtles, eagle rays and small sharks. Nurse sharks, stingrays, barracuda, octopus and tarpon are also recorded, along with hawksbill turtles.

The current can pick up around the cay, so snorkeling counterclockwise is recommended. The area is prone to high winds. Winter, from December to March, gives the clearest water, summer brings the most active turtles, and an outgoing tide helps visibility. Water temperature runs about 78 to 84 F (26 to 29 C).

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