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Cow Wreck Beach, Anegada, BVI

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Cow Wreck Beach Anegada - Day or overnight charter from St. John

There are some awesome beaches on St. John but  cow wreck beach on Anegada is a totally different level of amazing. It's one of the most pristine beaches in the BVI with water so turquoise and sand so pink it's unbelievable. Different from St. John beaches, there is a beach bar / restaurant right by the water. So you can sip a cold beer or have some fantastic lobster right on the beach. Enjoy a Wreck Punch, Bushwacker, Painkiller, Pina Colada, Banana, Strawberry or Mango Daiquiri. Or try their famous "Cow Killer" always served with a smile and a pleasant chat about Anegada and the BVI. The restaurant serves up fresh all day lunch and dinner. Local specialities include lobster, conch and fish, and the steak, ribs and chicken sizzle to perfection on a grill fueled by local wood.

Cowreck Beach is lined with conch shells that look very pretty and there are some comfortable wooden loungers right on the beach.

Where does the name “Cow Wreck Beach” come from?

In the 1800s, a ship carrying cow bones (used at the time to make chalk and buttons) wrecked on the reef just offshore of a small sandy cove on the northwest coast of Anegada. For years afterwards these bones washed ashore and hence the cove became known as Cow Wreck Beach.

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Cow Wreck's exquisite beach is one of the very best in all of the BVI. It is an ideal place for wading and swimming. The water near shore is only waist deep with a perfect sand bottom. Kids can play in the sand while you lime only steps from our bar. You can walk for miles, watching the sand and water change colors before your eyes, and not see another person!

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Watch the sunset at Cow Wreck Beach

Cow Wreck is also perfectly located to watch a spectacular sunset if you opt for our overnight trip to Anegada.

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Charter St. John Anegada - Online Booking

Book your day or overnight trip from St. John to Anegada here or send an email to rockhoppinusvi(at)gmail.com

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Amazing videos of full day snorkeling Trip with Rockhoppin’ Charters

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Want to see some amazing underwater creatures? Captain Steve is the man who will take you to the best spots for snorkeling! Check out those amazing videos of Barracuda, Reef Squid and an Octobus by Photosnorkeler who recently booked a full day snorkeling trip with us!

Barracuda filmed while snorkeling at Booby Rock

Booby Rock is  a great snorkeling spot on the South Shore of St. John that is part of our full day snorkeling trip and can also be a stop on the day trip to Norman Island if you skip Jost and take the South Shore back

Octopus off Little St. James

Little St. James is North of St. John and if you go there you can also stop at Pizza Pi the Pizza boat which is re-opening December 3rd

Reef squid filmed while snorkeling at Tektike

Tektike is  a great snorkeling spot on the South Shore of St. John that is part of our full day snorkeling trip and can also be a stop on the day trip to Norman Island if you skip Jost and take the South Shore back

Carribean Reef Squid #stjohnusvi #stjohn #squid #tektite #newsofstjohn #stjohndaily

A video posted by Photo Snorkeler (@photo_snorkeler) on

 

 

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Anegada, BVI

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Anegada is the northernmost of the British Virgin Islands. It lies approximately 15 miles (24 km) north of Virgin Gorda and is about 55 miles from St. John. Anegada is formed from coral and limestone, rather than being of volcanic origin. While the other islands are mountainous, Anegada is flat and low. It is the only all-coral atoll in the VI and a mere 28 feet above sea level.

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Anegada, BVI

Anegada is known for miles of white sand beaches and the 18-mile (29 km)-long Horseshoe Reef, the largest barrier coral reef in the Caribbean, and the fourth largest on earth, a watery graveyard for many an unsuspecting wind-tossed ship, it is known to have over 300 wrecks in its waters, some of whose artifacts can be seen in a local nautical museum. Aside from the Lobster for which Anegada is mostly known,  it is also great for surfing, it is the Virgin Island that is most exposed to the swell.

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The sand is even whiter and pinker on St. John (since it is of coral and limestone) and that gives the water an absolutely amazing turquoise color. The island is very laid back and relaxed it is amazing how refreshed you will feel after a day or two there. If we need a vacation from St. John, we go to Anegada.

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The flora, fauna and scenery is very different from the other Virgin Islands, there are pine trees, bushes and sand dunes (like at the French Atlantic Ocean). The sand is very fine and soft and has a pinkish white color. There are salt ponds that host a growing flock of pink flamingoes. The water is very clear and due to the low depth, the colors are just amazing. Check out the photos from Anegada Trips on Facebook below. The food is amazing too, conch and lobster are the best and freshest you can find.

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Both accommodation and car rentals on Anegada are reasonably priced. You can rent a car or a scooter to explore the island for about 50$ a day including fuel. Driving is easy, there is basically only one (sand) road going around in a circle and the road is better than many of the St. John roads. You will see cows and flamingos on the the side of the road.

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Day Trips to Anegada from St. John

A day trip to Anegada is 1350$ incl. captain and fuel. On a calm day it takes us a little over an hour to get there with our twin Yamaha 250s. We will leave from National Park Dock at 8 AM and head to Tortola West End to check into the BVI's and from there ride along the North Shore and then cut straight over to Anegada and moor the boat at Anegada Reef Hotel. Depending on the ocean and conditions, we have to head back no later than 3pm, maybe earlier.

To truly enjoy and explore Anegada, we recommend an overnight trip (2 days) which is 1950$ incl. captain and fuel. Each extra day you would like to spend on Anegada is 600$. More information and accommodation on Anegada is here: www.anegada-bvi.com. Our list of the top 3 places to visit while on Anegada is here.

Overnight Trip to Anegada

The overnight trip is much more relaxed and gives you time to truly explore the island. It is 1950$ incl. captain and fuel. The crew will sleep on the boat or stay at Anegada Reef Hotel at their own expense. For a cost-efficient option you can stay at Anegada Reef Hotel, basic but clean and newly renovated with A/C or for a truly magical stay check out Anegada Beach Club.

We will leave from National Park Dock at 8 AM and head to Tortola West End to check into the BVI's and from there ride along the North Shore and then cut straight over to Anegada and moor the boat at Anegada Reef Hotel. Depending on ocean conditions we should be there well before noon. You now have all afternoon and evening to explore Anegada (by scooter, taxi or rental car - rental car or scooter is about 50$ per day) and you can have the infamous lobster dinner. The must-see stops are Cow Wreck Beach, Flash of Beauty, Big Bamboo and the Flamingo Pond.

The next day we will leave around lunch time (again depending on ocean conditions) and if you want we can stop at Great Harbour, Jost van Dyke for a great lunch at Corsairs or Foxy's.

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St. John - Anegada Trip, Rockhoppin' Charters Photogallery

Check out our Anegada Photogalleries on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/media/set/?set=a.351622131710156.1073741841.252893791582991&type=3 and https://www.facebook.com/rockhoppin/photos/?tab=album&album_id=619474908258209

Day Trip St. John Anegada - Online Booking

Book your day or overnight trip from St. John to Anegada here or send an email to rockhoppinusvi(at)gmail.com

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FAQ: Boat Trip St. John

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FAQ:

WHERE DOES THE TRIP START & END?

  • The trip will start out of Cruz Bay, we will normally meet you at  National Park Dock at 8:00 AM for BVI trips, 9:00 for full day USVI trips and 10:00 AM for half day and 3/4 day trips.

  • Our dark blue 32 FS Regulator Boat will pick you up at National Park Dock across from Mongoose Junction. We can’t park the boat there for longer than 15mins so the captain usually circles the harbor, so signal him when you get there and he will pull in. We usually also end the trip there. For BVI trips you can also disembark the boat at the customs dock, after clearing customs. You can reach Captain Steve on 340-626-2859

WHAT IS INCLUDED IN THE PRICE?

  • The prices are for a private charter for 6 people.  Different from most charters, our prices include captain and fuel – there are no hidden extra charges! Please check with us if you have a group of more than 6.
  • They do not include BVI customs and mooring fees (currently about 80$ per person) & gratuity for captain.
  • We provide water and ice, you are welcome to bring you own food and drink (adult beverages welcome). For beer please bring cans (instead of glass) if possible, for liquor glass bottles are fine. In an effort to reduce plastic waste (all trash from St. John goes to St. Thomas on the barge, they do not burn the trash and their landfill is almost full) we have switched from the small plastic bottles to gallon size jugs and provide cups & pen to write down name or you can bring your own cup/water bottle if you have)
  • The prices are based on a start in Cruz Bay, St. John.  Other starting points (e.g. Red Hook, St. Thomas, Westend Tortola, Road Town) are available upon request and may incur additional fees.
  • You are welcome to use our Easybreath Snorkeling Masks for free (or traditional masks) and fins.

HOW MANY PEOPLE CAN YOU TAKE?

pricing is for 6 we can take additional passengers for 100$ extra pp

Jost van Dyke and USVI half day or 3/4 day: max 10

Willy T./Norman or full day USVI: 8

Virgin Gorda: 6

Sunset Cruise: 10 (extra charge 50$ per extra person)

WILL WE HAVE THE BOAT TO OURSELVES?

  • The prices are for a private charter for up to 6 people, this means you and your friends/family will have the boat to yourselves. Options and pricing for larger parties are available upon requests.
  • We do occasionally match singles and couples with other parties who are interested in sharing but only if you request so (we will never put any strangers on your charter!)

IS TIPPING EXPECTED?

  • A tip for great service is appreciated by our captains who work hard to keep you safe & comfortable and make sure you have a great day on the water.

HOW MUCH ARE THE BVI Customs fees?

  • About 45$ per person (subject to change), depends on # of people on boat, day of the week and mood of customs officer. You pay them directly in cash on the day.

DO I NEED A PASSPORT?

  • A valid passport is required for BVI trips. The BVI customs officer can also accept a birth certificate and a picture ID but if you have a passport it is safer to bring that along.

WHERE CAN WE PARK?

  • There is free parking at the gravel lot in between tennis courts and car barge exit. It is about 10 minutes walk to National Park Dock. There is paid parking at Beach Bar and Slim Mans across from Wharfside complex (Strand Street) and another paid lot at the corner where the bank used to be (across from Woody's). Some car rental companies (e.g. Sunshine Jeep Rentals) also offer free parking in town.

DOES THE BOAT HAVE A BATHROOM?

  • Our boat has a small emergency bathroom. Boat toilets are fickle, please don't put toilet paper or sanitary towels etc. into the bowl it will back it up or destroy the pump. Please let the captain know if you need to use the bathroom, he might be able to stop at a restaurant for you which will be more convenient.

CAN I BRING A PADDLEBOARD?

  • We are paddleboard/SUP friendly and you can take your paddleboard on the trip. If you don’t have one with you, you can rent 2 boards for the day for 100$ instead of $130 for stand alone board rental. We get them and load them onto the boat for you!

WHAT SHALL I BRING?

  • Reef safe Sunscreen, longsleeve (lycra), snorkeling gear, waterproof bag for camera/phone, towel, change of clothes (dry shirt/shorts), camera, sunglasses, bugspray, cash (for customs), credit card.
  • For BVI trips you will have to walk through US customs when we check back into St. John, they will require you to wear a shirt and shoes (flip flops are fine)

WHAT KIND OF MERCHANDISE IS AVAILABE?

  • We have a variety of hats and T-Shirts for sale. You can see all models here. We do not have all styles and sizes on the boat, send us a text or email if you want a certain model and we will have it ready for you
  • We also sell reef safe sunscreen and Aloe Vera Gel

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Day Trip to the Baths on Virgin Gorda from St. John – Photogallery

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Are you considering going on a day trip to the Baths on Virgin Gorda from St. John or St. Thomas but wondering if it is worth the ride over? Check out our photogallery below.

Day trip to the Baths on Virgin Gorda

Those pictures are taken at the Baths, which is Virgin Gorda's key attraction. Encompassing the beaches and rocky shoreline at the southwestern tip of Virgin Gorda, The Baths are a collection of massive granite boulders as large as 40 feet in diameter, with white sand beaches and secret rock pools - a truly amazing experience. Of course when you book a day trip to the Baths with us, we can do multiple other stops on the way back, all included in the price (e.g. Snorkeling, Norman Island, Jost van Dyke). More on Information on the Virgin Gorda Day Trip is here.

Exploring the Baths on Virgin Gorda

There are multiple ways to explore the Baths on Virgin Gorda.

  1. We can moor the boat at Spanish Town, then you can take a 5 minute taxi ride right to the top of the baths, exploring them without getting your hair wet. This is a favorite for seniors or families with smaller children or groups that are less comfortable swimming.
  2. If you are sporty, we can also drop you off close to the shore, for you to swim in. You can then do the hike/climb around the Boulders and the Captain will wait at then end to pick you up. This will also make for a nice photo opportunity to see the boulders from the water. If you do this option, make sure you bring a dry bag or waterproof camera.
  3. The third way is is to explore the boulders of the Baths via paddleboard like Lucy does on some of the photos. This is for people who have paddled before or taken a lesson, if you are a novice paddler you should start at one of the calm St. John beaches first. We are happy to bring a paddleboard for you along but the captain is busy keeping the boat safe and cannot do a double act as a SUP Instructor. If you need instruction you can of course book Lucy from SUP-Stjohn.com to come along on the trip

The Baths on Virgin Gorda Photogallery

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Rockhoppin’ Charters – Boat Trips out of Cruz Bay, St. John

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We offer private boat charters out of Cruz Bay, St. John, USVI. Our Powerboat is a 32 FS Regulator with twin Yamaha 300s and based in Cruz Bay, St. John. It is a very comfortable charter boat with cushioned, forward-facing seating and it is fully licensed and insured. It will provide a very comfortable, mostly dry ride.

St. John, Power Boat Charter Options:

  • Day Trips (USVI & BVI Waters) from 890$ incl. captain and fuel

  • Half Day Trips (USVI Waters only)  690$ incl. captain and fuel

  • Sunset Cruises (USVI Waters only) 350$ incl. captain and fuel

These are private, captained charters for you and your friends / family. Up to 6 people.

USVI Charter (no passport required)

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USVI Boat Charter 

 

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Snorkel and swim or paddleboard in turquoise waters. Explore the white, sandy beaches & amazing nature, See sea turtles, sting rays, dolphins and colorful fish. Explore the North Shore Beaches, see the petroglyphs, waterfalls Circumnavigate St. John, Explore the East End/Coral Bay. Watch the sunset from the water

Popular destinations itineraries include but are not limited to.

BVI Boat Charter (passport required)

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  • Jost van Dyke
  • Willy T / Norman Island (includes stop at Jost)
  • Cooper Island (includes stop at Jost and Norman)
  • Virgin Gorda (includes stop at Norman and/or Willy T.)
  • Anegada

Jost van Dyke is a quick ride and possible in virtually any weather. Virgin Gorda and Anegada are longer rides and there are days with strong winds / big seas where this trip is not recommended/enjoyable. You can always change destination closer to booking.

All our charters are private charters and can be customized to your liking. The price is based on the furthest destination. The only limit # of stops is the time.

Check availbility below by scrolling to desired date (right now we start taking bookings January 1st 2023 but may open mid-December)

 

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Visit Pizza Pi, the USVI Pizza boat – Open for new Season

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UPDATE: Pizza Pi has just re-opened for the season. They will now be there 7 days a week 11am - 6pm. Rain or shine

 

Day Trips, Half Day Trips and Sunset Cruises in St. John waters are great because you save the time, money and hassle of checking into BVI customs (they have just increased the fees once more). However, the downside so far has been that there are not really any restaurants or bars with docks in the St. John waters.

 

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Not any more, there is a Pizza Pi, a food boat (a 100% customized 37 ft. G.L. Watson design built in 1996 in Sheffield, England) that has taken the familiar food truck concept to the water where it prepares and serves delicious pizza at Christmas Cove, just off Great St. James Island, a short ride from St. John.

 

Sasha and Tara Bouis are serving fresh baked pizza served on delicious made-from-scratch slow-fermentation New York style crust. Each pizza is made to order with fresh local ingredients. They offer a gluten-free menu and they have even partnered with a local ice-creamery, Scoops and Brew, to serve the best ice cream in the islands! On top of that they provide Wifi Access.

 

You can check out their menu here. Stay tuned, we hear they will be announcing an exciting new menu next week. Read the full story of Pizza Pi here.

 

powerboat-charter-trip-to-pizza-pi

Pizza Pi USVI Hours of Operation:

  • 7 days a week 11am - 6pm. Rain or shine

So, how about a day trip "Best of St. John" with a stop at Pizza Pi or a sunset cruise, eating delicious pizza while the sun goes down?

 

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Pizza Pi Pizza Boat Photogallery

 Check out our Pizza Pi Photogallery here and here.

Book your unforgettable boat trip to Pizza Pi here:

We can visit Pizza Pi on the day trips and half day trips St. John or on the way back from Jost van Dyke.

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B-Line Beach Bar – Day Trip St. John – Jost van Dyke

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A day trip St. John - Jost van Dyke on our 32 FS Regulator Powerboat can be so much more than just Soggy Dollar. We can for example stop at B-Line at Little Jost van Dyke. It is a charming, low-key bar, that has great drinks, friendly staff on a beautiful beach.

 

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B-Line Beach Bar - Little Jost van Dyke

Their signature drink is the "Passion Confusion" is a mix between a painkiller and a rum punch, with lots of rum soaked pineapple, stop by and try one!

 

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They are open from 10am-10pm daily serving ice cold beer and rum drinks. On weekends they serve up the freshest locally caught mahi, tuna, and wahoo. Hot off the grill items include fish tacos, spicy tuna wrap, veggie burgers, kosher beef hot dogs, and their signature dish fish n foil. You can check out their website here.

 

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You won't get bored. You can play cornhole, board games and there also is great snorkeling on the reef that is right around the corner. Oh and don't forget to leave your name on the wooden roof of the bar. Feeling lazy? They also have a soft white sand beach for laying around and doing nothing at all.

 

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From there we can head over to Sandy Spit for your personal perfect postcard shot. After a lot of erosion what is left of Sandy Spit is tiny, so make sure you visit it before it is gone!

 

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From there we can head to the bubbly pools and then our last stop usually is White Bay, Jost van Dyke. Tired of the Burgers at Soggy Dollar Bar? Try out the other places: One Love, Jewel's and Getrude's have really great meals.

 

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Thank you for a great season!

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The first storms have passed, it is the end of a great season and time to thank our awesome captains, wonderful customers and fantastic friends for all the good times we had on www.rockhoppin.com. Thanks for booking with us and we hope to see you again in the upcoming 2015/2016 season! We will remain open in September and are hopeful that "Erika" and "Danny" were the only storms for the season but will tow the boat out of water again in case of another warning. Until then, here are some of our favorite memories from the past season.

 

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Day Trip St. John – Cooper Island (BVI)

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We have quite a few repeat guest and returning St. John visitors who have been to Virgin Gorda and Jost van Dyke and are asking for something new. Cooper Island is a lesser known, small, isolated island and can only be accessed by private boat.

 

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Where is Cooper Island, BVI?

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It is on the South Side of Tortola and about half way between Norman Island and Virgin Gorda.

 

It hosts a small, eco-friendly (75% of their power is solar generated), beautiful resort which has just undergone major renovations. There is great fresh food (it is famous for the chicken roti), awesome cocktails, a beautiful beach and good snorkeling. There are even some tables in the water.

Day Trip St. John - Cooper Island

Here is a quick write up and a few pics and a video from a day trip from St. John to Cooper Island last Tuesday. We met our guests at High Tide at 9:00 AM, filled out the customs forms and checked into the BVI at Tortola Westend. From there we headed straight to Cooper Island.

 

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We arrived there before the rush, beating the bigger boats and went for some snorkeling right off the beach where we saw Barracudas, squid and lots of colorful fish.

 

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We spent some time wandering around the resort, checking out the shop and the coffee bar and then sat down in the comfortable loungers for lunch.

 

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 Lunch at Cooper Island Beach Club

We had some excellent Chicken Roti in the beautiful and relaxed setting and then left to snorkel some of the famous but also the lesser known snorkeling spots in the area.

 

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After the snorkeling we went to famous Party Boat Willy T. for some cocktails and of course jumped of the deck. Our jumps were quite stylish compared to the lady after us, who landed flat on her belly.

 

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From there we went along the South Shore of St. John, passing impressive Ram's head and stopped for another snorkel at Tektike, which can only be accessed by boat.

Snorkeling Tektike

The Tektite snorkel is one of the absolute best snorkeling spots on the island of St. John. The name, Tektite, refers to a research project conducted at Beehive Bay a small cove on the southeastern tip of Great Lameshur Bay. The Tektite Project was conducted in 1969 in a cooperative effort by the U.S. Department of the Interior, the U.S. Navy, NASA and the General Electric Co. The purpose of the study was to investigate the effects on human beings of living and working underwater for prolonged periods of time. More information on the Tektite Project is here.

 

You will see a very wide variety of fish and amazing coral formations.

 

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We saw some moving sand and after a bit of patience spotted the beautiful ray.

 

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After a great day on the water, we arrived back in Cruz Bay, St. John right in time for a beautiful sunset. Here is what our guests had to say about the trip:

 

5* "Absolutely fabulous!! Had a fabulous time with Captain Steve!" M.H., April,2015

5* "Great day in the BVIs with Captain Steve and Lucy. They will totally customize your trip to what you would like to see and do for the day. We have chartered from other companies in the past and Rockhoppin Adventures is by far the most professional, well run of any that we have used in St. John", E.H. April 2015

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Day Trip St. John Cooper Island Video

Send Booking Enquiry Day Trip St. John - Cooper Island

Ready for a great time on the water? You can fill out the form below or send an email to info(at)rockhoppin.com or rockhoppinusvi@gmail.com. We will get back to you within 24 hours, usually faster. We get tons of emails with weird business proposals through the contact form and it does sometimes happen that a booking enquiry lands in the spam folder (or our response lands in your spam folder). You can also text us on 340-514-5527 to make sure it went through.

 

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