The reef that runs across the mouth of White Bay is the reason the beach behind it is so calm, and it is a rewarding snorkel in its own right. Two narrow cuts lead through the coral into the bay, and the reef either side of them holds elkhorn and brain coral, sea fans and a steady population of reef fish in water shallow enough to see everything clearly.

What You Will See at White Bay Reef

It suits confident snorkellers more than beginners. The water over the reef is shallow, surge moves across it, and the coral is close enough to the surface that it is easy to damage — or to be cut by — if you misjudge a swell. Swim it on a calm day, keep well clear of the coral heads, and stay out of the cuts themselves, which is where boat traffic passes.

Getting There on Your Crewed Charter

The bay is also the anchorage for the White Bay beach bars, so plan your snorkel around the traffic and go early in the day when the water is clearest and the boats have not yet arrived.

← Back to the Jost Van Dyke cruising guide