Small Spiny Caribbean Lobster

The beach at Leinster Bay can only be reached by hiking from Annaberg or by boat. Although most snorkelers make their way to the colorful reef surrounding Waterlemon Cay, there are things to see right off the beach. The sea floor is mainly seagrass and sand. The following photos show were taken just off the beach in the late afternoon yesterday.

Leinster Bay Snorkel

Sea Cucumber	Starfish	darker colored starfish
Southern Stingray	Seed Conch

Caribbean Spiny Lobster (Panulirus argus)

Snorkeling the waters of St. John back in the days, these lobsters could be found in just about any hole or under any ledge on the reef. Now they’re a lot more scarce.

During the day, the lobsters hide out in the dark recesses of the coral reef and may be difficult to find. However, at night the lobsters come out of their hiding places and forage the reef, and if you snorkel at night, you’re very likely to see them out in the open.

Although Caribbean Spiny Lobsters look (and taste) very much like the clawed lobsters found in the waters of the northeastern United States, they are not closely related biologically.