Because I am staying at the beautiful Soft Winds villa on St. John, I have access to some of the best island retreats for snorkeling in the world. Every time I snorkel off this island, I see something new.
Yesterday, I hiked over to Leinster Bay from our beach spot on Francis Bay. Besides seeing a two-and-one-half foot barracuda, several different types of wrasse, redfin needlefish, a juvenile gray angelfish, and star fish, I saw two things I have never seen before.

One was what I think is an egg sac, wrapped around a branch of coral. Shiny purple globes, in the shape of a fat worm. About two inches long.

The other was the jagged zigzag mouth of a clam, vertical in the sand so I could only see the opening. When I dove down to investigate, the mouth shut up tight. I could see one little antenna poking out. So maybe a shrimp was living in there?

There is always something fascinating to see in the Caribbean Sea off the shores of beautiful St. John in the U.S. Virgin Islands.

Thank you, Mr. Rockefeller, for preserving these pristine shores and waters for future generations…

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