The clear waters surrounding St. John support a diverse and complex system of coral reefs. The health of these reefs is closely tied to its component plants and animals as well as adjacent non-coral marine environments such as sandy bottoms, seagrass beds, and mangrove forests.

Seeking to provide greater protection to the sensitive coral reef resources President Clinton established the Virgin Islands Coral Reef National Monument on January 17, 2001. This monument includes 12,708 acres of federal submerged lands within the 3-mile belt off of St. John, including Hurricane Hole and areas north and south of St. John.

 Directions 

Car - To visit the Hurricane Hole area of Virgin Islands Coral Reef National Monument, drive east on Route 10 approximately 9 miles. Other areas of the monument are inaccessible by automobile, however, may be reached by boat.

Public Transportation - Hourly ferry service from Red Hook, St. Thomas (a 20-minute ride) is available to St. John and operates from 6:30 a.m., then on the hour from 7:30 am - midnight. Ferry service from St. John to St. Thomas runs on the hour from 6:00 a.m - 11:00 p.m. Less frequent ferries travel between Charlotte Amalie, St. Thomas and St. John (a 45-minute ride).