Hull Bay

Hull Bay is a tranquil little beach and a favorite with residents of the Northside of St. Thomas, many of whom have French-St. Barths ancestry. The French community has a strong connection to the sea, and Hull Bay is a popular spot for mooring their small fishing boats. The water at Hull Bay is typically clear and very calm. The seafloor is mostly rocky but a few sandy spots exist for entering the water and bathing. If you want to venture deeper then it’s a good idea to have a mask or swim goggles to see your way around the rocks. The rocky seafloor condition makes it less than ideal for small children and people that might have trouble navigating around the rocks.

The beauty of Hull Bay is in its tranquil, natural feel. It’s a little beach, laid back and crowd free. Fishing boats, 12-24 feet long, bob in the water and add to the scenery. There is a boat launch. Pelicans spend the day diving for their next meal. The view from shore includes Tropaco Point and in the distance two small islands named Inner Brass and Outer Brass. Residential areas are visible on the hills to the right and left of the beach.

The shoreline is narrow and filled with white sand mixed with pebbles and small rocks. The small pebbles dominate the right side of the shore. The tree line is largely made up of maho trees, plus a couple of seagrape trees, genip trees, and pink poui trees. The trees provide natural shade.

The beach is quiet on most weekdays, and you may be the only one there. A dozen or so residents head to Hull Bay in the late afternoon to relax, catch up with friends, play domino, or have a few greenies (Heinekens) while the sun sets. On weekends the beach picks up a little, again mostly with islanders, and a few bring along their dogs. Hull Bay is one of the only St. Thomas beaches where dogs are overlooked. It’s also the only beach on St. Thomas where you can go to the beach and get a haircut! “Ed the Barber” has his little barber shop just across the street from the beach, just behind the restaurant. If he’s there and you need a trim, go on in for a haircut and a chat.

The bar/restaurant is appropriately called “Hull Bay Hideaway”. You can buy a bucket of beers to take to the beach or dine in. There are restrooms at the restaurant. A dive shop is the other amenity available at Hull Bay, their hours vary. There are no chair rentals, umbrellas, gift shops or resort amenities.

Hull Bay is known for pretty good snorkeling. You can swim along the right side, and in the relatively shallow nearshore rocky areas, and look for sea critters. In deeper waters you might find coral, squid and larger fish. The on-location dive shop, called Homer’s, offers guided snorkeling trips insuring you go to the right spots to see interesting things. They also offer night snorkeling. Reservations for snorkeling trips are recommended.

Hull Bay is one of the few surf beaches on St. Thomas. On the left side, just where Hull Bay meets another small cove, the waves pick up during the months of November to March. When the waves are going off the local surfers move in. It can be fun to sit and watch from shore.

Hull Bay is a nice spot to watch the sun set. Residents will occasionally grill out just before sunset, bringing their grill and supplies with them to the beach.

Access and Transportation: Free admission. Roadside parking right on the sand behind the tree line, or in the dirt lot on the left side. The road to the beach is bumpy. Taxis will drop you off at Hull Bay. You should arrange a return taxi pick up at a set time particularly if you are on a schedule, and take the taxi driver’s telephone number just in case.