• Trunk Bay Beach, considered one of the 10 best beaches in the world is home to the underwater trail.

    Virgin Islands

    National Park Virgin Islands

Marine Plants / Algae

Thalassia testudinum (Turtle grass) flower

Thalassia testudinum flower

Dr. Caroline Rogers

Seagrasses are true flowering plants that live underwater. They live in shallow, clear water, allowing enough light for them to photosynthesize, just like land plants. They spread primarily through the growth of roots and rhizomes, often forming large meadows in sandy or muddy substrate. These root systems help stabilize sediment and reduce shoreline erosion.

Boat anchors and propellers cause great damage to seagrass beds. Anchors can rip out the roots and gouge holes that undermine the surrounding root systems. The area "implodes," and it may take years for these areas to recover, if they recover at all.

Never Anchor in Seagrass or Coral

Did You Know?

view of mangrove trees with their distinctive aireal roots along the shoreline.

The mangrove forests found along the coastline in some bays serve as nursery habitats for juvenile fish. These beautiful trees with aerial roots provide filtration of the runoff and reduce the amount of sediment reaching the ocean. The Red Mangrove is one of several species found in the Park.