St. Thomas Guide | St. Thomas Activities: Snorkeling & Super Snorkeling SnorkelingFrom new, never snorkeled before to seasoned snorkelers there is something for everyone. Rocky coast lines, near shore reefs, off shore cays and sunken items like ships and planes provide beautiful and varied snorkeling opportunities. The conditions are; great visibility, fairly constant water temperatures of 79-83 degrees year-round, calm seas with little current and fantastic underwater scenery. In other words, perfect for snorkeling. View gorgeous underwater gardens of coral and visit with the residents; turtles, rays, octopuses, moray eels and an abundance of fish large and small. With the use of a mask, snorkel and fins you can float on the surface and admire the marine life below. Snorkeling is an option from beaches and also by boat trips. VI Snuba Excursions
http://www.visnuba.com Play and interact with a rainbow of tropical fish while Snuba diving in the warm, clear waters of Coki Beach. Snuba dive at any depth you desire down to a maximum of 20 feet. You will be an interactive member of the reef ecosystem, cruising with effortless freedom in a weightless environment. Participants will be able to relax and enjoy themselves while under the supervision of experienced professionals who have conducted Snuba tours for 20 years in the Virgin Islands (the longest of anywhere in the world). No experience needed. Reservations are a must! Virgin Islands Ecotours
http://www.viecotours.com Explore the Mangrove Sanctuary by kayak and enjoy snorkeling in two underwater paradises! Guides provide expert instruction for beginners and will point out and explain the marine life. This is a perfect tour for beginning snorkelers with an easy beach entry in calm, clear and shallow waters! In between snorkeling, explore the tropical paradise of Cas Cay, try a hermit crabs race and experience many breathtaking views and spectacular photographic opportunities at the Red Point Blow Hole amongst volcanic cliffs. Full Day Tour Departs daily at 9 am. Lunch, beverages & equipment included. Reservations are Required. From BeachesRocky coast lines and coral reefs near shore offer great opportunities to snorkel from beaches. Snorkeling from shore can be done with or without a guide. Some of the favorite beaches on St. Thomas for shore snorkeling include Coki Point, Sapphire Beach and Secret Harbor. View pictures and information on these and other beaches on the St. Thomas Beach Guide. By Boat ChartersCharters for ½ or full day trips can take you out to two or three unique snorkeling areas. Many of the charters from St. Thomas sail or motor to protected marine areas in the Virgin Islands National Park on St. John. A favorite destination for day trips catering to cruise passengers is Buck Island National Wildlife Refuge on the south side of St. Thomas. Day charters often include lunch, drinks, snorkeling gear, a little history or stories by the captain and overall a combination of enjoying the weather, boating and snorkeling. More on Boat Charters Tip: Don't snorkel alone. Don't touch or stand on coral, it is very fragile.
Don't feed the marine life non-fish food. Cereal, cake, bread, nuts, dog
biscuits, leftover hotdogs from lunch are not part of marine creature's natural diets and are considered unhealthy for them.
Do wear sunscreen on your back or wear a t-shirt. You can easily spend 30
minutes to an hour floating along admiring the fish and that is plenty of time
for the bright tropical sunshine to leave you with a painful sunburn.
The Gear
Super SnorkelingFor those of you who like snorkeling and are not divers there is a middle ground option called super snorkeling! Prices range from $57 a person to $99 respectively for the three different types of super snorkeling available on St. Thomas. SnubaSnuba enables people with the use of a mask and breathing tube attached to a tank of air floating on the surface to explore shallow coral reefs and marine environments while swimming under the water. Available to anyone from eight years old and up and doesn't require experience. Helmet DiveThis form of super snorkeling involves divers wearing a helmet connected to the surface by an air hose. Divers climb down a ladder into the water, are fitted with the helmet and are off to explore a multitude of marine life. It is available at Coral World where it is called Sea Trekkin. Trekkers walk along a trail on the floor of the sea. A marine expert guides 8 people at a time around coral beds teeming with marine life. Available to anyone from eight years old and up and doesn't require experience. Breathing Observation BubbleThis is an underwater scooter complete with a breathing and observation bubble attached to an air supply. You ride along on a scooter underwater while observing an assortment of beautiful marine life. Available to anyone from ten years old and up and doesn't require experience. And say you want to enjoy the fascinating underwater world without getting wet, there are options for you too! How about a submarine ride or a visit to an aquarium. For more on these options visit Attractions. |  Sponsor
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Fins, a mask and a snorkel. Some of the
popular beaches have watersports booths that rent snorkel gear. You can also
rent gear for a few days from a dive shop. A popular question by visitors is "Should I buy or rent a set". Frequent visitors agree that you should
buy a set. Here's why. To enjoy snorkeling your gear needs to fit you well,
particularly your mask. A leaky mask can ruin a snorkeling experience. When
buying your mask test it out by holding it to your
face without the strap behind your head and inhale slightly through your nose.
Let go of the mask, it should say in place; this indicates a good seal. Your
fins should fit you snugly when dry because when you get in the ocean the
water acts as a lubricant. Snorkels are easier because they are mostly one
size fits all. If you get a bag for your gear make sure its a mesh type bag so
that water and sand can drain out. An underwater camera is a great accessory;
you can pick up a disposable underwater camera at your local supermarket. Another
neat accessory is a
