From the 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.
Featured Snorkel
Coral World Ocean Park
Spend the day at Coral World Ocean Park, one of St. Thomas's Greatest Attractions. Get up close and personal with the beauty of Caribbean marine life in a stunning setting. Unique diving opportunities await you - Experience the thrill of exploring the ocean and all its wonders like a diver without the need for specialized training. Sea Trek is a guided walk on the ocean floor; the helmet provides the air, weight and stability to walk upright under the water. Want a diver's view of a coral reef, but not ready for scuba? Then try Snuba! A certified guide will lead you on your adventure.
Fury Sailing Charters
SWIM WITH THE TURTLES SNORKEL/SAIL. Join the crew aboard the newly refurbished sailing yacht FURY for a 3.5 hour excursion to the National Marine Wildlife Refuge at Buck Island. Here you will encounter endangered Green Sea Turtles and a variety of sea life in their natural habitat. Day Sail on St. Thomas includes: snorkel gear, open bar, snacks, fresh water shower and free pickup/drop off at the Havensight Cruiseship Dock. Trips depart twice daily and can accommodate up to 25 guests. Voted #1 excursion activity on St. Thomas by Tripadvisor.com. Snorkeling at its best aboard the Yacht Fury! Don't miss this great wildlife experience!
Mangrove Lagoon Kayak, Hike & Snorkel Adventures
A unique, guided, multi-eco experience awaits you! These award winning tours take guests of all ages and experience levels kayaking in the Mangrove Lagoon. Explore a mangrove forest and try your luck with a hermit crab race. A short walk along a coral and shell beach brings you to impressive volcanic cliffs, tidal pools and the famous Red Cliffs Blow Hole! Snorkel in a clear shallow lagoon. Guided tours depart daily: 5 hours w/ lunch, 3 hours, and 2 1/2 hours, SUP YOGA, Sunset & Night Tours. Perfect for wedding, corporate and private groups. Book online with Virgin Islands EcoTours or call toll free.
Virgin Islands EcoTours offers guided Kayak Hike & Snorkel Adventures at three locations: St. Thomas Mangrove Lagoon; St. John Honeymoon Beach; and Historic Hassel Island. Book online right now using promo code: VINOW, for your 10% discount!
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Local Legend Charters
We are a locally owned and family operated charter boat company offering unique day trip adventures throughout the USVI and BVI. Based in St. Thomas, U. S. Virgin Islands, we are proud to have some of the most skilled and experienced captains in the business. Our captains are all U.S. Coast Guard licensed and have expert local knowledge of our waters having been raised and trained in the Virgin Islands by generations of accomplished sailors. Our comfortable 32-foot center console Cape Horn powerboats ensure a fun and smooth ride as you explore secret coves, beautiful beaches, hidden grottos and other incredible destinations only reachable by sea.
New Horizons & Breakaway Charters
Snorkel St. John, sunbathe and explore with Breakaway. Relax and be pampered by the crew. Trip includes a continental breakfast, picnic lunch, premium open bar, and fresh fruit after snorkeling. Enjoy snorkeling at 2 islands! The first within the National Park on St. John, and the second an uninhabited island. Trip includes snorkel gear and instructions. Tour: Meet the crew and get aboard at Sapphire Marina. 10am to 4pm. Reservations required. $125 pp. A perfect and wonderful way to visit the National Park on St. John, snorkel and get time out on the water.
New Horizons & Breakaway Charters
Snorkel with the Turtles! Join us aboard the Breakaway or New Horizons II to snorkel at a tropical island near St. Thomas. Enjoy snorkeling the coral reefs at a small tropical island, enjoy a delicious lunch on the ocean and relax on a white sandy beach. Trip includes snorkel gear and instructions, lunch, open bar and snacks. Meet the crew and get on board at Yacht Haven Grande, which is a short walk from the WICO Cruise Ship docks. A perfect and wonderful option for your day in port. Reservations Required. Book Online to Save.
Elixir Charters
Elixir, a sixty foot custom Hatteras Motoryacht is the largest and finest day charter yacht in the Virgin Islands. Allow us to pamper you with an eggs benedict breakfast and filet mignon and lobster tail lunch served to you at a bronze sea turtle table on our shaded aft deck. Enjoy three fabulous snorkel/beachfront stops, top quality snorkel gear, double kayak, fast inflatable, double hammock, giant sun pad, air conditioned salon with Bose home theater system, and our open top shelf bar including vintage wine and champagne. Full day trips and sunset dinner cruises daily. Unforgettable!
From Beaches
Rocky 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 Charters
Charters 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: Sailboats | Powerboats
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
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 Fish ID Card; a small, waterproof card that includes popular marine animals you might see while snorkeling.
Super Snorkeling
For 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.
Snuba
Snuba 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 Dive
This 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 Bubble
This 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 visit to an aquarium. For more on these options visit Animal Encounters.
