Snorkel Nassau, St Thomas, Tortola or Antigua

[forever cruise]

Trying to decide the best place to snorkel at on our cruise. We'll be stopping at Nassau, St. Thomas, Tortola, Antigua. Any of these offer good snorkeling? Anything right off a beach? Specific excursions offered or particular beaches? Thanks in advance.

[AlexsDogPound]

You can go to Coki Beach on St Thomas and snorkel right from shore. The beach is in the shape of a half moon with good coral formations both to the left and to the right especially since it's right next ot Coral World.

[Stevesan]

Swim with the sharks at Nassau:

 

http://www.snorkelbahamas.com/snorkelhome.aspx

 

http://www.stuartcove.com/DiveBahamasMgmt.aspx?id=3&pageId=17

 

The boat trip is @ three hours, and visits Schoolhouse Reef, the spectacular Golden Key Reef and finally a “swim with the sharks” at ‘The Wreck of the Bahama Mama’. I have never before witnessed such a number and variety of fish as at Golden Key. There are never-ending fish, large and small, singly and in large schools. The floor is decorated with huge, magnificent coral formations of all shapes and sizes. While there, a shark cruised past our group. He obviously thought this was his ocean and didn’t know, nor care, that we weren’t scheduled for a shark encounter until after Golden Key. Surprisingly, getting in with a dozen or so sharks is not frightening. I suspect we were too caught up with their grace and magnificence to be scared. The fact that the boat captain hadn’t lost a diver in twelve years was also encouraging. This is a five star, gold medallion, prime trip, not to be missed!

[imgagesmom]

We were just in St. Thomas and Coki beach was awesome there were TONS of fish. We also went to Magans bay I only saw minnows and the viability was horrid we packed up and went to Coki and I am so glad we did.

[sassycarolinacruiser]

Hope my response is not too late, when is your cruise? I enjoyed snorkeling at Brewer's Bay in Tortola. We grabbed a taxi just outside of the port and spent the day there. Good variety of sea life and easy entry from the shore. Have fun.

[Colorado Kat]

In Nassau, Stuart Cove's operation is very good. Both scuba, and snorkeling.

[forever cruise]

Thanks for all the ideas...still contemplating our decision.

[seashinesunshine]

Trying to decide the best place to snorkel at on our cruise. We'll be stopping at Nassau, St. Thomas, Tortola, Antigua. Any of these offer good snorkeling? Anything right off a beach? Specific excursions offered or particular beaches? Thanks in advance.

 

I highly recommend Coki Beach on St Thomas for from the beach snorkeling. There are so many fish. Facing the water off to the right, closer to Coral World is where I snorkeled. Rocks and Coral to snorkel around. :cool:

[Snorkel Dawg]

I love Secret Harbor in St. Thomas. It's smaller but not crowded. It has a nice palm tree lined beach, calm harbor with lots of coral & fish. The highlight of our day snorkeling crystal clear waters of the harbor, seeing a green eel & starfish. It's free, just a taxi ride 20 min? each way.

 

A dive shop operates right there as well as a nice lil resturant/bar called The Blue Moon.

[luvthatrum]

If your ship offers this, book it! You won't be sorry!

Husband and I have snorkeled all over the caribbean. This besides St. John of course was one of the best!

[MsABGilroy]

Of all the islands you mentioned, we experienced the best snorkeling in Nassau. There were good varieties and lots of fish when we went. We booked an excursion through the ship--I think it was Seahorse Sail and Snorkel (we've gone with them twice). The last time we were in St. Thomas we booked a sailboat (Capt. Max) and had a wonderful sail to St. John with lunch included. We snorkeled for an hour in Caneel Bay. She takes a maximum of 6 on her boat. We went with a CC couple we met on our cruise and a couple from another ship.

[WisCruiser2]

I love Secret Harbor in St. Thomas. It's smaller but not crowded. It has a nice palm tree lined beach, calm harbor with lots of coral & fish. The highlight of our day snorkeling crystal clear waters of the harbor, seeing a green eel & starfish. It's free, just a taxi ride 20 min? each way.

 

A dive shop operates right there as well as a nice lil resturant/bar called The Blue Moon.

 

Hey Dawg!

I second Secret Harbor, had a great relaxing day there. We're thinking of trying Coki Beach when we're in St. Thomas next month (22 days til Sailaway, but who's counting.....?), especially as the ports were switched so we're not going to be in St. Thomas with 20,000 other folks!

[17emeralds]

Wondering how safe it is to leave your belongings on the shore while you snorkel?

[Snorkel Dawg]

Hey Dawg!

I second Secret Harbor, had a great relaxing day there. We're thinking of trying Coki Beach when we're in St. Thomas next month (22 days til Sailaway, but who's counting.....?), especially as the ports were switched so we're not going to be in St. Thomas with 20,000 other folks!

 

 

 

Lucky you Mary! We are hoppin the Red Hook ferry to St. Johns,

gotta avoid those other 20, 0000 folks as well!

[Snorkel Dawg]

Wondering how safe it is to leave your belongings on the shore while you snorkel?

 

 

 

Don't leave your vaulables on shore while swimming in St. Thomas or Chicago!

[WisCruiser2]

Don't leave your vaulables on shore while swimming in St. Thomas or Chicago!

 

Good point!

I just read on another thread that they're still constructing bathrooms at Coki Beach, so we may try Sapphire Beach instead, also supposed to have good snorkeling -- with Secret Harbor as Plan B if it's rough seas. OR, St. John also might be an option.....decisions, decisions!