Recommendation for Snorkeling on a Quiet Beach …Please!

[lisa928]

My husband and I are in our early thirties and will be on our third (NCL) cruise, this time 14-days from NYC to Miami leaving on 10/28. Over the past two cruises we have learned that we really did not enjoy the organized excursions, but rather catching a cab to a beach for snorkeling. Last time we did it ‘his’ way (i.e. grabbing a cab and asking the cabbie where the best place to go was) and this time we are doing it ‘my’ way (i.e. doing a little homework before, which is the reason I am here!).

Anyway, our cruise has eight stops (see itinerary below) and what I am looking for are suggestions of a quiet beach that is great for snorkeling, noting we have our own equipment! We are really big in saltwater fish with a 220-gallon tank containing fish, live coral, inverts, etc. With that said, we are interesting in seeing more than purple tangs, parrot fish, or chromis fish. I am looking for sharks or turtles, but would love to see a more variety of fish and some corals. (I know, one of these days we will get out scuba licenses). Oh, by the way, when I say quiet beach I would prefer some place without water sports, not a lot of people, and I could care less about amenities, but at the same time I would prefer not to be an hour away from the port.

Okay, I know that is a lot of info, but I am hoping the more detailed the more likely the recommendations will fit what we are looking for. Although this board is island specific, I am posting all our stops, in case someone else also familiar with one of our other stops, but I am also going to post in other appropriate boards.

• St. Thomas
  
• St. Kitts
  
• Barbados
  
• Aruba
  
• Curacao
  
• Ocho Rios
  
• Grand Cayman
  
• Cozumel

Thanks in advance for any recommendations!

Lisa

[cul8er]

I was on the Celebrity Millenium in 2005 and we stopped in St. Thomas, took a ferry to St. John and hiked on the different trails through the national park. One of the trails (somewhat difficult) led down to a series of empty coves where you could have your own small private beach to snorkel from. I, of course, didn't think to bring my snorkeling gear, but it would have been amazing. Due to the rocky and steep trail, not very many people made the trek, so you would be able to "get lost" there easily. Good luck!

[scubaran]

My husband and I are in our early thirties and will be on our third (NCL) cruise, this time 14-days from NYC to Miami leaving on 10/28. Over the past two cruises we have learned that we really did not enjoy the organized excursions, but rather catching a cab to a beach for snorkeling. Last time we did it ‘his’ way (i.e. grabbing a cab and asking the cabbie where the best place to go was) and this time we are doing it ‘my’ way (i.e. doing a little homework before, which is the reason I am here!).

 

Anyway, our cruise has eight stops (see itinerary below) and what I am looking for are suggestions of a quiet beach that is great for snorkeling, noting we have our own equipment! We are really big in saltwater fish with a 220-gallon tank containing fish, live coral, inverts, etc. With that said, we are interesting in seeing more than purple tangs, parrot fish, or chromis fish. I am looking for sharks or turtles, but would love to see a more variety of fish and some corals. (I know, one of these days we will get out scuba licenses). Oh, by the way, when I say quiet beach I would prefer some place without water sports, not a lot of people, and I could care less about amenities, but at the same time I would prefer not to be an hour away from the port.

 

Okay, I know that is a lot of info, but I am hoping the more detailed the more likely the recommendations will fit what we are looking for. Although this board is island specific, I am posting all our stops, in case someone else also familiar with one of our other stops, but I am also going to post in other appropriate boards.

 

• St. Thomas
  
• St. Kitts
  
• Barbados
  
• Aruba
  
• Curacao
  
• Ocho Rios
  
• Grand Cayman
  
• Cozumel

Thanks in advance for any recommendations!

Lisa

 

Hi,

 

I would agree, if you have the time take a ferry, go to St. Johns while in St. Thomas (go to the island specific board for details).

 

Ocho Rios, go to the falls, it's crowded but lots of fun! Skip the reefs, they've been dead since the 70s.

 

Grand Cayman go to sunset house, www. sunsethouse.com. It's a dive resort about a mile from the cruise docks (quick taxi or medium walk if you want). They have a "house reef" that is never crowded. But they do have a full service dive shop with lockers, and rental equipment if you forget something. There's no charge to shore snorkel from their property and when you're done there's a great bar "my bar" for a cool drink before you get a taxi (readily available) to go back to the docks. Most people won't go this far so it is never crowded. Check out the website, they have lots of info and you can call the on-site dive shop, on the website as well, for questions on what they've seen on the reef. I know there's almost always a few squid, angelfish, etc.

 

I dive the other islands so don't know what's available for shore snorkels.

 

Randall

[Northcountrycruiser]

My wife and I just returned form a week in Aruba - we snorkeled on our own ( rental car). Several recommendations - Baby Beach - southern end of island, excellent beach with facilities. Shallow water with sandy bottom and scattered coral. Lots of fish - yellow tail, blue tang, and trumpetfish. Can be a popular place with the locals on weekends and with ship excursion groups. Malmok or Arashi beaches at northern end of island. Both beaches are quieter, no facilities. Good reef not far off shore. All three beaches are about a twenty minute cab ride from the pier.

[sharks48]

Lind Point Trail in the National Park on St. John. You can end the trip by walking to Caneel Bay, where you can get a cab back to Cruz Bay. Beautiful!! [No facilities - bring water, equipment, etc.]