I’m a water lover and could easily spend every day of the week snorkeling, diving or just floating. If you’re not a certified scuba diver or if you just want a break from the tanks, there’s certainly enough St Croix snorkeling beaches to keep you busy every day of the week. Because 3/4 of our shores are protected by barrier reef, St Croix offers some really stellar coral reefs right offshore.
You can explore beaches on your own or book a guided snorkeling tour at Buck Island National Monument with one of the approved National Parks concessioners. You’ll find a diverse array of fish and other sea life in the seagrass beds, at rocky outcroppings or along the offshore reefs. You can purchase or rent gear at most of the dive shops on the island. If you’re opting for a tour, gear will be included.
If you decide to explore St Croix and snorkel on your own, we highly recommend grabbing a copy of the St Croix Snorkeling Guide or the US Virgin Islands Snorkeling Guide which highlight some of the island’s best beaches to search out underwater life. These terrific resources are full of colorful images that will guide you along your way and get you excited about the world underneath the water. They even include an identification guide so that you can impress your friends by naming all the fish you saw! You’ll also want to make sure to gear up for your adventure with snorkel, mask and fins and be sure to prevent a scorched back by wearing a rash guard (trust me on this one!). Lastly, check out our article on Reef Safe Sunscreens to prevent harming our delicate coral reefs.Buck Island National Park.
Buck Island Snorkel Tours are by far the #1 excursion on St Croix and are not to be missed, so we’ve dedicated a whole page just to Buck Island National Park and Underwater Monument check out more info and tour operators.
