The Best Places to Snorkel with Sea Turtles in St. Thomas
- Island Luxury
- Jul 16
- 3 min read
If you’ve ever seen a sea turtle in the wild, you know there’s something magical about observing these graceful creatures in their natural habitat. Luckily for us, the waters surrounding St. Thomas are a great place to find sea turtles—if you know where to look! We’re sharing our tips on the best places to snorkel with sea turtles in St. Thomas and beyond.
First, an important note:
Please respect these endangered creatures. Do not feed, touch or harass them—not only will you disturb their natural behaviors, you’ll also be subject to a fine of up to $5,000 and possible jail time.
Now that we’ve covered the rules, let’s dive into the best places to see sea turtles in St. Thomas. There are three kinds of sea turtles you may encounter in and around our beaches:
Hawksbill sea turtles are the smallest of the USVI sea turtles, at just 2-3.5 feet long. They can be identified by their unique pointed mouth and beautifully patterned shell with scalloped edges.
Green sea turtles can grow up to four feet long and have spotted heads and smooth-edged shells. You’re most likely to spot these sea turtles feeding in grassy underwater areas.
Leatherback sea turtles are the rarest type of turtle found in the US Virgin Islands. These gentle giants can grow up to 6 feet long and have leathery shells with light spots.
Where to Find Sea Turtles in St. Thomas
There are three things you’ll need to find sea turtles in St. Thomas—snorkeling gear, luck and persistence! While it’s impossible to know exactly where these beautiful creatures are going to decide to spend their day, the following beaches are a great place to start.
Brewers Bay
This beach near the airport has a well-deserved reputation as the best place on St. Thomas to spot sea turtles. Grab your mask and snorkel and stay toward the left side of the bay where seagrass grows under the water. Note: There are bathrooms but no other public amenities at Brewers, so be sure to pack snacks and water or bring cash for the food trucks that frequent the area.
Secret Harbour
Secret Harbour is one of our favorite places to snorkel on St. Thomas, and is also one of the best places to spot a sea turtle. Secret Harbour is famous for its calm, clear water, and the cove is interspersed with underwater seagrass patches that attract turtles. There’s also a reef on the right and left sides of the cove where you can observe fish and coral. Note: This beach has full amenities, including restaurants and beach chairs/umbrellas for rent.
Sapphire Beach
Sapphire is another great turtle-spotting beach due to the sea grass patches near the middle of the bay. This East End beach is just a few steps from our Sapphire Beach condos and a short drive from our East End villas. Note: You can rent snorkel gear, beach chairs and umbrellas here. The Sapphire Beach Bar is a great place to relax with lunch or a drink after you’re done snorkeling.
Off-Island Favorites: Turtle Cove and Maho Bay
Although they’re not located on St. Thomas, we wanted to mention these sea turtle hotspots. They’re a great place to stop on a snorkeling trip, or in the case of Maho Bay, a tour through the Virgin Islands National Park. Our complimentary concierge service is here to help Island Luxury guests book a charter or plan a day off-island—just ask!
Turtle Cove, Little Buck Island
Little Buck Island (not to be confused with Buck Island near St. Croix) is located just two miles off the southeast coast of St. Thomas and can be easily reached via boat charter. The northwest side of the island has a half-circle shaped cove where green turtles congregate, and the nearby reef is also a great spot to see many varieties of colorful fish.
Maho Bay, St. John
This beautiful St. John beach is one of the best places to spot turtles and rays. You can charter a snorkeling trip or drive your car to St. John on the Red Hook-Cruz Bay ferry. Look for turtles in the deeper water on the right side of the bay where the sea grass grows.
What’s Your Favorite Place to Snorkel with Sea Turtles in St. Thomas?
We hope this has sparked some ideas of the best places to find sea turtles in and around St. Thomas. If you get a photo of one of these majestic creatures, tag us at @islandluxuryvi so we can like and comment!
Sea turtle facts courtesy of:
Comments