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The Best Snorkeling in St. Thomas


Sea turtle spotting while snorkeling in St. Thomas

If you’ve never snorkeled before, your trip to St. Thomas is the perfect time to start! With warm, clear water and gentle waves, snorkeling in St. Thomas is hard to beat. If you’re an expert snorkeler, good news! St. Thomas also has lots of lesser-visited areas that are ideal for the adventurous snorkeler. Today we’re sharing our favorite spots for every level of snorkeling expertise. 


Our ranking:

  • Best for kids: Sapphire Beach

  • Most adventurous: Northside

  • Most amenities: Secret Harbor

  • Best for beginners: Coki Beach

  • Best place to see turtles: Brewers Bay 


Best for Kids: Sapphire Beach


Sapphire Beach, St. Thomas, USVI

Sapphire Beach is a great place for kids who want to try snorkeling for the first time. The bay is protected, making the waves extra gentle, and the gradual slope gives little ones plenty of space to snorkel in waist-deep water. Most importantly, there are bathrooms, shade and food right on the beach - an absolute must for anyone adventuring with kids! 


Tip: Stay at one of our Sapphire Beach condos and you’ll be just steps from the water! 


Most Adventurous: The Northside


Exploring sea caves on St. Thomas

If you’re ready to take snorkeling in St. Thomas to the next level, head to the island’s Northside. There’s no easy access to these spots, so you’ll need to book a snorkeling excursion or charter a boat to get you there. It’s worth the extra effort when you start exploring the sea caves and coral tunnels that dot this side of the island. Look for the octopi and lobsters that like to frequent these rocky waters. 


Tip: Let our concierge service help you book a snorkeling excursion! 


Most Amenities: Secret Harbor


Secret Harbor is a free public beach adjacent to the Secret Harbour resort. You can enjoy a snorkel in the calm water (look for rays and turtles) before grabbing lunch at Sunset Grille or enjoying a drink at the Cruzan Beach Club. You can also rent a beach chair and umbrella at the resort. 


Tip: Snorkel to the reef just off shore and look for urchins, moray eels and fish. 


Best for Beginners: Coki Beach

Coki Beach, St. Thomas USVI

Coki Beach has everything a first-time snorkeler needs to enjoy a day in the water. You can rent snorkeling gear, chairs and umbrellas at the beach stand when you arrive. The fish here are so plentiful that it’s easy to see a wide variety without venturing far from shore. Snorkel along the rocks near the right side of the beach to see the most fish. 


Tip: Check the cruise ship schedule before you go, as this beach can get crowded on cruise days. 


Best Place to See Sea Turtles: Brewers Bay


Brewers Bay, St. Thomas USVI

You never know exactly where to spot a sea turtle in St. Thomas, but Brewers Bay is a great place to give it a try! The turtles come here to eat the sea grass that grows just off shore, and you can also spot rays, fish and barracuda. Other than the public restrooms, there are no amenities at Brewers Bay, so pack a lunch and bring your beach gear. 


Tip: This beach is close to the airport and is also a great place to relax if you have a few extra hours before catching your flight!


Snorkeling in St. Thomas: Tell us What We Missed!


Did we miss your favorite snorkeling spot? Leave it in the comments below. Be sure to follow us on Instagram, where we share more tips for exploring St. Thomas. 

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