11 Best Snorkeling Spots on St. Thomas, USVI

Discover the best sites for snorkeling on St. Thomas in the US Virgin Islands! Snorkel with sea turtles, dazzling coral reefs, and eagle rays directly from shore or on guided boat tours!

The amount of glimmering snorkel sites scattered around the US Virgin Islands is beyond impressive. In particular, St. Thomas is arguably the best of the bunch. Nearly every bay and beach has something to see directly from the shore. Not to mention the more than 50+ islets and cays surrounding the island with fantastic underwater scenery.

I’m talking about snorkeling sites with dozens of sea turtles, coral reefs bursting with life, and more tropical fish in one field of view than you’ve ever witnessed. It’s an amazing place to explore – I’ve been doing it for years from our home here.,

So trust me, head to any of the 11 best snorkeling sites on St. Thomas I’ve listed below, and you’re guaranteed to have a fantastic time! I’ve included a handy quick answer box for those of you seeking a guided tour. Keep scrolling below to find self-guided tours from the beach!

Best Snorkeling Spots on St. Thomas

Discover your next underwater adventure on St. Thomas!

Brewers Bay Beach

Best place to snorkel with sea turtles on St. Thomas.

📍Google Maps | Self-guided from the Beach | 🤿 Snorkeling Tips at Brewers Bay

I might be biased since I live just up the road from here, but Brewers Bay on St. Thomas is my all-time favorite snorkeling site on the island. The beach boasts a rare blend of colorful coral reef life + jaw-dropping megafauna, including a few resident eagle rays (see video above) and the highest concentration of green sea turtles in the Virgin Islands.

Step off the beach and see a green sea turtle within minutes. My best record for sea turtles in one view was six – an absolutely unheard-of feat. There are no snorkel rentals or guided tours of this beach, so it’s entirely self-guided.

🤿 Travel Snorkel Gear: Most of the beaches around the Virgin Islands are snorkel-worthy in some capacity. That’s why bringing a travel snorkel set is a great idea for free exploratory fun on St. Thomas!

Buck Island – Turtle Cove & Shipwreck Cove

Snorkel with sea turtles and check out an old cargo ship amidst a coral reef.

📍Google Maps | Guided Snorkeling via Boat | 🤿 Check Prices and Availability aboard the VI Cat!

Buck Island (not to be mistaken for Buck Island Reef National Monument on St. Croix) is another fantastic snorkeling spot just off St. Thomas. Snorkel providers will bring you to one of two locations (often both), including Turtle Cove and Shipwreck Cove.

The names speak for themselves, as Turtle Cove boasts an abundance of green sea turtles munching on the seagrass below, and Shipwreck Cove features a WW2-Era wreck known as the Cartanza. The Cartanza is also a popular dive site for certified scuba divers.

Little St. James

The infamous island has great snorkeling surrounding its shores.

📍Google Maps | Guided via Boat Tour | 🤿 Check Prices and Availability with the Snorkel Cat!

Little St. James got its claim to fame for much worse reasons than the coral reefs surrounding the island (Google it if you don’t know why that is). With that said, the underwater scenery is fantastic, and the waters stay relatively calm. Sea turtles frequently appear, with many fish swimming about the colorful, shallow reef.

Coki Beach

A popular scuba diving hotspot is also an excellent location for snorkeling.

📍Google Maps | Self-guided from the Beach

Coki Beach on the East End of St. Thomas is another great snorkeling location – especially for beginners. There are plenty of reefs to explore, with an abundance of neat fish and colorful creatures. The beach is also a popular beach diving location with its sloping reef and calm waters.

The only negative to Coki Beach is it’s small and can get relatively busy quickly.

🐟 Need Rental Snorkel Gear? Although I recommend bringing travel snorkel gear for maximum freedom, you can head to Red Hook Dive Center for the island’s best quality rental snorkel gear. I work there as the lead Captain, so be sure to tell whoever in the shop that Andrew sent you!

Lindquist Beach at Smith Bay Park

Quiet alternative to the busy-ness of Coki Beach

📍Google Maps | Private Self-Guided Snorkel

Lindquist Bay is one of my favorite beaches on St. Thomas and a quiet alternative to the busy beaches nearby of Sapphire and Coki. The park requires a parking fee but grants you access to crystal clear waters with seagrass beds, rocky structures, and coral reefs. Juvenile eagle rays, sea turtles, and plenty of tropical fish are often sighted.

Lindbergh Bay

Kayak and snorkel combo in this crystal blue bay.

📍Google Maps | Private Guided Snorkel and Kayak Tour | 🤿 Check Prices and Availability

Lindbergh Bay is an often overlooked beach you likely drove past when you arrived at the St. Thomas Airport. And honestly, other than Emerald Beach Resort, there’s not much there. However, St. Thomas Adventure Tours has found the best spots around the bay.

Hop aboard one of their kayaks and start paddling to some of the best snorkel sites around the island, with frequent appearances from green sea turtles, sting rays, and other creatures.

Hull Bay

Northside Beach is home to the local fishing community

📍Google Maps | Self-guided from the Beach

Tucked away on the Northside of the island is a local’s beach known as Hull Bay. During the winter months, this bay serves as the surfing hotspot of the island, with a significant swell breaking over its reef system. However, during calmer months (spring, summer, and fall), you’ll find a beautiful coral reef system along the edges of the bay + a small ledge at its center.

🐟 Good Eats After the Beach: Laura works up the road at a restaurant called “Fish Bar” on the weekends. It’s a fast-casual atmosphere with an incredible view and even better fresh seafood! Drop in and say hi next time you’re at Hull Bay!

Cas Cay

Shallow coral reefs amidst a mangrove ecosystem.

📍Google Maps | Guided Snorkel and Kayak Tour | 🤿 Book a Tour with Virgin Islands Ecotours

Cas Cay is a small island within a mangrove lagoon and Marine Preserve known as the St. Thomas East End Reserve (STEER). You can access the islet via a kayak + snorkeling tour with VI Eco Tours. The company is a St. Thomas staple providing the best paddling tours in the Virgin Islands.

Christmas Cove

Flat calm waters in a protected cove with a shallow coral reef circling a small islet in its center

📍Google Maps | Guided Snorkeling via Boat | 🤿 Check Prices and Availability with Aqua Marine Dive Center

A trip to Christmas Cove for snorkeling is a great spot for anyone who might be susceptible to seasickness. The protected waters are extremely calm, with an excellent snorkeling reef at its center. The coolest part? The cove is also home to Pizza Pi, a floating pizza stand with delivery options directly to your boat!

Virgin Islands National Park on St. John

The waters surrounding St. John are pristine, with endless options for snorkeling.

📍Google Maps | Guided via Boat from St. Thomas | 🤿 Check Prices and Availability with Ocean Surfari

One of the best parts about staying on St. Thomas is the close proximity to St. John and Virgin Islands National Park. That means many of the boat charters departing the marinas of St. Thomas often end up in the beautiful bays of St. John – including this snorkel trip to Maho Bay.

Maho Bay is known for its rare abundance of sea turtles, rivaling only Brewers Bay. The trip above also includes a stop at the aforementioned Christmas Cove and floating Pizza Pi!

🌱 Hurricane Hole: When it comes to snorkeling on St. John, our favorite site is the secluded mangrove-lined Hurricane Hole towards the island’s East End.

Santa Maria Bay

Secluded bay on the northwest side of St. Thomas accessible only after hiking

📍Google Maps | Self-guided from the Beach | Read Our Full Guide

Santa Maria is one of my favorite secluded beaches on St. Thomas, only accessible after a 15-minute hike. Because of its remoteness, you might have the place to yourself once you arrive. Once in the water, swim to the bay’s edges, where you’ll find a steep drop-off covered in colonies of endangered elkhorn coral.

Other points have smooth rocky coves and small ledges. During your swim, look out for peacock flounder and southern stingrays.

🤿 Snorkeling on the Northside of St. Thomas: During the winter months, the Northside tends to have significant swell and poor visibility due to the Christmas Winds. If the waves are crashing on the beach, I will caution on snorkeling. These bays typically have better conditions in the late spring and summer months.

FAQ: Snorkeling on St. Thomas

Is there good snorkeling on St. Thomas?

You can find good snorkeling on St. Thomas all over the island. Many beaches, like Coki Beach, Brewers Bay, and Lindquist Beach, have beautiful underwater scenery accessible directly from the shore. Hop aboard a boat to explore amazing snorkeling sites like Christmas Cove, Buck Island, and Maho Bay on St. John.

Can you snorkel off the beach in St. Thomas?

You can snorkel off the beach in St. Thomas at many different bays and parks, including Coki Beach, Brewers Bay, Lindquist Beach, and Secret Harbour.

Which US Virgin Island has the best snorkeling?

The best snorkeling in the US Virgin Islands is found around St. John within the Virgin Islands National Park. Between Trunk Bay, Maho Bay, and Salt Pond Bay, few other snorkeling spots in the USVI compares.

Where can I snorkel with sea turtles in St. Thomas?

You can snorkel with sea turtles on St. Thomas in Brewers Bay or Turtle Cove near Buck Island.