Snorkel & Swim with Turtles. Semi Private Tour to Buck Island & Honeymoon Beach

Swimming beside a sea turtle is the main draw here, and Turtle Cove near Buck Island gives you a strong chance to see turtles, rays, parrotfish, surgeonfish, and other reef life. The four-hour trip also includes a beach stop at Honeymoon Beach on Water Island, where you can order lunch and a Pain Killer at Dinghy’s Beach Bar.

I like the small-group feel, which can make it easier for the captain to talk with everyone and adjust the day. I also like the practical extras: snorkel gear, water, soda, beer, and a return to Havensight are included. The main catch is the sea. Rough water can make snorkeling hard, and weather may change both stops.

Key points to know

• Turtle Cove usually gets about 45 minutes to an hour of snorkeling, with Buck Island, reefs, fish, turtles, and sometimes rays or small sharks in the mix.
• Honeymoon Beach is more than a photo stop, with white sand, clear water, and Dinghy’s Beach Bar for lunch and Pain Killers.
• Captains Rusty, Mike, Dave, JW, JP, and others are frequently praised for safety, local facts, and adjusting the route to suit conditions.
• You pay $160 per person for about four hours, including equipment, soft drinks, water, and beer, but not lunch or captain and crew tips.
• The boat may change, with options including Island Flyer, Twin Vee, Wellcraft, Hydra, Poseidon, Aquarius, or a similar vessel.
• The route is weather-dependent, with Brewers Bay and Emerald Beach possible substitutes for Turtle Cove and Honeymoon Beach.

Turtle Cove brings the best chance of seeing turtles

The trip starts from Havensight Cruise Pier, a handy meeting point in Charlotte Amalie. From there, the boat heads toward Turtle Cove at Buck Island, where the crew prepares your mask, snorkel, and fins before you enter the water.

This is the most wildlife-focused part of the trip. The reef area is home to snapper, hamlets, parrotfish, surgeonfish, squirrelfish, and other tropical fish. Sea turtles are the star, and sightings can be close enough to make the experience memorable. You might also see stingrays, eagle rays, barracuda, or small sharks, but marine life is never guaranteed.

The snorkeling stop usually lasts around 45 minutes to an hour. That is enough time to get comfortable, look around, and search for turtles without turning the whole outing into an exhausting water session.

I appreciate that the crew treats this as a real snorkeling stop rather than a quick photo opportunity. Captains Rusty, Mike, JW, Dave, and JP are often singled out for giving clear safety guidance and sharing facts about St. Thomas and the sea life. You still need to be comfortable in open water, though. This is not a glass-bottom boat ride, and a moderate level of fitness is requested.

Buck Island reefs reward patient snorkelers

The water can be beautifully clear, especially in calmer conditions. That clarity lets you see the fish and coral without needing to swim far from the boat. You may find a shipwreck or other underwater features in the area, adding some variety to the stop.

The best approach is to slow down. Turtles may appear near the reef, surface for air, or glide past the group. A few people have seen turtles only a foot or two away, but you should not expect a guaranteed close encounter. Wildlife follows its own schedule, not the tour schedule.

This is also where the weather matters most. Wind and chop can reduce visibility and make it harder to stay relaxed in the water. The captain may move the snorkeling stop to Brewers Bay if conditions near Buck Island are poor. That change is practical, not a downgrade by itself. Calm water usually gives you a better experience than sticking rigidly to the advertised location.

After snorkeling, you can return to the boat for cold beer, soda, and water. Bottled water is supplied through Virgin H2O, and the operator says it follows eco-friendly habits aboard. The drinks are a welcome touch after time in salt water, especially on the morning departure.

Honeymoon Beach offers a slower second half

After the reef stop, the boat heads to Honeymoon Beach on Water Island. This shifts the mood from wildlife watching to beach time. The sand is white, the water is clear, and you can swim, relax, or walk up to Dinghy’s Beach Bar.

Dinghy’s is a major part of the appeal. Lunch is available there, along with the famous Pain Killer cocktail. Food and drinks at the beach bar are not included in the $160 price, so bring money for this stop. One useful point is that reaching food at the beach may require swimming from the boat or getting ashore, so tell the crew before the trip if you do not swim.

The beach stop may include more snorkeling, depending on conditions and the captain’s plan. One captain redirected the group straight to Honeymoon Beach when wind made the original plan less suitable, then used the calmer water for snorkeling. That kind of adjustment can save the afternoon.

You should not expect a private beach. Honeymoon Beach is popular, and the bar gives it a social feel. Still, the stop adds something the Buck Island portion cannot: time to sit down, eat, have a drink, and enjoy the island without keeping your face in the water.

A captain can make or break this shared charter

The strongest part of this outing is often the crew. Rusty receives repeated praise for making first-time snorkelers feel safe, explaining the plan clearly, and keeping the mood easygoing. Mike is noted for sharing island information and working with special requests, including a preference for more fish and coral instead of focusing only on turtles.

Dave is praised for local facts, trivia, and giving attention to everyone aboard. JW is described as relaxed and informative, while JP is known for working hard to keep the whole group happy. Andrea and Coleman have also been recognized for keeping a cruise-ship group on schedule.

That matters because this is a shared charter, not a private boat. The maximum listed capacity is 31 people, though some departures have had only seven or eight adults aboard. The actual group size depends on bookings, but the experience can feel much more personal than a large sightseeing cruise.

A good captain also knows when to change the plan. If the water is rough at one beach, the boat may use another location. If Turtle Cove is unsuitable, Brewers Bay may replace it. For the beach portion, Emerald Beach at Lindbergh Bay may be used instead of Honeymoon Beach.

The boats vary, so set the right expectations

The exact vessel depends on availability. Possible boats include the 36-foot Island Flyer, a 2019 36-foot Twin Vee power catamaran, a 31-foot Wellcraft powerboat, and vessels identified as Hydra, Poseidon, Aquarius, or a comparable boat.

That variation means you should book for the route and style of outing rather than one specific boat. The boats are described as clean and well equipped, but your seating, ride, and amount of shade may differ by vessel. If the boat itself is a major part of your decision, confirm the available craft before departure.

The ride from Havensight to the first snorkeling site may take around 25 minutes, with a similar-length ride between the main stops. These transfers give you views of St. Thomas and nearby islands, but they can feel bumpy when the sea is up. If you are prone to motion sickness, plan accordingly.

The departure times are 9 a.m. and 2 p.m. The morning trip gives you the rest of the day afterward and may suit cruise passengers with an early port call. The afternoon option is useful if you prefer a slower start, but cruise passengers should check their all-aboard time carefully. The boat returns to Yacht Haven Grande and then the activity ends back at the meeting point.

What the $160 price really covers

At $160 per person, this is not the cheapest way to reach a St. Thomas beach. You are paying for a four-hour boat outing, crew service, snorkeling equipment, water access, and transportation between several locations.

The value improves if you want both reef time and a beach stop. Booking the same pieces separately could mean arranging transport, renting equipment, finding a boat, and paying for drinks. Here, gear, soda, water, and beer are included, so you do not need to pack a cooler.

The price does not cover lunch, drinks at Dinghy’s, sunscreen, towels, or tips. A 15 to 20 percent tip is customary for excellent service. Bring your own sunscreen and towel, and consider carrying cash for the beach bar. Food recommendations associated with Dinghy’s include mahi tacos, bang bang shrimp, Bushwhackers, and the Banana Hammock, but availability can change.

For a family, the value depends on swimming ability. Confident swimmers and teenagers may get a lot from the reef and beach combination. A child who dislikes open water may spend much of the trip waiting on the boat. Children under two require a call before booking.

This trip works best for active island days

I would choose this charter if your priority is seeing marine life rather than spending four quiet hours on one beach. It suits couples, families with older children, and friends who want a compact taste of St. Thomas by water.

It is also a good choice for cruise passengers because the trip leaves from Havensight and returns to the same general area. The crew has experience getting cruise passengers back on time, but you still need to allow a sensible buffer before your ship departs.

First-time snorkelers can manage it if they are comfortable in the water and listen to the safety briefing. The equipment is provided, and the crew can help you get started. You should not book it if you cannot swim, if you strongly dislike boat motion, or if you want a guaranteed turtle sighting.

The outing has a social side. You may share the boat with a small group, and the mood depends partly on the people aboard. That can be fun when everyone is relaxed, but it is not the right setup if you want a private itinerary or total control over the pace.

Weather changes are part of the deal

The operator requires good weather and may cancel for poor conditions, offering another date or a full refund. If the trip runs, the captain may still alter the route because of wind, waves, or visibility.

That flexibility is one of the tour’s strengths. A fixed itinerary sounds attractive, but calm water is more important than checking every named stop. Brewers Bay can replace Turtle Cove for snorkeling, and Emerald Beach at Lindbergh Bay can replace Honeymoon Beach for food and beach time.

The tradeoff is that you may not visit the exact locations you expected. If a particular beach is your only goal, book a beach-only outing instead. If your main goal is time in the water with a capable captain, a route change may still produce a very good day.

You can cancel for a full refund up to 24 hours before the start time. Changes or cancellations inside 24 hours are not refunded. The tour also needs a minimum number of people, so a departure can be canceled if that number is not reached.

Should you book this St. Thomas charter?

Book it if you want sea turtles, reef fish, a boat ride, and a beach bar in one half-day outing. The best reasons are the capable captains, the chance to snorkel at two locations, the included gear and drinks, and the smaller feel compared with a big excursion boat.

Think twice if you need guaranteed calm water, cannot swim, want lunch included, or dislike itinerary changes. At $160, the tour is good value for an active water day, but it is not a simple ride to a beach.

For the best chance at a smooth experience, choose the departure that fits your ship or schedule, bring sunscreen and a towel, carry money for Dinghy’s, and accept that the captain may change the route. If you can do that, this is a strong way to meet St. Thomas from the water.

FAQ

How long is the Snorkel and Swim with Turtles tour?

The activity lasts about four hours.

Where does the tour depart?

It departs from Havensight Cruise Pier in Charlotte Amalie, St. Thomas, near Yacht Haven Grande.

What snorkeling locations are included?

The planned snorkeling stop is Turtle Cove at Buck Island. Brewers Bay may be used instead when weather or ocean conditions require a change.

Is Honeymoon Beach always included?

Honeymoon Beach on Water Island is the planned beach stop, but Emerald Beach at Lindbergh Bay may be substituted because of weather or sea conditions.

Are snorkeling equipment and drinks included?

Yes. Snorkeling equipment, soda, water, and beer are included. Lunch and drinks purchased at Honeymoon Beach are not included.

Do I need to bring a towel and sunscreen?

Yes. You should bring your own towel and sunscreen.

How many people can join the charter?

The activity has a maximum of 31 travelers.

What is the cancellation policy?

You can cancel at least 24 hours before the start time for a full refund. Cancellations or changes made within 24 hours are not refunded. If poor weather or an insufficient minimum group size cancels the trip, you are offered another date or a full refund.