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Are you looking to have an extraordinary adventure during your next St. Croix trip? Then a day trip to Buck Island deserves a spot on your vacation itinerary. Those who are into snorkeling should especially not miss this top-rated St. Croix experience.
I should first point out that I’m a bit of a reluctant snorkeler. I’m not very good at it and it’s normally not at the top of my vacation to-do list. That said, when the property manager of our vacation rental told me the snorkeling around Buck Island looks just like “Finding Nemo”, I was curious.
To be honest, I didn’t completely believe the woman and thought she was just being a good island salesperson. That said, Aaron and I still signed up for a half-day tour with Big Beard’s because above all, we like getting out on the water. If the snorkeling was good too, that would be a bonus.
After all that I have to say, even if you aren’t the biggest snorkeler, trust me – this one is worth it. Plus, you’ll be under the guidance and expertise of a reputable tour company, so all you basically have to do is show up! With that, let’s get into all that you need to know about this fun day on the water.
The Perfect Day Trip to Buck Island
Here is a bit of background on Buck Island, including what to expect from a day trip and other tips for having the best possible experience. Soon you’ll see why a Buck Island tour is one of the best things to do on St. Croix.
Why Buck Island
As it turns out, taking a boat tour to Buck Island gives you access to an underwater world you’d otherwise never know. This tiny island sits just a half mile off St. Croix and boasts pristine beaches, diverse sea life, and ancient coral reef formations.
Some of the oldest corals date back a mind-boggling 10,000 years and rise as much as 40 feet from the ocean floor. Lots of different sea creatures find refuge in the elkhorn corals that surround two-thirds of Buck Island for over 30 square miles.
President Kennedy himself called Buck Island “one of the finest marine gardens in the Caribbean Sea” when he designated the reef as a National Monument in 1961. President Clinton further protected the island and surrounding waters to a depth of 5,000 when he designated it “Marine Protected Area” since 2001.
If that doesn’t tell you that Buck Island is a must-see place, then I don’t know what does.
Buck Island Tour: What to Expect
Aaron and I met our tour group at 9am in Christiansted to board the large catamaran that would transport thirty-six of us. While there was no entrance fee for Buck Island itself, we did pay $85 each for the tour. I chose to sit on the very front of the boat for the ride over, which was a lot of fun, but left me soaked from all the spray.
While the half-day trip way plenty of time to leave me with a lasting impression, if I returned, I’d choose the full day. I’d love additional time to hike the island and enjoy a picnic lunch on the beach.
Stop #1: Turtle Beach
We got off the boat onto one of the most beautiful beaches I’ve ever laid eyes upon: Turtle Beach. Sadly, we were only there for 45 minutes, and I felt like I could have stayed at that beautiful spot all day.
There was actually some decent snorkeling in this beach’s calm, pristine waters. The water couldn’t have been more clear: I was able to see a sand dollar, lots of different fish, a large shell, and even a mussel. This was the perfect spot for people like me, who desire to practice snorkeling before heading out to rougher waters.
Stop #2: Snorkel Time
Next, we then boated over to the other side of the island for the real deal. Through choppier waters, the guides first led us to where the snorkel trail began. Then, we were basically left to guide ourselves.
The snorkeling here was outstanding and far exceeded my expectations. There were HUGE corals beneath the surface, although I’m not sure if they were the 10,000-year-olds. I saw big round brain coral and elkhorn coral with branches fanning out from them. Some coral was so high, the top was only a couple feet below the surface of the water and it was tricky to swim around/over them.
There were also fish galore that were big and small, sometimes rainbow, and many that were blue and black. With all the scenery being so beautiful, I wasn’t even fazed by the choppy water or seaweed that sometimes encroached. There was, however, a little bit of a current that sometimes made navigating the snorkel trail a little tricky.
This ended up being the best snorkeling I’ve ever done since my first fun experience at Norman Island in the BVI.
Travel Savvy Tip
If you have at all been considering buying a GoPro, this is the time to get one. You’ll definitely want to capture all the amazing coral formations at Buck Island Reef National Monument. You can purchase your GoPro here!
If you have a GoPro already, make sure you pack it! I sadly did not bring my GoPro with me on this trip and later regretted it. In fact, forgetting things like this is what inspired me to finally create this thorough Caribbean Packing List.
What to Bring
While there isn’t much you’ll need during a day trip to Buck Island, there are a few essentials that you’ll want on hand:
- A swimsuit. It’s best to just wear it since there’s not really a good spot to change.
- A towel
- Reef safe sunscreen (we like this one). Note that other regular types of sunscreen have been outlawed.
- A hat to protect from the sun (just be careful while on the boat, so it doesn’t blow away)
- A rash guard
- GoPro – these user friendly gadgets are simple and amazing for underwater photography.
- Cell phone for photos
- A water bottle in case you get thirsty
- Optional: waterproof bag for belongings like this one.
Leave No Trace
While you are enjoying the beauty of Buck Island, keep in mind that it continues to be a protected sanctuary for endangered species. This includes several species of sea turtles, ground lizards, brown pelicans, and least terns.
Be sure to leave no trace and don’t take anything with you from the beach, including rocks or shells. Other than that, enjoy a fabulous day soaking up the sun and seeing incredible marine life.
To learn even more about what makes Buck Island special before your visit, consider watching this award winning documentary, “Caribbean Gem”.
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A visit to Buck Island will make any St. Croix trip all the more memorable. All levels of snorkelers can enjoy this trip, and you’ll be hard pressed to find such amazing coral reef systems anywhere else in the Caribbean. Plus, there’s no denying that Turtle Beach is one of the most pristine white sand beaches in the USVI, and a boat trip is the only way to see it!