Glide through the only underwater snorkel trail in the US National Park system at Buck Island Reef — a UNESCO-caliber marine sanctuary teeming with hawksbill sea turtles, elkhorn coral, and technicolor reef fish. Bucket-list because almost nowhere else on Earth offers this protected, guide-narrated underwater experience.
What to expect
Board a sleek catamaran at the Christiansted waterfront for the 45-minute sail to Buck Island. Your certified naturalist briefs you on reef etiquette before you slip into crystalline water and follow the marked trail past brain coral and parrotfish. Surface time is generous — typically 90 minutes in the water — followed by a rum-punch sail back as the sun drops toward the hills of St. Croix.
Good to know
Buck Island is about 1.5 miles offshore from Christiansted; the round trip departs from the Christiansted National Historic Site wharf. Pre-book directly with Big Beard's — trips sell out weeks ahead in season. All-aboard is typically 5–6 pm; the half-day morning departure returns by early afternoon with time to spare.