Snorkeling in Nassau: Private Catamaran Charter

You pick the island, the captain picks the route, and the reef decides what you see underwater.

A 5-hour private catamaran snorkel in Nassau lets you customize the day around your own pace and interests: sail to Rose Island's white sand beaches or Green Cay to swim with sea turtles, then drop anchor to snorkel the coral reefs on a motorized tender. A licensed guide and chef are onboard. You choose between bare-bones service or all-inclusive catering, and optional add-ons like swimming with the pigs at Atholl Island.

Step-by-step itinerary

Luxury catamaran tour and island activities

• Embark on catamaran from Nassau
• Cruise to Atholl Island
• Swim with swimming pigs
• Snorkel or relax on beach
• Sail across aquamarine waters
• Visit Green Cay or Rose Island
• Swim with sea turtles or explore island
• Snorkel and relax on island

The experience

The boat is a Leopard catamaran (spacious and built for the Caribbean), and it leaves Nassau on your schedule. You're not following a fixed itinerary. Instead you tell the captain and chef what appeals to you, and they route the day around it. Snorkeling is the core, but the catamaran can also stop for tubing, jet skiing, fishing or just anchoring off a beach to swim. Rose Island is the signature stop: white sand, shallow turquoise water, and coral reefs close enough to reach by tender. Green Cay offers the same setup but with the chance to swim with sea turtles in their natural habitat instead. Either way, you're in the water on your own terms, not herded through a group experience.

The motorized tender gets you from the catamaran to the reef and the shallows, so you're not swimming long distances or fighting a current to reach the good snorkeling. A licensed guide is there to point out what's below and answer questions, and a chef handles food and drinks onboard. The 5-hour window gives you real time in the water, not a rushed morning or an afternoon slot, but enough hours to explore two or three spots without feeling hurried. Soda and bottled water come with the booking. Everything else (meals, alcohol, the optional pig encounter at Atholl Island for $45 extra) is your choice at checkout.

The catamaran operates on Nassau's open water, so conditions depend on the day and the season. The boat suits all fitness levels, though the source notes it's not recommended for travelers with poor cardiovascular health. Infants and small children can come along, and service animals are welcome onboard.

What’s included

• Soda and bottled water.
• a licensed guide who speaks English and Spanish.
• a chef onboard to prepare meals if you choose catering.
• use of the motorized tender to reach the snorkeling sites.

Before you book

Days and timesEvery day

GroupPrivate

Live guideEnglish and Spanish

Meeting point and pickupNo hotel pickup: you go to the meeting point. Ends back at the starting point.

Cancellation and refundsFree cancellation up to 24 h before the start. After that, no refund.It may be canceled due to bad weather. If that happens, you're offered another date or a refund.

Prices and times updated 8 days ago

Good to know

Low physical effortStroller-friendlyPets welcomeNot recommended with heart problems

Operated by Travelers Charters

Is this one for you?The fully customizable itinerary means you're not locked into a fixed schedule or a set of predetermined stops. You tell the captain what appeals to you, whether that's extra time on one reef, a water sport, or a beach break, and the day shapes itself around it. This works best if you want control over the pace and the stops, rather than following a group tour's timetable.

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Top questions

What languages is the tour guided in?

Live guide in English and Spanish.

What happens if it rains?

It may be canceled due to bad weather. If that happens, you're offered another date or a refund. Free cancellation up to 24 h before the start.

What's the difference between Rose Island and Green Cay on this snorkel?

Rose Island is known for its white sand beaches and vibrant coral reefs close to shore. Green Cay offers the same snorkeling setup but is the spot where you can swim with sea turtles in their natural habitat. Both are stops on the 5-hour route, and the captain can take you to whichever appeals to you most that day.

Do I have to book meals and drinks in advance, or can I decide when I arrive?

You choose your service level at checkout: bare-bones (just the guide, chef and water), all-inclusive (meals and drinks included), or something in between. Any food or beverage beyond what you pick can be added at an extra cost once you're onboard.

Can we add swimming with the pigs to this snorkel?

Yes, swimming with the pigs at Atholl Island is an optional add-on for $45 per person. You can request it when you book, and the captain will work it into the day's route alongside the snorkeling stops.

How does the snorkeling work? Do we swim from the beach or from the boat?

You snorkel from a motorized tender that the catamaran carries. The tender takes you from the main boat to the reef and the shallow water where the coral is, so you're not swimming long distances to reach the good spots.

Is there a guide in the water with us, or just onboard the boat?

A licensed guide is onboard the catamaran and available to help with snorkeling questions and point out what you're seeing underwater. The guide speaks English and Spanish.