Snorkeling in Rodney Bay: Captain your own speedboat

Take the wheel, then dive into the reef

Captain your own 17 ft. speedboat in Rodney Bay, St. Lucia, cruising through Marigot Bay before snorkeling at a reef with a live guide in English. The experience runs two hours from Rodney Bay Marina or your hotel in Gros Islet or Castries. Children from age 6 are welcome. A moderate level of fitness is needed for the boat handling and water entry.

Step-by-step itinerary

Speedboat cruise and snorkeling

• Drive 17 ft. speedboat from Rodney Bay
• Cruise through Marigot Bay
• View hotels from the sea
• Put on snorkeling gear
• Snorkel at charming spot
• Relax and enjoy tropical paradise

The experience

You drive the speedboat yourself, not as a passenger watching a captain work, but as the one steering through the bays. The boat is 17 feet, and you leave from Rodney Bay Marina (or your hotel if you book the pickup option). The route takes you out past Marigot Bay, where you see the hotels rising from the shoreline, then on to a snorkeling site where the reef sits close enough to reach by mask and fins. A guide travels with you and speaks English throughout.

Once you're at the snorkeling spot, you put on your gear and enter the water to see the fish and coral. The underwater landscape is what the operator calls the main draw: colorful marine life in shallow enough water that you can move around and look. After snorkeling, you head back to the marina or your hotel. The whole outing takes two hours from start to finish.

The speedboat handling is the thing that sets this apart from a guided snorkel on someone else's boat. You need at least a moderate level of fitness to manage the throttle and steering for the cruise portion, and the boat does move. It's not a slow drift. If motion sickness is an issue for you, this won't be the right fit. The guide is there to help with navigation and to point out where to snorkel, but the boat operation is yours.

What’s included

• Speedboat operation and fuel.
• snorkeling gear.
• a live English-speaking guide.
• hotel pickup (if you choose the Gros Islet or Castries option at checkout).

Options for this experience

2 options

Pickup from Gros Islet hotelsGuide in English · 14:00Water and soda included. Pickup from Gros Islet hotels begins up to an hour before the listed tour time. Pickup is included.

Pickup from Castries hotelsGuide in English · 14:00Water and soda included. Hotel pickup from Castries and Gros Islet begins up to 1 hour before the listed tour time. Pickup is included.

You'll see the exact price of each option when you check availability.See dates and prices

Before you book

Days and timesEvery dayDeparts at 14:00

Book up to2d before

AgesAdult (12 and older) · Infant (6 to 11 years) · Under 6: can't be booked

GroupUp to 36 · max 4 per booking

Live guideEnglish

Meeting point and pickupHotel pickup included.You can choose from 35 pickup points.

Cancellation and refundsNo refund if you cancel.It may be canceled due to bad weather or if the minimum number of travelers isn't reached. If that happens, you're offered another date or a refund.

Prices and times updated 2 days ago

Good to know

Moderate physical effortPublic transport nearbyNot recommended during pregnancyNot recommended with heart problemsNot recommended with back problems

Operated by Island Routes

Is this one for you?Book the hotel pickup option if you're staying in Gros Islet or Castries and want to skip the drive to Rodney Bay Marina. Otherwise, arrange your own transport to the dock. The two-hour window suits a free afternoon between other plans, and the moderate fitness requirement means you'll be steering and snorkeling yourself rather than watching from a seat.

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Top questions

Can children come?

Yes. Ticket types: Infant (6 to 11 years). Children under 6 can't be included in the booking.

What happens if it rains?

It may be canceled due to bad weather. If that happens, you're offered another date or a refund. No refund if you cancel.

Can I book a hotel pickup, or do I need to get to Rodney Bay Marina on my own?

Hotel pickup is included if you choose the Gros Islet or Castries option at checkout. If you book from Rodney Bay Marina directly, you'll arrange your own transport to the dock.

What's the snorkeling like at the reef you visit?

The snorkeling spot holds colorful marine life and coral close enough to explore by mask and fins. The guide will show you where to enter and what to look for, and you spend time in the water before heading back.

Do I need boating experience to captain the speedboat?

No prior experience is required. The guide will show you how to operate the 17 ft. speedboat before you leave the marina, and they stay with you throughout the cruise to help with navigation and safety.

How rough is the water, and what if I get seasick easily?

The speedboat does move at a decent pace across the bays, so motion sickness is a real consideration. If you're prone to seasickness, this activity may not be comfortable for you. The operator does not recommend it for travelers with motion sickness or poor cardiovascular health.