St Thomas Snorkeling Tour with Sea Turtles - Guaranteed Sightings

Paddle to calm waters where sea turtles are waiting

A 4-hour guided snorkel and kayak activity in St Thomas where you paddle to a protected bay, enter the water with a guide, and encounter multiple sea turtles on every departure. The tour includes lunch, all snorkel gear, bottled water, and underwater photos. Pickup and drop-off run from Emerald Beach Resort only, and groups are capped at six guests to avoid crowded conditions.

Step-by-step itinerary

Kayak and snorkel with sea turtles

• Pick up from Emerald Beach Resort
• Kayak to protected bay
• Snorkel with sea turtles
• Guide takes photos and provides information
• Lunch overlooking the beach
• Return to Emerald Beach Resort

The experience

How do you find sea turtles without spending the day on a crowded boat? This activity trades the typical tour format for something smaller: you kayak out to a calm, protected bay with a guide, enter the water yourself, and snorkel among the turtles instead of watching from a distance. The guide stays in the water with you, pointing out what you're seeing and capturing photos as you go. A cooler with sandwiches, cookies and bottled water waits at a white-sand beach where you break for lunch partway through the 4 hours.

The group size matters here. Capped at six guests, you're not competing for space or the guide's attention the way larger tours do. Children under 9 kayak in a double with an adult, and everyone must be at least 5 years old and able to swim. The operator guarantees you'll see multiple sea turtles on every tour. A claim they can make because the bay is chosen specifically for that. All snorkel gear, masks and kayak equipment come with the booking. You bring only your swimsuit and the ability to climb in and out of a vehicle and walk on uneven ground.

Pickup and drop-off happen only at Emerald Beach Resort, so plan your morning around that location. If you're arriving by cruise ship, provide your ship name, docking time, disembarkation time, re-boarding time and a cell phone number when you book. Underwater and above-water photos are available for $40 if you want to keep them. Groups of five or more can request a second guide for an additional $40 per guide.

What’s included

• All snorkel and kayak gear including mask and fins.
• a professional guide in the water with you for snorkeling and kayaking.
• lunch with sandwiches, cookies and bottled water.
• and pickup and drop-off from Emerald Beach Resort.

Before you book

Days and timesEvery dayDeparts at 10:00

Book up to14h before

AgesAdult (13 and older) · Youth (5 to 12 years) · Under 5: can't be booked

GroupUp to 9 · max 8 per booking

Live guideEnglish

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 yesterday

Good to know

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

Operated by St Thomas Adventure Tours

Is this one for you?At 4 hours, this activity leaves room for another stop or beach time elsewhere in your day on St Thomas, but plan your morning around the Emerald Beach Resort pickup location since no other hotel pickups are available.

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Top questions

Can children come?

Yes. Ticket types: Youth (5 to 12 years). Children under 5 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. Free cancellation up to 24 h before the start.

Will I actually see sea turtles on this snorkel in St Thomas?

Yes, the operator guarantees multiple sea turtles on every tour. The guide takes you to a bay selected specifically for sea turtle abundance and stays in the water with you to point them out and photograph them.

What's included in the lunch during the 4-hour activity?

A cooler packed with sandwiches (turkey, ham or salami with your choice of toppings), cookies and bottled water. You can request vegan, vegetarian or other dietary options when you book, and you choose your sandwich fillings at that time.

Do I need to bring my own snorkel gear?

No. All snorkel masks, snorkels, fins and kayak equipment are included. You need only a swimsuit and the ability to swim and walk on uneven terrain.

Where does the pickup happen for this St Thomas snorkel?

Pickup and drop-off are only from Emerald Beach Resort. No hotel pickups from other locations are offered, so plan to meet at that resort.

What physical requirements apply to this kayaking and snorkeling activity?

You must be able to swim, climb in and out of a vehicle and walk on uneven surfaces. A moderate level of physical fitness is recommended. The activity is not recommended for people with spinal injuries, back or shoulder problems, heart conditions or poor cardiovascular health. Maximum individual weight is 225 pounds. Tandem kayaks accommodate up to 425 pounds combined.