VRC

We are going on a cruise and would like to do one snorkeling excursion, which island would be the best one to do this on, St. Thomas, Barbados, Tortolla, Antiqua, or Dominica?

virginia

st. thomas & tortolla are very close to each other. either will offer you good snorkel excursions. or from either you can take quick ferry to st. john then taxi to one of the wonderful beaches there - one that would offer you good walkin snorkeling

KVR

Barbados has the snorkel excursion with the turtles. I was not inmpressed with the snorkeling in St. Thomas or St. John except at Coki Beach in St. Thomas. Have read iffy things about Coki Beach the past few years. Don't know if they are true or not. I would go with Barbados or St. John from St. Thomas.

Dominica is more about scenery and waterfalls.

Bassguy66

I would try and catch a charter out of St Thomas. There is "ok" shore snorkeling on STT, but the best shore snorkeling will be a ferry ride away on St John. If you choose this route, avoid the tourist mobbed places such as Trunk Bay. Although Trunk is a gorgeous swimming beach, the snorkeling is average at best. One of the better places on STJ to snorkel is Waterlemon Caye.

A charter out of St Thomas would most likely be the easiest way to find GREAT snorkeling without the crowds. Personally, I would do (both) St Thomas & Tortola charters.

Odin

I've been to Barbados and Antigua; neither island offered great snorkelling, but a great excursion on Antigua was to see the stingrays at Sting Ray City, morning appears to be better as by late afternoon the stingrays are no longer hungry.

VRC

Thank you for the replies! We haven't lined up any snorkeling yet. KVR with your comment on Dominica my son lined up a waterfall tour through a company I think called Bumping Tours.
Our daughter-in law has done the St John snorkeling with the trail and really liked it. We may do that and take the ferry because she doesn't do well on small boats. Some of the others would like to go on a catamaran so we'll see. Whatever we do will be fun, just having our family all together will be a good time.

bajangirl

Barbados is a good place to do a daysail on a catamaran that includes snorkeling and swimming with turtles - can recommend Cool Runnings