A visit to this island beach, part of Buck Island Reef National Monument, is a must. The beach is beautiful, but its finest treasures are those you can see when you plop off the boat and adjust your mask, snorkel, and fins to swim over colorful coral and darting fish. Exceptionally warm water in the summer of 2005 damaged the coral, so you won't see it at its finest for some years to come. To get here you have to charter a boat or go on an organized trip. Don't know how to snorkel? No problem -- the boat crew will have you outfitted and in the water in no time. Take care not to step on those black-pointed spiny sea urchins or touch the mustard-color fire coral, which can cause a nasty burn. Most charter boat trips start with a snorkel over the lovely reef before a stop at the island's beach. An easy 20-minute hike leads uphill to an overlook for a bird's-eye view of the reef below. Find restrooms at the beach. Buck Island is 5 mi (8 km) north of St. Croix.