I’m from Florida and have been itching for a warm getaway, so I’ve started looking into a trip to the Virgin Islands. The plan is to fly into St. Thomas, then take a water taxi over to BVI for a day trip. I’ve seen pictures of the beaches there and they look unreal. I’m hoping to do a lot of snorkeling, maybe just spend my days swimming in clear blue water and relaxing on the sand. For anyone who’s been, when is the best time of year to go for calm seas and really clear snorkeling conditions?

You’ll find calm clear waters most anytime of the year in both the US and British Virgin Islands, however, there could be periods of higher winds in late December through late January or early February (know as “Christmas Winds”) that could make snorkeling conditions in some areas less than ideal. Late Spring through the end of August are the least windiest months making it almost perfect for snorkeling with the caveat that there could be sporadic periods of heavy rains that will have a negative effect on the clarity of the waters in some areas. Generally speaking, if one area of the island you are visiting has poor snorkeling conditions you’ll find other areas (usually the opposite side) of the same island will have very good conditions.

We went earlier this year, around late April, and it turned out to be such a good time to visit because it has slowed down from spring break. The water was calm most days, and snorkeling around St. John was amazing, super clear, like you could see every little detail under the surface. We took a water taxi with SeaHorse, and their crew was just genuinely nice and easygoing. They made the trip feel relaxed, not rushed.

I went to the Virgin Islands around October, and it turned out to be the best decision. Amy from SeaHorse Water Taxi helped us plan the trip, and she actually suggested that time of year because the weather’s stable and the islands aren’t too crowded. The seas were calm, the weather was perfect, and the snorkeling was unbelievable, crystal clear and full of color.