Turtle Cove Catamaran Snorkel and Sail at Little Buck Island STT
Overview
Available languages
3 hours
Mobile ticket
Come swim with the resident green sea turtles and tropical fish on this 3 hour snorkel & sail adventure in St. Thomas aboard The VI Cat. From your departure, set sail on our 54-foot US Coast Guard inspected catamaran to the idyllic Caribbean waters of Turtle Cove at Little Buck Island National Wildlife Refuge. Seeing the green sea turtles in their natural habitat truly is a life-long memory. Note this is Little Buck Island located off of St. Thomas.
Enquire about a morning tour during the busier holiday weeks.
*Turtle sightings are often reported and not guaranteed as the green sea turtles are in their natural habitat.
Additional Info
Infants and small children can ride in a pram or stroller
Service animals allowed
Travelers should have at least a moderate level of physical fitness
Must arrive 30 minutes prior to departure. Check-in with Cat Crew on Dock of Marriott's Frenchman's Cove. We cannot accommodate late-comers.
Use Google Maps. Type "The VI Cat" or "Marriott's Frenchman's Cove". 1. Pull into the Marriott Frenchman's Cove (the property with all of the colorful buildings). The Marriott Cove has a large stone/brick entrance. 2. Check in with the security guard at the security booth. They will ask that you park in the large, flat gravel parking lot on the right AFTER the security booth. 3. After parking, walk down the hill, on the road, towards the pool and follow signs that say public beach access. 4. Look for the wooden dock located off of the beach. 5. You will check in with The VI Cat crew on the wooden dock approximately 30 minutes prior to departure.
The VI Cat's Standard Cancellation Policy: To receive a full refund, customers may cancel up to 72 hours before the excursion start date in the local timezone. No refunds will be given after that time period. "No-Shows" will be charged the full price of the excursion. In the event The VI Cat cancels the excursion due to weather or other unforeseen circumstances, customers may receive a full refund or rebooking.
Note that the Marriott's Frenchman's Cove is the time-share portion of the Marriott. This location is different than The Westin Beach Resort & Spa at Frenchman's Reef
All tours are listed in local time - Atlantic Standard Time Zone (PLEASE NOTE THIS MAY BE DIFFERENT THAN YOUR SHIP TIME)
Be sure to mention any allergies or medical conditions to the Captain
The Marriott's Frenchman's Cove is 7-10 minute taxi ride from the WICO cruise ship dock and 20-30 minute taxi ride from the Crown Bay cruise ship dock
At time of booking, cruise ship passengers must provide the following information at time of booking: ship name, docking time, disembarkation time and re-boarding time
Children MUST be accompanied by an adult • Minimum drinking age is 21 years
Alcoholic beverages will be offered after the in-water activities.
If guest or vessel's Master determines safety issue, a full refund will be given.
To find dock, please reference map in photos.
MUST arrive 30 minutes prior to trip departure time. We cannot accommodate late arrivals.
Any guests with medical concerns (including pregnant travelers) are encouraged to address them with their own medical professional prior to attending excursion.
Facial coverings are optional while onboard.
What To Expect
Arrive at 12:30pm to check-in with The VI Cat crew on the wooden dock of the Marriott's Frenchman's Cove. Tour departs promptly at 1pm (AST - Atlantic Standard Time). Guest is to provide their own transportation to the Marriott's Frenchman's Cove. After checking in with security, follow signs that say "public access to the beach". Free parking can be found in a large gravel parking lot on the right hand side AFTER the security booth.
Little Buck Island
Board 'The Cat', a spacious 54-foot sailing catamaran for an exhilarating sail to the uninhabited Little Buck Island, located off of St Thomas. You'll snorkel at Turtle Cove, Little Buck Island, the National Wildlife Refuge, where you'll experience an unforgettable, fun-filled, marine life adventure. Your friendly crew will provide snorkeling equipment (mask, snorkel, fins, snorkel vest), brief instruction and safety tips and if needed, a beginner's snorkeling lesson when you reach Little Buck Island National Wildlife Refuge. You may choose to swim and snorkel in the warm waters of the Caribbean Sea, tan on the special deck of the catamaran, or relax in the shaded cabin area. However you choose to spend your day on the boat, you will no doubt have fun! Water, light snacks and a variety of beverages. NOTE: Alcoholic, non-alcoholic beverages and light snacks are served AFTER the snorkeling/in-water portion of snorkel & sail trips.
Options
Turtle Cove Catamaran Snorkel and Sail at Little Buck Island STT
What‘s Included
Use of snorkeling equipment (mask, snorkel, snorkel vest, fins)
Local guide
Unlimited Drinks (alcoholic beverages after in-water activities)
Snacks
Gratuities (suggested)
Souvenir T-Shirts and Dri-Fit Shirts (available for purchase)
Guest provides own transportation to and from the Marriott's Frenchman's Cove
Cancellation Policy
For a full refund, cancel at least 24 hours before the scheduled departure time.
Reviews
2,257 reviews
Total reviews and rating from Viator & Tripadvisor
Snorkel fun!
wendysR2221CV,Jun 7, 2026
- Review from Tripadvisor
5.00We had Anders, Andrea, and I can’t remember the captains name sorry! A great time was had by everyone on board. The ride out to buck cove was choppy so if you get motion sickness be prepared for that or take some meds like I did. The snorkeling was everything I wanted it to be! We saw turtles, a barracuda, lots of fish and a couple rays! The ride back was way smoother thank goodness and the snacks and drinks were great too.
Fun afternoon
Theresa S,May 31, 2026
- Review from Viator
5.00Adrienne made sure we saw turtles. Dan and Serena made sure the trip was enjoyable. Very well organized and professional.
Awesome Snorkeling
brendawD367NA,May 30, 2026
- Review from Tripadvisor
5.00Never been Snorkeling before and this crew made it an awesome experience! We saw 3 Turtles and 2 Barracuda’s and a lot of Tangs, Yellow Snappers and many other species of fish. A live Starfish and 2 hermit crabs. It was so awesome! I would definitely recommend and go again!!
Excellent snorkel cruz
Elyse C,May 30, 2026
- Review from Viator
5.00We had a fantastic snorkel trip with Serena, Adrian and Dan aboard the VI Cat. The boat was comfortable with lots of shady and sunny spots to sit. At Turtle Cove we saw numerous turtles, rays, and tropical fish. Plenty of time to snorkel. On the way home we sailed and enjoyed snacks and Painkillers. This is a great family activity.
Great...
Veronica D,May 28, 2026
- Review from Viator
5.00Great experience-snorkeling and education of the marine life! The crew provided pretzels, some water, sodas, and painkillers. A great experience for someone’s first time.
Buck Island Catamaran Group Snorkel
Brandi J,May 27, 2026
- Review from Tripadvisor
5.00We had a great boat ride out to Buck Island. Crew was great! I didn’t know it was a big group tour I thought there would be less people. There was plenty of room to fit. Crew provided lots of beverages and snacks on the way back. Highlight was 2 sea turtles and a big spotted ray.
Best snorkel in St Thomas
Brittany G,May 24, 2026
- Review from Viator
5.00Had a blast today with Sam, Dan, Michael, and Nashawn! They made sure we were taken care of from start to finish! Fast check in and a guided snorkel. We saw Barry the barracuda, sea turtles, and a ton of tropical fish. Don’t let other reviews scare you off this was an awesome tour. The sail back on the catamaran was beautiful 😍
It doesn’t matter if it...
elaine s,May 24, 2026
- Review from Viator
5.00It doesn’t matter if it rains when you are going snorkeling! We had a great time! Everyone was very knowledgeable about the fish and turtles we saw. High recommend The Cat!!
An Unforgettable Snorkeling Experience — Far Beyond Just Turtles
benjaminsR8922CJ,May 22, 2026
- Review from Tripadvisor
5.00We booked the The VI Cat Turtle Cove snorkel and sail excursion hoping to see a few sea turtles, but the experience completely exceeded our expectations. Not only did we see turtles, but we also encountered stingrays, a massive eagle ray, squid, an octopus, and countless colorful fish — including a beautiful yellow tail damsel juvenile fish. Even the guides mentioned that the marine life activity that day was more than they normally see, which made the trip feel even more special. The crew was absolutely fantastic from start to finish. Captain Phillips kept the trip smooth, relaxed, and enjoyable, while Nashawn, Dakota, and Sam were incredibly friendly, knowledgeable, and attentive throughout the excursion. Everyone had a great attitude and genuinely seemed passionate about what they do. They were always available to answer questions about the wildlife we spotted, and because our group was fairly small, the whole experience felt personal and relaxed rather than crowded or rushed. One moment that especially stood out was when my wife wanted one of the shirts they sold onboard, but they had run out of her size. Sam actually sold her his own shirt so she could still take one home. That level of hospitality and kindness really says a lot about this crew. This excursion ended up being one of the absolute highlights of our trip to St. Thomas. Between the incredible marine life, the beautiful sailing, and the outstanding crew, it became one of those vacation experiences we’ll remember for a very long time.
Great day on water got to...
Vicki T,May 19, 2026
- Review from Viator
5.00Great day on water got to see 2 turtles. Small group that was great for us on the water. We got lots of attention.
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