Snorkeling in Tortola suggestions

[princemickey]

I will be on the Fantasy in Jan.2016 stopping in Tortola and want to go snorkeling. Has anyone herd of or experienced Aristocat Charters. Decent reviews on Trip Advisor but just want to see if there is anyone with past experience. TIA for your help.

 

[princemickey]

I guess I'll have to wait till DCL starts sailing to tortola. Was just hoping that someone had gone before.

 

[jrabbit]

I guess I'll have to wait till DCL starts sailing to tortola. Was just hoping that someone had gone before.

I guess so. We are on the Jan 16 16 sailing. We think that we will be going the the Baths on Virgin Gorda

one of the DCL port adventures.

 

[JimmyV]

I'll have to consult my notes. I have not taken a cruise to the Virgin Islands but have done both land-based vacations as well as chartered bare boat sailing vacations there. And we snorkel every day. I definitely recall finding some great beaches for snorkeling. But my overall suggestion would be to hop in a cab and have the driver take you to a recommended beach away from the cruise ship crowd. The driver will arrange for a set time to pick you up. They are very reliable.

As for the Baths, I am conflicted. It is one of my very favorite places in the whole world. I may even have my ashes spread there. But...When we go, we always check the cruise ship schedule to make sure that we avoid days when the crowds storm the beaches. It is not a place that swallows crowds well and the entire atmosphere is altered. That said, if this would be your one and only chance to snorkel there, I would think seriously about going. It is a "bucket list" destination even if the only way to visit it is with 500 of your closest friends.

But I will report back with the names of some great beaches with excellent snorkeling on Tortola. A $10 cab ride will get you to a far better place than an expensive excursion.

 

[gumbypee]

i THINK cruise critic has posts about specific ports.....???

 

[JimmyV]

i THINK cruise critic has posts about specific ports.....???

It definitely does.

 

[princemickey]

Thank you for that great information JimmyV. I will definetlly take that into consideration.

 

[JimmyV]

I will be on the Fantasy in Jan.2016 stopping in Tortola and want to go snorkeling.

I went back and checked my notes. Most of the snorkeling that we did off of Tortola was done from our sailboat, where we would anchor offshore in a good spot. We went to Jost Van Dyke, Norman Island, "The Indians" and Salt Island among other. But we did go to Brewer's Bay one day, and coupled that with some time at Cane Garden Bay. Many of the places that I mentioned (other than Brewer's Bay) can be accessed through ship excursions from what I saw on the DCL website. Such as Jost Van Dyke and Norman Island. But they are pricey. And Cane Garden Bay will always be a "Beach Day" option as it is the most crowded, famous and developed beach on the island. Thank (or blame) Jimmy Buffet for that! But the snorkeling at CGB is not very good. Brewer's Bay will be a lot less crowded and is probably the best beach for snorkeling on the island. So if you want a beach-based snorkel day, that is where you want to go. And all it will cost you is a cab ride. Here are a couple of pictures. As is the case with most half-moon bays, the snorkeling is best at either end.

By comparison, this is what Cane Garden Bay looks like, and then you have to picture it with 2,000 people from a ship!

If off-shore snorkeling is your thing, you can look into a trip to Jost or Norman's, or one of the other "Catamaran Snorkeling Adventures" either offered though the ship or privately. They will be the most expensive option. Or, you can get in a safari cab and ask to go to Brewer's Bay. Odds are that you will share the taxi with a family headed to Cane Garden Bay because they are very close to one another. Those folks will get dropped off first and then you will be on your way. And at your appointed pick-up time, the process will be reversed. You would get picked up and either taken to Soper's Hole, or make a stop at CGB to pick up more people.

Good luck with your choice!

p.s. Just to let you know that I'm not full of $#@!, here is a link to a Tortola Travel website with their suggestions: http://www.vacationtortola.com/Best-Places-To-Snorkel.html