• Coki Point Beach (St. Thomas): On the north shore of St. Thomas, Coki Point offers superb year-round snorkeling. Explore the coral ledges near Coral World’s underwater tower. 

  • Hurricane Hole (St. John): You may not immediately think of a mangrove forest as a great place to snorkel, but here coral grows in abundance on the mangrove roots—attended by huge starfish, sponges (and the hawksbills that eat them), and anemones. It’s magical. SerenaSea runs snorkeling and sightseeing tours out of Coral Bay to Hurricane Hole (http://serenasea.com). 

  • Waterlemon Cay/Leinster Bay (St. John): Easily accessible Leinster Bay, on the northern shore of St. John, offers calm, clear, uncrowded waters teeming with sea life. 

  • Haulover Bay (St. John): A favorite with locals, this small bay is rougher than Leinster, with a pebbly beach. The snorkeling, however, is dramatic, with ledges, walls, and nooks to explore. 

  • Cane Bay (St. Croix): One of the island’s best diving and snorkeling sites is off this breezy, north-shore beach. On a good day, you can swim out 450 feet to see the Cane Bay Wall, which drops dramatically off to the deep waters below. Multicolored fish, plus elkhorn and brain coral, flourish here. 

  • Buck Island (off St. Croix): This tiny island, whose land and offshore waters together are classified as a national monument, lies 2 miles off the north coast of St. Croix. More than 250 recorded species of fish swim through its reef system. A variety of sponges, corals, and crustaceans also inhabit the area. 

  • Norman Island & the Indians (B.V.I.): Snorkel the calm waters of the Bight near Norman Island. Bring some bread to draw reef fish to the surface when you snorkel the deep waters around the Indians—four fingers of rock jutting out of the sea and only accessible by boat. 

  • The Baths (Virgin Gorda): It’s often overrun with boats, but the Baths—and nearby beaches, Spring Bay and Devil’s Bay—are still mind-blowingly beautiful and the shallow crystalline seas and caves a fun place to explore by snorkel. 

Note: This information was accurate when it was published, but can change without notice. Please be sure to confirm all rates and details directly with the companies in question before planning your trip.