01
The villa's own reef
The Cerulean, East End
Shallow, reef-protected water directly off the villa's sandy beach. One April guest: “amazing snorkeling right in front of the house.”
Snorkeling
Snorkeling
The short list, verified.
Snorkeling at The Cerulean starts at the bottom of the steps — the villa's own beach sits on reef-protected water, and guests consistently call it the best part of the stay. When you're ready to roam, St. Croix offers everything from a national-monument reef trail to easy beach-bar-adjacent shore entries.
The one everyone should do once: Buck Island Reef National Monument, the protected islet 1.5 miles offshore, with a marked underwater trail through elkhorn coral. You can only land there by permitted boat — five NPS-authorized operators run trips (all listed under Boat charters), and the concierge can book any of them.
02
Buck Island Reef National Monument
Offshore, by authorized boat
The signature snorkel of the USVI — a marked underwater trail through a barrier reef of elkhorn coral, inside a national monument reachable only with an NPS-authorized operator or private permit.
03
Cane Bay Beach
North shore
Shore entry over reef with parrotfish, turtles and staghorn coral; the famous Wall lies about 600 feet out for strong swimmers or boats.
04
Frederiksted Pier
Frederiksted
Swim the pilings from shore in calm, clear water — the resident seahorses made this pier famous.
05
Rainbow Beach
West end
Easy, family-friendly reef snorkeling with calm water — and beach bars for afterward.
06
Davis Bay
North shore, by Carambola
Two reefs — one shallow, one deep — so beginners and confident snorkelers both get a lane.
07
The Shoys
East of Christiansted
A secluded, calm crescent with a small reef at its eastern end — rays, eels, conch. Access is through the Estate Shoys guard gate; give your name and say you're headed to the beach.
08
Chenay Bay
East End
Shallow, protected and family-easy, with turtles and rays often cruising the grass beds.
The Cerulean
Stay on the quiet end of all of it.
The Cerulean puts twelve of you on a private beach, fifteen minutes from town — check your dates.
From $1,398 / night · sleeps 12 · 4.90 ★