Best Snorkeling in St. Thomas, Dominica, Barbados, or Aruba??

[kathyjack]

16 of us will be sailing the Destiny January 23, 2005. We want to take a snorkeling shore excursion (from the ship). We are all beginners and our ages are 8-65. [B]Do not[/B] want an open bar excursion. Would like one that includes a beach so we could also swim, but not a must. Would love to hear your suggestions - pro's and con's. Thanks! [img]http://messages.cruisecritic.com/infopop/emoticons/icon_razz.gif[/img]

[CCLNCLRCICRUISER]

[B]kathyjack[/B]

To get you started you can follow this link below. The same question was asked on the main destiny board.

[url="http://messages.cruisecritic.com/2/OpenTopic?q=Y&a=tpc&s=927093444&f=969097554&m=2083089557&p=17"]http://messages.cruisecritic.com/2/OpenTopic?q=Y&a=tpc&s=927093444&f=969097554&m=2083089557&p=17[/url]

Im sure others will chime in with more info.



Jeff

[url="http://cruiseclues.com/shipstips/carnivaldestiny.htm"]Destiny Info[/url]

[url="http://messages.cruisecritic.com/2/OpenTopic?q=Y&s=927093444&a=tpc&m=5113014967&f=6963067357"]Destiny 10/03/04 Roll Call[/url]

[url="http://messages.cruisecritic.com/2/OpenTopic?q=Y&a=tpc&s=927093444&f=969097554&m=2083089557&p=1"]Destiny,Past,Present and Future Cruisers[/url]



10/03/04 Date with Destiny
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[Melinda77]

One place you can get your feet wet (so to speak [img]http://messages.cruisecritic.com/infopop/emoticons/icon_smile.gif[/img]) would be Coki Beach in St. Thomas.
Excellent snorkeling, and lots of fish just a few yards from shore. Small children don't have to go out very deep, the fish will come to you for the dog biscuits you get at the equipment rental hut. The beach itself is great for sunning or swimming for those who choose not to snorkle.
It would be an inexpensive way early in the cruise to find out who actually enjoys snorkling before spending lots of $$ on an off-shore excursion.

[weswas]

We also go to Coki beach it is a cheap taxi ride or we even think that the shore excursion is reasonable too and you get into the coral world and if you have kids it really would be worth it for you. You can visit coral world then hit the beach . It is a great place small enough to keep an eye out and BEAUTIFUL TO BOOT!!

UNTIL WE SAIL AGAIN.......
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[5668200]

Thanks all. Coki Beach sounds like a perfect spot for us. Those that want to snorkle can, and those that don't want to spend a lot of time at it can sit on the beach or swim. I like the idea that we can just walk into the water to snokel rather than take a boat to do it. Thanks! [img]http://messages.cruisecritic.com/infopop/emoticons/icon_smile.gif[/img]

[Katlan]

Another vote for Coki. We spent a week in St. Thomas last April and Coki was our absolute [B]favorite[/B] snorkel beach in St. Thomas. (Hawksnest and Honeymoon in St. John). At Coki, try the Strawberry margaritas - they are like Strawberry milkshakes - sweet, smooth and yummy!!!! Also, there were a few women going around selling (not aggressively) beaded jewelry. It wasn't all that expensive but very nice and my daughter still has it a year later. Don't forget the underwater camera - great fishy opportunities! [img]http://messages.cruisecritic.com/infopop/emoticons/icon_eek.gif[/img]

Kath

1/05 It's a ...Miracle Cruise ... And NYE in Epcot!!!

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[eileen11]

We really enjoyed the snorkeling at Champagne Reef in Dominica. The reefs were awsome and the small warm bubbles were very different. We were able to see a great variety of very colorful fish. All in all, a great excursion.

We swam with the sea turtles in Barbados. Again, a great excursion with a wonderful variety of fish and many turtles.

Eileen

1967 Grace Lines Santa Rosa (don't laugh..I was a young teen!)
1968 GraceLines Santa Rosa

1970 The Victoria So. Car
1986 Seaward So. Car.
1987 Tropicale Mexico
1988 Tropicale So. Car.
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2000 Elation Mexico
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2004 - Carnival Spirit 10/4/04

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[IKON]

[img]http://messages.cruisecritic.com/infopop/emoticons/icon_cool.gif[/img]So, will your husband be snorkeling with the rest of us or will he be one of the ones sunning and swimming? Koki sounds like its the spot for us...

[cruise junky joan]

Coki get's my vote too. My sister lives on St. Thomas so I go down twice a year when possible. The other beach we like,on St Thomas.,is Secret Harbor. It generally is not crowded and there won't be anyone trying to braid your hair or sell you stuff you don't want. There is a beach bar and cafe for food and the snorkeling is good but not quite as good as Coki. Rather than buy the dog bisquits we have taken the little boxes of dry cereal off the breadfast buffet and that works well too. When you go to Coki walk down to the far end of the beach opposite Coral World to where the rocks are, this is where the fish will be. Have fun! Joan

[5668200]

IKON, I think it would be much safer, for all of us, if my darling husband just laid on the beach and watched our towels, etc. Maybe over the summer his 7 year old granddaughter can teach him a thing or two about snorkeling - but I doubt it!! [img]http://messages.cruisecritic.com/infopop/emoticons/icon_biggrin.gif[/img] [img]http://messages.cruisecritic.com/infopop/emoticons/icon_biggrin.gif[/img]

[egallag]

Glad to hear all of the good things about Coki beach. I booked directly through their web site for my daughter and I when cruising next month. Surprisingly inexpensive. and they were very nice.

They pick us up at the dock but we have to get a cab back. I do have one question though, where do you keep $$ S and S cards, etc when snorkeling? I have never done this before.

Thanks.
Beth

[IKON]

566820- thats an almost 8 year old granddaughter remember? We usually have someone stay out and watch our stuff. Does anyone know if theres lockers at Coki beach anywhere?