The villa's own reef
The Cerulean, East End
Shallow, reef-protected water directly off the villa's own beach. Recent guest review: “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.
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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.
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.
Frederiksted Pier
Frederiksted
Swim the pilings from shore in calm, clear water — the resident seahorses made this pier famous.
Rainbow Beach
West end
Easy, family-friendly reef snorkeling with calm water — and beach bars for afterward.
Davis Bay
North shore, by Carambola
Two reefs — one shallow, one deep — so beginners and confident snorkelers both get a lane.
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.
Chenay Bay
East End
Shallow, protected and family-easy, with turtles and rays often cruising the grass beds.
Good to know
- Bring or rentPack your own mask and fins or rent in town — there's no gear shack on the villa's private beach.
- Mornings are clearestWind builds through the day; the reef out front is glassiest before lunch.
- Reef rulesStand on sand only, touch nothing, wear reef-safe sunscreen — the coral here is the attraction.
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.
Sleeps 12 · 4.90 ★ · rates by season