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Barbados Snorkeling – Carlisle Bay and Holetown

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Active Caribbean Travel Snorkels Barbados Carlisle Bay, Folkstone Marine Park and Holetown

Swim with Turtles, Snorkel a Shipwreck and More!

Always on the lookout for fun and active “things to do” while on our Caribbean vacations, one constant theme kept popping up throughout my research on Barbados – swimming with turtles and snorkeling over shipwrecks.  With all those white sand beaches and close-to-shore reefs along the south-west and west coast, I was really looking forward to getting into the water and exploring the marine seascapes!  So, here’s what we did…

Carlisle Bay – Swim with Turtles and Snorkel a Shipwreck

Carlisle Bay is about a mile (2km) south of Bridgetown, and about 4 miles (7km) north of where we were staying. We donned our bathing suits and reef-friendly sunscreen, grabbed our snorkel masks and hopped on a local bus for the 15-minute ride. Carlisle Bay has some of the most famous beaches in the Caribbean, and I must say, it is a beautiful sight. Like all beaches in Barbados, Brownes Beach, Pebbles Beach and Bayshore Beach are “public” beaches.  This means that anyone can just lay down a towel and stake a claim to a piece of sand, regardless of the hotel or bar/restaurant you happen to be in front of (or is it behind?).  Anyways, the gorgeous white sand beaches of Carlisle Bay stretch for about a mile (2km) along the shimmering blue sea that beckoned us in for a swim and snorkel.  The beaches are just about perfect – with no stones or pebbles and there’s no sea-weed in the water.  The only potential downside is that it was fairly busy by Caribbean island standards.  But… understandable considering what the area offers.

Beach chair and umbrella rentals are available all along the beach. There’s even a couple of facilities that feature a bar, restaurant and bathrooms – Harbour Lights and the Boatyard Club also conveniently turn into nightclubs for continuing the party when the sun goes down. We ended up near Bayshore Beach which has public washrooms (Lockers are available – just bring your own lock). Vendors in the parking lot offer everything from water to large home-cooked meals.  Later in the day, I had what I think was the largest, tastiest meat patty I’ve ever had, outside of Jamaica.

Enough of the logistics – It’s time we got in the water!

Active Caribbean Travel Snorkels Barbados Carlisle Bay, Folkstone Marine Park and Holetown

We started at an area that at first seemed devoid of life.  No coral, just a sand bottom 15-20 feet below…  then, I saw something moving down there…  There were several stingrays cruising along the seafloor.  Apparently, these creatures are fairly new to this spot, although it’s easy to understand why they’re here. Like other marine animals in the area, they’re here for the food.  Local boat/tour operators drop fish scraps into the water to attract turtles – The Crowd Favourite. There were several boatloads of people occupying the same space, so when a turtle was spotted, everyone converged on the area. Even with several legs thrashing around, we managed to see a couple of the fascinating reptiles. It was really fun to watch a turtle, enveloped in a swarm of “entourage” fish, swim up for an easy meal.  After surfacing for some air, it gracefully descended, mysteriously disappearing into the depths.

Active Caribbean Travel Snorkels Barbados Carlisle Bay, Folkstone Marine Park and Holetown

Next stop – The shipwreck.  Strong swimmers can access this spot right from the beach. Fortunately, there were fewer people here and were more spread out. Snorkeling over the shipwreck was incredible – It absolutely blew me away as I’ve never seen so many fish congregating in one area like that. The top of the ship is less than 15 feet (4.5m) from the surface, so clearly visible by snorkelers.  The top and sides of the wreck were covered in corals, sponges and sea fans, however I was really fascinated by the large variety of tropical fish.  I viewed the ship from stern to bow and back again – I just couldn’t get enough.  Along with schools of sergeant-majors, the trumpetfish, blue-tang and angelfish really stood out to me. I watched as a snorkeler dived down to the surface of the ship and even into one of the openings – Hhmnn… I’ll need to try that next time!  This may be as close to a scuba diving experience as I’ll ever get.

Now that I know where the hotspots are, the next time I’m in Barbados I’ll try to get to Carlisle Bay before 9am, rent a kayak and check out these locations before the crowds arrive.

Want to see more? Check out our Barbados Snorkeling with Turtles and Rays, and Barbados Snorkeling over Shipwrecks videos on YouTube!

Folkstone & Holetown – Rock Pile Reefs

Active Caribbean Travel Snorkels Barbados Carlisle Bay, Folkstone Marine Park and Holetown

A couple of days later we got on another bus and ventured further up the west coast to check out Folkstone Marine Park. Snorkelers can explore a large area of shallow sea here, protected by buoys and rope fence. From the beach, we could see several scattered rows of reefs close to shore – So exciting!  Unfortunately, the water was rough that day, with waves breaking right over the reefs, so the beach was closed to snorkelers.  We were there on a Sunday, so the Information Centre / Museum (lockers available) was also closed.  Disappointed but not defeated, we wandered south along the beach looking for somewhere else to get into the water…

Active Caribbean Travel Snorkels Barbados Carlisle Bay, Folkstone Marine Park and Holetown


Just north of Holetown, I could see a dark shape in the water really close to shore, so I assumed it was a reef and a potential place to snorkel.  The warm salty water was easy to float in, even with the small waves that day. Here’s where things got a little interesting…  As I neared the “reef”, I was surprised to see that it was actually a meticulously stacked/assembled rock-pile. It was as if a Giant played a game of Granite Tetris undersea…  I assume that all the reefs along Barbados’ west coast are like this.  Unlike most of its neighbouring islands, Barbados is a coral island, so I was expecting lots of natural coral at the bottom of the sea – Well, this was a learning experience.


Active Caribbean Travel Snorkels Barbados Carlisle Bay, Folkstone Marine Park and Holetown

Regardless of their composition, these rock barriers provide a sanctuary for sea-life. This little reef had several different fish swimming around it, so I was motivated to check-out the larger reef at the north end of Holetown – Wow, I’m sure glad I did! Just a few feet from shore I disturbed a flounder and then I found the rock-pile area full of life.  I saw a variety of fish species on the east side of the reef so I rounded the south end to see what was on the other side.  Well, I was in for a treat – I almost immediately encountered a large school of Blue Chromis (I think). So cool!

I was told that further offshore from Holetown beach there’s a sunken barge resting in 20 feet (6m) of water that is home to plenty of colourful fish and other marine life including turtles.  Locals offered boat rides to get to the spot.

Based on my experience with the beach at Holetown, I suspect that snorkeling up at Folkestone would be outstanding. I imagine that I could have spent hours just floating around examining the reefs and their marine life in their entirety. Unfinished business – Well, now I have an excuse for coming back to Barbados 😊

Want to see more? Check out our Barbados Snorkeling – From Holetown video on YouTube!

Other Barbados West Coast / South-West Coast Beaches

There are more than a dozen beaches along the west coast of the island and several of them are good for a little snorkeling…  I understand that the beaches at Alleynes Bay, Paynes Bay and Batts Rock are good spots.

Active Caribbean Travel Snorkels Barbados Carlisle Bay, Folkstone Marine Park and Holetown
Active Caribbean Travel Snorkels Barbados Carlisle Bay, Folkstone Marine Park and Holetown


On our last day in Barbados, we went for a walk along the Richard Haynes Boardwalk and came across a couple of spots that looked like they might be good for snorkeling.  This half-mile (1km) long wooden walkway straddles the beachfront between Hasting’s Coconut Court Beach Hotel and Rockley Beach.  Even if there’s no snorkeling, you can always relax in the tidal pools that are created on calm sea days!


ACT Staff

For more information on snorkeling in Barbados, including a list of tour operators who will get you to the hot spots, check out our Barbados Snorkeling page

If you’re looking for other ‘active’ things to do while vacationing on the island, click on our Barbados Adventures blog for some great ideas!

For an overview of beautiful Barbados, take a look at our Barbados Vacations page

For an overview of great Tourist Attractions on the island, including tour operators who will take good care of you, check out our Things to Do in Barbados page

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Snorkel Martinique – A Sampling of Southern Martinique Hotspots

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Snorkel Martinique at Pointe Borgnese, Anse Dufour & Anse Noire. The best Caribbean snorkeling for trumpetfish, reef squid, turtles, french angelfish, parrotfish, butterfly fish & more

Martinique Snorkeling – You’ll like what you see beneath the surface of the Caribbean Sea

One of the most anticipated and thrilling things for me to do when vacationing in the Caribbean is to get into the ocean and explore the island’s underwater world. Snorkeling is not something that I can really do at home, so it’s a real treat, especially when I come across a fish or some type of marine life that I have never seen before – Truly exciting!

There are a number of good snorkeling spots in Martinique, mostly along the Western and Southern Coastlines, and I was fortunate to have the opportunity to sample a few of them. We first started with Pointe Borgnèse, a spot not too far from where we were staying in Sainte-Anne. It was a great spot to get my feet wet (pun intended), before heading further out to the more well-known area of Les Anses-d’Arlet to experience the popular Anse Dufour and its neighbour Anse Noire.

Snorkel Pointe Borgnese

Snorkel Martinique at Pointe Borgnese. The best Caribbean snorkeling for trumpetfish, reef squid, turtles, french angelfish, parrotfish, butterfly fish & more


If you’re not paying attention or if you’re driving too fast, which you can actually do on Martinique’s amazing road system, you could easily miss the parking lot for the beach at Pointe Borgnese. I actually drove right by it on the N5 highway, wondering ‘was that it?’, before turning around to discover ‘yes, this is the place’. There is a small clearing of sorts just off the side of the highway which might be able to accommodate 10 or so cars. It was quiet the day we visited, so we easily found a place to park. After gathering our beach/snorkel stuff together we journeyed about 5-10 minutes down the remains of a steep old rock-and-concrete road through the forest. Eventually, we popped out onto one of the beaches in the area. There is only about 10-15 feet of sand between the sea and the treeline making it an interesting and quaint beach. Further to the east, there are a couple more stretches of sandy beach, each separated from one other by piles of rocks and boulders that spill out from the forest. That said, there is a path through the forest about 25 feet from the shoreline that provides access to each of the near-private sandy patches. Openings in the forest also provide great places to escape the midday sun or occasional showers if need be. The area is pretty cool, although more reminiscent of beaches found around a lake in North America or Europe – Not what I was expecting to find in the Caribbean.

Snorkel Martinique at Pointe Borgnese. The best Caribbean snorkeling for trumpetfish, reef squid, turtles, french angelfish, parrotfish, butterfly fish & more

I first ventured into the inviting Caribbean Sea near the main beach. The water was not overly warm, but I wasn’t there for a bath so I stuck my face and snorkel mask into the water to take a look at what was below the surface. Other than the odd juvenile fish, there was very little marine life among the mix of seagrass, rocks, and otherwise sandy ocean floor. I had heard that the best place to snorkel is along the point itself, so once we found the trail through the forest, we gathered up our stuff and headed eastward about as far as we could go. Finding a new place to put our stuff on a small beach, I ventured back into the water.

Snorkel Martinique at Pointe Borgnese. The best Caribbean snorkeling for trumpetfish, reef squid, turtles, french angelfish, parrotfish, butterfly fish & more

Again, there wasn’t much of interest until I swam really close to the coastline that makes up the west side of Borgnese Point. Ahhhh, finally, more signs of underwater life. I first encountered several small schools of fish, and after settling in, I carefully studied the ocean floor. I immediately saw a couple of sea cucumbers – One critter was about a foot in length and had a skinny white body covered in what looked like short thorns. The other sea cucumber was dark in colour and really big, over 2 feet long and close to a foot in diameter. Wow – That was pretty cool. I also saw a wide variety of fish, including a couple of my favorites, little bluehead wrasse and multi-hued red parrotfish. I saw a bizarre-looking reddish-orange squirrelfish as well as some amazing purplish-blue and yellow fish, which I suspect were damselfish. I also saw some sergeant majors, along with several light brown colored fish with horizontal stripes along with several silver fish with yellow stripes running from tail to head – some sort of grunts or chums I assume.

Snorkel Martinique at Pointe Borgnese. The best Caribbean snorkeling for trumpetfish, reef squid, turtles, french angelfish, parrotfish, butterfly fish & more

I found plenty of marine life close to shore about halfway between the beach and the tip of the point. Lifting my head out of the water to get my bearings, I noticed a plastic bottle hanging in a tree right at the water’s edge – Hhmnnn, I wondered if it is a marker of some sort. Sure enough, about 20 feet from the rugged shore right in front of that tree there is a large rock covered in vegetation and swarming with fish. So many different types of fish I lost count. The area was also home to lots of yellow tubes and brain corals, all in less than 10 feet of water – A great place to just float around and admire the beauty of the natural underwater world!

What a great start to our Martinique snorkeling adventures… A few days later we would head out to the southeast coast of the island to hit the real hot spots for Martinique snorkeling.

Snorkel Anse Dufour

Snorkel Martinique at Anse Dufour. The best Caribbean snorkeling for trumpetfish, reef squid, turtles, french angelfish, parrotfish, butterfly fish & more

After a fairly long drive from Sainte-Anne to Les Anses-d’Arlet, we eventually pulled off the D7 road towards Anse Dufour where we were surprised to see a large number of cars lining the side of the road. Undaunted, we drove to the end of the road and totally lucked out as somebody pulled out of the tiny parking lot at the end of the road just as we arrived. We’ll take that thank you very much. From there, it is just a short walk down a steep access road to the beach. As advertised, Anse Dufour is a wonderful light brown sandy beach with clean and convenient facilities (toilets) available. Although we arrived at a decent time in the morning, the small beach was already quite busy. That said, it was easy to find a spot to put down our towels and bags.

Snorkel Martinique at Anse Dufour. The best Caribbean snorkeling for trumpetfish, reef squid, turtles, french angelfish, parrotfish, butterfly fish & more

Looking out at the water, the rocky shoreline to the right was crowded with snorkelers, and I was about to find out, for good reason. I waded out into the sea and immediately discovered a large turtle on the edge of the seagrass close to shore, almost oblivious to the crowd above him/her. With all the people splashing about along with a slight current the water was a bit murky, but it was still an amazingly easy opportunity to watch the pre-historic-looking creature munching on grass. After a couple of minutes, I turned and swam towards the black cliffs and trees that lined the north coastline of the bay.

I found an amazing diversity of fish and marine life close to the coastline. I saw different species of coral, with fire coral dominating the scene, along with white sea urchins, yellow tubes, as well as all sorts of algae and vegetation clinging to the rocks – great fish food I assume. The closer to the rugged coast I ventured, the more marine life I saw. There were plenty of large silver and yellow fish, some striped, others not. I assume they were grunts or jacks of some sort, although there could also have been some goatfish and/or yellowtail Snapper as well. I swam through several large schools of long shiny juvenile fish, herring perhaps. The star attractions for me though were the unique long and skinny trumpetfish, the hard-to-spot parrotfish, and the colourful yellowtail damselfish.


Snorkel Martinique at Anse Dufour. The best Caribbean snorkeling for trumpetfish, reef squid, turtles, french angelfish, parrotfish, butterfly fish & more

After a while, I thought I would explore the southern coastline of the bay. The water on the south side of the beach seemed a bit rougher, but it had some amazing marine life to observe as well. As soon as I entered the water I was greeted by a large school of long shiny juvenile fish – perhaps herring, jacks or goatfish. There were tons of algae and vegetation on the black rocks, as well as some yellow tubes and several species of coral. Along with plenty of sergeant majors, I encountered some beautiful bluehead wrasse, well-camouflaged green parrotfish, and some amazing juvenile French angelfish. Then there was the spectacular four-eye butterflyfish (bottom right in photo below). Always cool to spot them!

Snorkel Martinique at Anse Dufour. The best Caribbean snorkeling for trumpetfish, reef squid, turtles, french angelfish, parrotfish, butterfly fish & more

I was enjoying exploring the underwater world, however, when three tour boats full of snorkelers arrived in the little bay, I knew it was going to become too crowded for my liking. So, we packed up our stuff went back up to the road, and walked over to the neighbouring Anse Noire, just 5 minutes to the north.

Snorkel Anse Noire

Snorkel Martinique at Anse Noire. The best Caribbean snorkeling for trumpetfish, reef squid, turtles, french angelfish, parrotfish, butterfly fish & more
Snorkel Martinique at Anse Noire. The best Caribbean snorkeling for trumpetfish, reef squid, turtles, french angelfish, parrotfish, butterfly fish & more



To access Anse Noire we walked down a concrete walkway with steps to reach the black sand beach at the small bay. It is so close to Anse Dufour, but seems like a different world and I’m not just talking about the colour of the sand. It was relatively quiet, with very few people or buildings. Anse Noire does however have a solid long wooden pier that splits the small bay into two. We walked to the end of the pier and I climbed down a ladder to enter the water off to the north and swam towards the rugged wooded coastline. I was immediately greeted by a shoal of silver fish I assume were herring, nervously darting from side to side, although gracefully moving as one. Other than that, there wasn’t much of interest below the water surface until the sandy ocean floor started to rise up along the coastline. After a few small jellyfish floated underneath me, I realized that the sea bottom consisted of some small underwater ridges and troughs, providing all sorts of places for sea life to hide from predators and waves.

Snorkel Martinique at Anse Noire. The best Caribbean snorkeling for trumpetfish, reef squid, turtles, french angelfish, parrotfish, butterfly fish & more
Snorkel Martinique at Anse Noire. The best Caribbean snorkeling for trumpetfish, reef squid, turtles, french angelfish, parrotfish, butterfly fish & more
Snorkel Martinique at Anse Noire. The best Caribbean snorkeling for trumpetfish, reef squid, turtles, french angelfish, parrotfish, butterfly fish & more

The water was probably about 10 feet deep here and was filled with a wide variety of diverse plants and fish. The undulating ocean floor is covered in clumps of vegetation, swaying back and forth with the ocean current, along with fire coral, yellow tubes as well as an abundance of white sea urchins. I must have also seen over a dozen species of fish – I recognized grey-yellow striped smallmouth grunts, my favourite bluehead wrasse as well as some well-camouflaged green-hued parrotfish (centre of the photo above).

I was thrilled to see some trumpetfish swimming horizontally, not just floating in their usual vertical position. I loved watching some black and yellow juvenile French angel fish, although the highlight of this snorkel had to be when I startled 2 large reef squid, forcing them to swim right underneath me – Now that was something special!


While the north coastline of Anse Dufour probably had just as many, if not more types of fish, snorkelling Anse Noire was more my thing. I was more relaxed in the near-solitude as I floated around without a care in the world. I had been slowly swimming along the northern coastline of the bay toward the beach, however, it was getting really rocky as I reached shallow water so I turned around and headed back to the pier where again I was met by a shoal of silver fish – Clearly, this is where they like to hang out.

Snorkel Martinique at Anse Noire. The best Caribbean snorkeling for trumpetfish, reef squid, turtles, french angelfish, parrotfish, butterfly fish & more


We then left the pier, walking to the right (facing the beach) so I could check out the south side of the bay. Wading into the water from the beach, there were some small waves as well as a bit of a current, but I wasn’t the only one to notice. I watched a skinny-legged starfish tumbling over and over on the sea floor before finally finding a resting place. I was once again greeted by a school of small fish, probably herring or juvenile goatfish. The combination of the current, the waves, and the mixed sun and cloud made for a fascinating dimple-patterned appearance on the sea floor.

Snorkel Martinique at Anse Noire. The best Caribbean snorkeling for trumpetfish, reef squid, turtles, french angelfish, parrotfish, butterfly fish & more

Eventually, it was smooth snorkeling with plenty of good stuff to see along the rocky coastline. The deeper I got, the more interesting the underwater world became. The black cliff walls gave way to a rocky sea floor which in deeper water became littered with much larger rocks and boulders – where life was abundant. The boulders were covered in algae, vegetation as well as corals, and were clearly home to a wide variety of fish. I saw several different types of grunts, perhaps some yellowtail snapper along with plenty of sergeant majors.

Another plentiful fish I noticed was a grey/brown/reddish coloured fish with a split tail that had a black dot low on its side near its head – I believe they are brown chromis, which I am not sure I have ever seen (or noticed) before. Pretty cool. Of course, I never get tired of watching trumpetfish and green parrotfish, but I enjoyed a new experience when I encountered about a dozen baby squid all swimming together (away from me).


Looking for turtles, I swam the short distance from the southern coastline of the bay back to the pier. I scoured the sandy bottom, looking closely around all the patches of seagrass, but to no avail. Regardless, my fingertips were sufficiently shriveled, so I climbed back up onto the pier to dry, and we called it a day.

What a great day of snorkeling it was!

Grande Anses d’Arlet

Snorkel Martinique at Grand Anse D'Arlet. The best Caribbean snorkeling for colourful tropical fish & more
Snorkel Martinique at Grand Anse D'Arlet. The best Caribbean snorkeling for colourful tropical fish & more


Although I had had enough snorkeling for one day, we also visited the beautiful Grande Anses d’Arlet for lunch, before heading back to Sainte-Anne. One of the most popular and best places to snorkel in Martinique this beautiful white sand beach offers a couple of great snorkel spots. A rocky reef can be found close to the beach just north of the pier – A great spot for beginners to safely snorkel. Apparently, there are plenty of colourful fish and lobsters in this area, along with the occasional turtle and ray a little further out in deeper water. The other good spot is at the north end of the beach along the rocky coastline where corals, sponges, fish, and eels can be spotted.


For more information on snorkeling in Martinique, click on our Martinique Snorkeling page

For an overview of the beautiful Island of Flowers, take a look at our Martinique Vacations page.

For more information on snorkeling the Caribbean Islands, check out our Caribbean Snorkeling page.

Snorkel Martinique at Pointe Borgnese, Anse Dufour & Anse Noire. The best Caribbean snorkeling for trumpetfish, reef squid, turtles, french angelfish, parrotfish, butterfly fish & more

ACT Staff

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A Taste of Nature in Antigua

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Things to do in Antigua include kayaking, snorkeling and hiking with Antigua Nature Tours

Things to do in Antigua: Mangrove Kayaking, Reef Snorkeling and a Little Island Hike


When vacationing in the Caribbean, it’s great to get off the resort and really explore the island you’re visiting. We enjoy nature, so when we were looking for things to do in Antigua, we knew we just had to kayak the island’s rich mangroves and snorkel over one of their many reefs to see the natural treasures beneath the waves. We chose Antigua Nature Tours to show us around.

Having spent some time with the Stingrays in the morning, we had an hour or so to chill-out before the much anticipated Antigua Nature Tours’ Kayak – Snorkel – Beach – Hike Excursion was to get underway. Luckily for us, the Stingray City land based facility is a nice place to hang out. We checked out the colourful parrots, then sat down for a snack while watching the chickens running around wild at our feet.

Our nature adventure started with a motorboat ride out to Antigua Nature Tours’ floating kayak dock in the heart of Antigua’s mangroves located in the North Sound Marina Reserve. This protected area is located offshore of a north east section of the island, just south-east of the airport. As soon as the motorboat was tied to the dock, we climbed aboard our kayaks. We paddled around a bit in the lagoon, getting comfortable with our new mode of transportation. We left the protection of the mainland’s mangrove clusters and kayaked across a small channel that separates Guiana island from Antigua’s main land mass. There was a slight wind and a bit of a current, but it was fairly easy paddling across to reach the more protected west side of Guiana island.

Things to do in Antigua include kayaking, snorkeling and hiking with Antigua Nature Tours

We were part of a nice small group, maybe five double kayaks in all. While our guide was helping some of the inexperienced folks get going, the rest of us kayaked around in the amazing clear blue waters that Antigua is famous for. Unlike Antigua’s mainland, Guiana Island has no white sand beaches, instead the shoreline is a deep hedge of mangroves. Once our guide re-took the lead, we hugged the shoreline of the island, staring into the water and the thick network of mangrove roots looking for signs of activity.

Things to do in Antigua include kayaking, snorkeling and hiking with Antigua Nature Tours

Our guide knows exactly where the marine life hangs out, and as we kayaked along the shoreline, he took us into real shallow water where he literally just reached down into the sea-grass and sand to scoop something up to show us. First he gave us a couple of different varieties of sea cucumber, then he pulled up some more familiar marine invertebrate, a jellyfish, followed by a gorgeous starfish. The sea cucumbers were foreign to us – The first one looked like a giant slug (or brown cucumber), real soft and squishy, while the second one looked more protected under it’s thick hard black skin. The starfish was bright orange with yellow features – Just like something you would see on TV watching a nature show. While he explained the “ins-and-outs” (literally) of the marine animal’s eating and digestion routines, our guide ensured that the starfish was constantly kept in water so as to not harm him, or her.

Things to do in Antigua include kayaking, snorkeling and hiking with Antigua Nature Tours
Things to do in Antigua include kayaking, snorkeling and hiking with Antigua Nature Tours



We also saw a few species of fish, who our guide explained raise their young in the protection of the mangrove roots, away from larger predators who can’t penetrate the dense tangled roots of the aquatic trees.


Eventually we made our way back to the kayak base – We probably paddled around for about a mile (>km) or so in total. It was fun to kayak through a narrow ‘natural archway’ in the mangrove clusters near the mainland. Being one of the best things to do in Antigua, I could have spent more time exploring the mangrove inlets in the comfort of these calm waters… however there was more to see and do – We were soon off for the next portion of the excursion.




After a water break, we re-loaded the motor boat and off we went. Our next adventure with Antigua Nature Tours was to snorkel over a reef amidst some of the off-shore islands. First we motored past a number of islands, including Rabbit Island which is a breeding ground for the majestic, prehistoric looking pelicans seen all along the shorelines of Antigua.

Things to do in Antigua include kayaking, snorkeling and hiking with Antigua Nature Tours

Apparently these Antiguan motor boats only have two speeds – Stop and full throttle :). Seriously, not living near water myself, it was fun motoring around and it was great to get a different perspective of Antigua – Observing the island from the sea, we could better appreciate the landscape features. Oh yah, it helps when you’re cruising over such clear, multi-shaded blue water – We couldn’t get over just how beautiful the water is here! One attraction we saw from a distance is a little island, known as Hell’s Gate, which is not much more than an interesting round coral archway protruding from the sea.

Eventually we stopped just offshore of Great Bird Island. We were south of the island and somewhat exposed to the Atlantic Ocean currents. As the water was a little rough, our guide advised us to swim east against the current, then drift back to the boat – This worked out quite nicely. Sticking my face under the waves to see below is always exciting, and I was not disappointed.

Things to do in Antigua include kayaking, snorkeling and hiking with Antigua Nature Tours



Things to do in Antigua include kayaking, snorkeling and hiking with Antigua Nature Tours


The place was brimming with sea-life including tons of elkhorn, brain and lettuce-like coral as well as sea fans and tropical fish. It was fascinating to watch the fish navigating the currents in order to munch the algae clinging to the coral. Some small fish were successfully hovering in the nooks and crannies of the coral, making it difficult to see them.

Things to do in Antigua include kayaking, snorkeling and hiking with Antigua Nature Tours

While there were no large schools of fish, there was plenty to see. I was fascinated in particular by these little blue fish with a single dark blue lined white stripe. They seemed to be swimming with the more numerous Sargent-Major fish – Not sure if they were friends, or what their relationship is. As a temporary visitor to this underwater world, I’m always surprised and amazed at nature’s beauty and biodiversity. The world’s oceans are such a huge part of the planet, however it’s landscapes and marine life is so foreign to most of us. While I’m not that comfortable in the water, I was glad to have snorkeled – It is one of the best things to do in Antigua!

Things to do in Antigua include kayaking, snorkeling and hiking with Antigua Nature Tours
Things to do in Antigua include kayaking, snorkeling and hiking with Antigua Nature Tours


Once back on the boat, we motored a couple hundred yards to Great Bird Island to enjoy the un-populated ‘south beach’. By un-populated, I mean there was no-one there except us. Part of the group took a short stroll to the top of little off-shore island.

We were rewarded with spectacular views of the multi-hued blue waters shining between us and Antigua’s east coast. We peered over the dramatic cliff-sides on the east coast of the island to see a blowhole in action. What was really cool was this natural vertical shaft cut through the island’s rock, which allowed us to glimpse sea water splashing dozens of feet below us.

Things to do in Antigua include kayaking, snorkeling and hiking with Antigua Nature Tours
Things to do in Antigua include kayaking, snorkeling and hiking with Antigua Nature Tours










Mesmerized by the stunning blue waters surrounding the island, I wasn’t paying much attention to the flora and fauna on the island itself – Apparently Great Bird Island is an important conservation site, especially for rare plants and nesting birds. After enjoying some rum-punch on the beach, we were back on board and motoring to Stingray City’s land based facility where we dropped off the other folks in our party.

For the final stage of our nature adventure, our motorboat cruised down the coast back to our hotel. Once again, it’s always a great experience to view the island from sea – We could never tire of motoring over the multiple shades of blue that is Antigua’s waters. We had a great afternoon with Antigua Nature Tours and would recommend others visiting the island to enjoy the experience as well.

ACT Staff

For more information about Antigua Nature Tours, including material to help plan your own Antiguan adventure, you can contact the good folks by visiting their website (just click on the link) below:

Want to see more of Antigua’s underwater world? Check out our Snorkeling Antigua’s Great Bird Island video on YouTube!

For an overview of the “land of sun and sea”, take a look at our Antigua & Barbuda Vacations page

If you’re looking for more active things to do in Antigua, click on our Antigua Adventures blog for more great ideas!

For great Tourist Attractions on the island, check out our Things to Do in Antigua and Barbuda blog

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A Delightful Sail & Snorkel Excursion in St. Kitts

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Sail & Snorkel Excursion in St. Kitts & Nevis with Leeward Islands Charters. Wicked fast catamaran cruise to Shitten Bay to see pufferfish, sargent major, jacks, wrasse, trumpetfish, snake eel and more

A wicked fast catamaran and a beautiful bay full of life


Whenever we visit the Caribbean we try to get out for a day at sea.  Not only do we not sail and snorkel when at home, but there’s just something liberating about cruising alongside a lush tropical island surrounded by so much blue – from the water and sky. Sailing provides a rare “big picture” perspective of the island you’re visiting and snorkeling allows access to a world so refreshingly different than what we’re used to on land.

While vacationing in Saint Kitts, we arranged to do a half-day sail and snorkel excursion with Leeward Islands Charters, and we’re glad we did.  When we arrived at Basseterre’s Port Zante Marina the morning of the tour, it was a little overcast and the wind was blowing – A great day for sailing. A representative from Leeward Islands Charters helped us get through port security before leading us to the boat we would be venturing out on. Ooooh, what a beauty!  The “Spirit of St. Kitts” as she’s called, is a large 78-foot catamaran with a sleek low profile – She looks fast just sitting in port.

Sail & Snorkel Excursion in St. Kitts & Nevis with Leeward Islands Charters. Wicked fast catamaran Spirit of St. Kitts

The friendly crew welcomed us on board, along with 2 other couples and a family of 5, for what would amount to a near-private sailing excursion on this spacious sea-faring vessel! With the 5 crew members in place and all the guests settled in the catamaran’s cockpit, we untied from the dock and were on our way. To the rhythmic and soothing sounds of reggae music, we left the port and headed south hugging the beautiful coastline of St. Kitts. The wind was fairly strong and the water was a bit choppy, although you wouldn’t know it because the ship remained steady and level.

Sail & Snorkel Excursion in St. Kitts & Nevis with Leeward Islands Charters. Wicked fast catamaran cruise


We ventured to the front of the cat, taking a comfortable position on the trampoline/netting to take in the scenery. The mountainous interior of northern St. Kitts initially dominated the view and as we sailed, it became clear that there are very few low-lying areas of coastline with beaches along the western side of the island. Not to be outdone, the southeast peninsula offered equally picturesque views. We passed the beach at Frigate Bay with the famous “strip” of beach bars/restaurants as well as Timothy Hill, probably the best place on the island for spectacular southern views of rolling hills with Nevis as a spectacular backdrop.  We then sailed by the other beaches on the Caribbean side of St. Kitts along South Friar’s Bay.

Sail & Snorkel Excursion in St. Kitts & Nevis with Leeward Islands Charters. Wicked fast catamaran cruise to Shitten Bay


We passed some mega-yachts anchored at Christophe Harbour before we slowed and reached our snorkeling destination called Shitten Bay.  What a crappy name (pun intended) for such a gorgeous location.  With 30 plus foot cliffs lining the coast, it’s easy to see why this snorkeling spot is only accessible by boat. Considered the best place to snorkel in St. Kitts, the protected bay is sheltered from wind and waves, allowing the water to be calm and clear – perfect for seeing what’s down there!

Fortunately for us, there was only one other sailboat there when we arrived, and its passengers were almost finished their snorkeling adventure. I was surprised to see how close to shore we ventured before we tied up to a buoy.  The view of the water was like something out of a Caribbean magazine.  You know, that inviting turquoise colour that you just don’t see at home. Peering over the side of the boat I could see the ocean floor about 15 feet down, covered with seagrass along with a row of rocks/boulders in shallower water closer to shore.  Oh, this is going to be awesome.  Not able to contain my excitement (or wait for the kids to get off the ladder), I grabbed some fins, donned my mask and jumped over the side. As St. Kitts & Nevis is not well known for its underwater world I wasn’t expecting too much, however, I was pleasantly surprised!

Sail & Snorkel Excursion in St. Kitts & Nevis with Leeward Islands Charters. Wicked fast catamaran cruise to Shitten Bay to see sargent major, jacks, and more

I was immediately greeted by a school of black & yellow striped sergeant majors along with a handful of large silver fish with a yellow strip down their backs that I believe were yellow jacks.  I slowly floated closer to shore leaving the seagrass heading for the boulders. That was a good move, as it quickly became apparent that this is where the sea life hangs out.  I was amazed to see such a wide variety of fish swimming among the rocks. I saw little silver fish, medium-sized brown fish, butterflyfish with their distinctive black dot near its tail fin and a mixture of awesome-looking blue fish that may have been chubbs, chromas and/or tang. I was mesmerized by a small black fish with fluorescent blue dots that appeared to be glowing – Incredible! I also saw some fun-looking bluehead wrasse as well as a number of unique yellow trumpetfish that I thought were cool.

Sail & Snorkel Excursion in St. Kitts & Nevis with Leeward Islands Charters. Wicked fast catamaran cruise to Shitten Bay to see trumpetfish

I floated over the rocks slowing heading north where I eventually encountered a coral structure jutting out from the shore into deeper water. One of the many highlights for me was seeing a fascinating ribbon-like eel.  It was whitish with bi-coloured dots along its body. I couldn’t study it for long as it quickly left one hiding spot only to disappear again between two rocks. Perhaps it was a snake eel or a juvenile spotted moray. All I know was that was neat to see! I also saw a beautiful but deadly (and out-of-place) lionfish. I must have seen close to two dozen different species of fish in all. After a while, I started to pay more attention to everything in my new underwater world. I soon realized that there were several species of corals and other sea life down there as well. I saw fire coral, brain coral, a few different stick-like corals, as well as some vertical tubes, plenty of large purple fans as well as a variety of other plants I don’t know by name. 

Swimming back towards the boat I got pretty excited when I saw a decent sized puffer fish swimming along the grassy ocean floor.  I followed above it for a while, although I could tell I was making it nervous as it sped off to the safety of the rocks. Wow, that was special – Another great encounter

Sail & Snorkel Excursion in St. Kitts & Nevis with Leeward Islands Charters. Wicked fast catamaran cruise to Shitten Bay to see pufferfish
Sail & Snorkel Excursion in St. Kitts & Nevis with Leeward Islands Charters. Wicked fast catamaran cruise to Shitten Bay to see pufferfish, sargent major, jacks, wrasse, trumpetfish, snake eel and more


When my time was up, I reluctantly got back on board the catamaran, being met by a crewmember who hosed me down with fresh water. Likely to protect the boat from saltwater, I enjoyed it nonetheless, and I got to rinse off my snorkel mask in the process. Once we were all back on board, we had a light (pre-packed) lunch, and then the drinks started to flow.  We sampled some of their grate rum punch – No that’s not a spelling mistake, I’m referring to the fresh nutmeg that was shaved on top 😉.  OK fine, and we more than just sampled the tasty Caribbean beverages – we may have had a few.

The crew carefully motored out of the bay, then 3 if not 4 of the guys were needed to set the mainsail along with the jib.  Just like that, we were off, sailing toward Nevis at a nice brisk pace.

That said, once we hit the gap between the sister islands, we were really in for a treat. Now, with nothing blocking the wind, the cat shifted into high gear and we flew across the ocean at an exhilarating speed! While the water was quite choppy and the occasional crest sprayed over the front of the hull, the Spirit of St. Kitts remained flat and steady – Although I did need to grab something for balance, as I didn’t want to spill my drink. Sitting on the edge of the trampoline, I was captivated by the water rushing beneath the netting. For northerners (like me), it’s sort of like staring at a campfire…


What a marvelous experience – That may have been the fastest I’ve ever travelled under wind power.  I would say that I loved the feeling of the wind blowing through my hair, except one key element is missing for that to have happened – and it wasn’t for lack of wind!  Anyways, all good things must come to an end…  One of the crew asked me to sit down (to avoid getting hit in the head by the boom), as we were about to tack. The catamaran slowed and almost heaved to a stop as we bobbed and turned, then headed back up the coast towards Basseterre with more fantastic views of the island of Saint Kitts.

I can’t imagine a more enjoyable 4 hours in the Caribbean, although I don’t know what I loved more, the surprisingly good snorkeling or the fantastic sail. Thanks to the friendly and professional crew and the awesome boat from Leeward Islands Charters, we got both!


For more information about Leeward Islands Charters, including what they offer for you to experience your own St. Kitts and Nevis adventure, visit their website or facebook page (just click on a link below):

Sail & Snorkel Excursion in St. Kitts & Nevis with Leeward Islands Charters. Wicked fast catamaran cruise to Shitten Bay to see pufferfish, sargent major, jacks, wrasse, trumpetfish, snake eel and more


For more material on sailing in the Caribbean, go to our Caribbean Sailing page.

For an overview of the beautiful Sister Islands, take a look at our St. Kitts & Nevis Vacations page.

For some great Tourist Attractions on the islands, check out our Things to Do in St. Kitts & Nevis blog post.

For more underwater action, maybe you’ll enjoy our St. Kitts & Nevis Snorkeling blog.

If you’re looking for more exciting things to do while vacationing on the islands, click on our St. Kitts & Nevis Adventures blog post for some great ideas!

ACT Staff

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Snorkel Bonaire – Discover a Wondrous Underwater World

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Bonaire Snorkeling is one of the Caribbean's best and top of the list of things to do in Bonaire.

Bonaire Snorkeling – See the Amazing Life that Lives Below the Waves…

Bonaire is a small island in the southern Caribbean’s Lesser Antilles, a mere 25 miles (80km) north of the Venezuelan coast. The island is a special municipality of the Netherlands. Safe from hurricanes, Bonaire has a truly amazing climate, relatively warm and dry for most of the year. Famous for it’s pink flamingos and renowned coral reefs, the island is a dream-come-true for adventurers looking for snorkeling, scuba diving and water sports.

Bonaire Snorkeling is one of the Caribbean's best and top of the list of things to do in Bonaire.

With it’s healthy coral reefs and rich marine life, Bonaire is one of the top 3 islands in the Caribbean for snorkeling! Bonaire and Klein Bonaire, a small island less than 1/2 mile (1km) from the main island’s western coast, are encircled by coral reefs providing an amazing biodiversity of oceanic life including colourful fish, coral, sponge and more. Bonaire snorkeling can be enjoyed right off the beach at a number of spots on Bonaire’s western shores and of course there are also several boat operators who can take you to plenty of other locations in Bonaire’s Marine Park and elsewhere around the island.

Slip into the warm Caribbean sea and visit shallow corals on the edge of steep underwater cliffs – Visibility is great as you can clearly see through more than fifty feet (15m) of Bonaire’s clear blue sea. There are plenty of unique and stunning underwater wonders to explore – An underwater world below the waves awaits you. Bonaire snorkeling is an adventure that you just can’t experience on land… If you know where to go – Here’s a few of our favourite spots:

Bonaire’s Best Snorkeling Sites off Klein Bonaire

Klein Bonaire Snorkeling is one of the Caribbean's best and top of the list of things to do in Bonaire.

There’s over a dozen Bonaire snorkeling sites off the shores of Klein Bonaire – Here’s a few samples:

  • Leonora’s Reef offers views of a large variety of corals and sponges / plumes, along with seahorses, fire worms and snails along with fish including groupers, damselfish, butterfly-fish, angelfish, snappers and trunk-fish. Great for beginners!
  • Carl’s Hill is beach accessible and with views starting in about 20 feet of water, it’s a great place to see a wide variety of marine life such as sponges, gorgonians and coral along with fish, including barracudas, bar jacks and schools of blue tang
  • Jerry’s Reef is a deep site that offers views of a large variety of sponges as well as corals, anemones and plumes along with turtles, rays and reef sharks as well as fish including parrotfish and puffers. A great location for beginners and underwater photography.
  • Munk’s Haven is a cool underwater plateau that starts around 30 feet deep and offers views of a large variety of corals and sponges, along with shrimp, turtles and fish including groupers, wrasse and many more
  • Sharon’s Serenity’s views start about 20 feet deep and provides experienced swimmers views of seaplumes, a large variety of coral along with hawksbill and green turtles along with fish including groupers, damselfish, doctorfish, parrotfish and barracuda.  A great location for underwater photography
Klein Bonaire Snorkeling is one of the Caribbean's best and top of the list of things to do in Bonaire.

My first experience snorkeling just off-shore from Klein Bonaire absolutely blew my mind! I have snorkeled in the Caribbean before, however I hadn’t seen anything like this before. After a short boat ride over to the south side of the Klein Bonaire, I stepped off the boat and stuck my face in the calm warm water and literally yelled through my snorkel – Holy S###… We were over a reef so full of life I didn’t know where to look first. Once I settled down, I saw a variety of coral along with colourful tubes and plumes, as well as amazing fish species that I had never seen before. The sand and coral bottom just disappeared over an underwater cliff, and as I was peering into the abyss, a green turtle swam out of the deep towards us. At the second spot we snorkeled at, near the east end of the island, the current was quite a bit stronger. We just drifted with a large school of fish – very invigorating!

For more information on snorkeling Klein Bonaire, including boat operators to get you over there, check out our Klein Bonaire Snorkeling page

Bonaire’s Best Snorkeling Sites North of Kralendijk

Bonaire Snorkeling is one of the Caribbean's best and top of the list of things to do in Bonaire's Washington-Slagbaai National Park


There are 4 designated places to experience Bonaire snorkeling off the islands’ north-west shores from within Washington-Slagbaai National Park. Bise Morto and Boka Slagbaai are both accessed from nearby beaches and offer the prospect of spotting rays, eels, as well as whales and the occasional shark.

There’s over a dozen Bonaire snorkeling spots on the west coast, south of the Park and north of Bonaire’s capital, Kralendijk. Here’s a few, just to whet your appetite for taking a look ‘below the surface’.

  • 1000 Steps is beach accessible and relatively shallow, offering views of turtles and rays along with a wide variety of fish including parrotfish, angelfish and doctorfish. Further offshore you can see a variety of corals and sponges along with durgeons, filefish and large night sergeants and angelfish
  • Kalli’s Reef starts around 30 feet deep and offers views of a variety of marine life including turtles and seahorse
  • Andrea / Pali Coco is fairly shallow and offers views of corals / anamones as well as seahorses and parrotfish. Great for beginners!
  • La Marchaca / Habitat is shore accessible! Snorkeling starts at 20 feet and features a ship-wreck in 50 feet of water
  • Front Porch / Eden Beach is accessible right off the beach! The fun starts in as little as 15 feet of water with views of a large variety of fish as well as a sunken upside tugboat further offshore. Great for beginners!
  • Something Special / Kralendijk Marina has a sandy bottom and is shore accessible! This is a great drift snorkel that starts around 20 feet deep and offers close to a hundred varieties of fish. Great for beginners!

For more information on snorkeling Bonaire’s western shores north of Kralendijk, including tour / boat operators to get you outfitted, click on our Bonaire Snorkeling – North of Kralendijk page

The Best Bonaire Snorkeling Sites South of Kralendijk

There’s a handful of places to snorkel Bonaire’s West Coast, just south of Kralendijk. Eighteen Palms is accessible right off the beach and at 30 feet deep the views often include sting-rays and eagle-rays. A little further south at North Belnem, you should be able to swim with schools of blue tang – Great fun for beginners!

Bonaire Snorkeling is one of the Caribbean's best and top of the list of things to do in Bonaire.

Another half dozen snorkeling spots are just south of the Slave Huts, almost all of them beach accessible. Here’s a small taste…

  • Tori’s Reef is shore accessible! Snorkeling starts around 20 feet deep and offers views of coral, a large variety of fish as well as eels
  • Pink Beach is relatively shallow and is also beach accessible! Experienced swimmers can view rays as well as bone-fish
  • Margate Bay is beach accessible and has a limestone and sand bottom. Snorkeling starts around 25 feet deep and offers views of a variety of corals as well as turtles and rays along with fish including snapper (black margate), doctorfish, parrotfish, angelfish, trumpet-fish, grunt, butterfly-fish and barracuda
  • Sweet Dreams is a fairly remote and quiet spot offering experienced swimmers views of corals, sea fans and anemones as well as turtles and rays along with fish including doctorfish, parrotfish, sergeant majors and barracuda

There’s also a couple of spots for strong swimmers to snorkel on the island’s west coast in the Mangroves of Lac Bay. The reward for venturing in these rougher waters include seeing great coral as well as some large fish.

For more information on snorkeling Bonaire’s western shores south of Kralendijk, including boat / tour operators to get you out there, click on our Bonaire Snorkeling – South of Kralendijk page

For those of you who want to go deeper and stay under water longer, but don’t have scuba diving experience, Snooba (Air Hose Snorkeling) is also available on the island. For more information regarding Tours and Boat Operators to help you snorkel and snooba, check out our Bonaire Snorkeling page

Get out there and have some fun!

Bonaire Snorkeling is one of the Caribbean's best and top of the list of things to do in Bonaire.

ACT Staff

If you’re planning a visit to the island and you’re looking for other exciting activities to experience both on land and in/on the water, take a look at our Bonaire Adventures page

If you’re looking to explore the island at a more relaxing pace, check out our recommended Bonaire Attractions

For an overview of the beautiful island of Bonaire, click on our Bonaire Vacations page