Captain Mike and his crew, Simon, Sam and Chuck were fun but professional and made sure everyone was comfortable safe and well cared for! Great team! read more

Great time on the sunset cruise. Captain Curtis was great and Jackie, first mate kept it lively. Thanks read more

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Marjan and I visited St Croix over the July 4th holiday, and upon recommendation of friends, decided to join Big Beard for a snorkel adventure. The office is located on a side street in Christiansted, dead ending on the waterfront where their catamarans dock. Parking can be a challenge, as there is not a dedicated lot, and streets can be crowded and very narrow. Choices available include a full day trip to Buck Island for snorkeling, followed by lunch and beverages on a different beach. This trip is offered on a sailing catamaran. The other choice is for a half day trip, but offered on a powered catamaran. We chose the latter adventure. Guests are allowed to bring their own masks and swimming fins, but failing that, these equipments are provided at no extra charge. We were concerned with personal items: car keys, wallets, cameras etc, but were informed that the captain remains on the vessel while guests snorkel. The security of personal items WAS NOT an issue, all guests bringing a beach type of bag with personals, and any snacks, stored beneath the bench seats. There is a community cooler where beverages can be placed during the snorkel. (I, and other guests consumed beers we had purchased previously, on the trip to the Island.) Boarding the catamaran, the vessel may accomodate approximately 40 guests, with ample seating on benches, some preferring to sit in the front of the boat for better view. Marjan is prone to sea sickness, and the captain informed that the very rear of the vessel would be the best choice, but actually, she fared better in the very front of the boat. (She self medicated with dramamine an hour prior to boarding, and though seas were of some moderate waves, she had no issue!!) Arriving at Buck Island, we were all fitted with appropriate masks, snorkels and fins (all of excellent quality), and were allowed about half an hour to practice snorkeling. There are two mates on board, accomplished snorkelers who offered any instruction for those that might need such. I found this practice session very helpful, but not so Marjan as she is quite experienced. At the end of the practice, the captain drove the catamaran to the actual reef on another side of the island, and we were all fitted with mandatory inflatable life vests. The obvious reason was for safety, but importantly, one is not allowed to stand on the reef as touching the coral kills it. The area of anchor is quite specified, as the island and reef are national monuments and very protected by the government. Guests were divided into two groups, monitored by one of the mates, also in the water, each of these two having circular life preservers should any of the guests suffer distress while in the water. Marjan noticed that the captain remained on the vessel the entirety of the time, standing on the bow, also monitoring the snorkelers and continuing head counts. I found these safety measures very reassuring. There is also an underwater trail, marked by cement blocks that one can follow for additional exploration, but the seas were a bit rough with current, so we could not enter the trail. I had never snorkeled before, and the experience was exhilarating. The clarity of the water (the depth was about 15 feet or so) I had never seen. The coral itself seemed tannish in color: we surmised that Beryl had caused fine sand dusting over the coral. Marjan told that her previous adventures in other islands featured vibrantly colored coral. Non the less, the fish life was impressive, with single and shoals of finned creatures swimming beneath, indifferent to our presence, pecking the sand and surface of the coral. Their coloring was of remarkable beauty, some of the colors changing as the fish turned, with sun rays reflecting off their bodies. Remarkable. I even spied a passing sting ray, also indifferent to our presence. I saw not a single predator fish, the whole community of fishes living in harmony. (To my very great relief, I saw not a single shark....I have a terrific fear of that creature.) The allotted time expired, we reboarded the catamaran, and we were treated to vodka punch, or plain punch, on our return to the dock. We found the entirety of the experience just perfect. The captain and crew were very experienced, very first rate, all with excellent people skills, all of very good cheer. Their concern for a safe adventure was doubling reassuring. Would we recommend Big Beard Adventures? Definitely!! Enjoy!! read more

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We did a half day snorkel trip to Buck Island. It was magical! Big shout out to Captain Curtis and his crew, Jackie, Peter , and Tristan. They were knowledgeable, friendly, and at all times made us feel safe and welcome. The snorkeling was amazing! The coral, the fish, the beautiful water, and I could go on and on about the wonderful things we saw and experienced. I almost wish we would have done a full day. I would definitely recommend them to anyone. If you ever make it to St. Croix definitely do some kind of boat trip. And the punch on the ride back was delicious. read more

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Love the bbq at end of whole day trip. Good service. Spacious boats and they work with you on everything. Recommend

This is a absolutely must if you are coming to st.Croix! We did a half day and saw what my wife and I both agreed was the most amazing beach (turtle beach) we have ever seen (we live in florida and have been to countless beaches). The crew was very friendly and attentive, captain Greg was great! read more

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My Family and I did the half day and that was more than enough time to get a days worth of adventure done. we loved Captain Mike and Chuck were amazing!!! so attentive to the snorkelers and their needs whether you're 5 or 50! mDe everyone feel extremely comfortable. If you're visiting St. Croix I highly recommend checking this place out. read more

A must when you're on the island. Been on many snorkel tours and this is the best by a million times. The crew was amazing, tentative and enjoyed what they do. Will be back. If on the island do this tour! read more

Big Beard's Adventure Tours - Boating Near Me - St Croix, Virgin Islands

Our snorkeling experience with Big Beard's to Buck Island was far and away the most amazing snorkeling our family has ever experienced and easily one of the most beautiful beaches as well! The crew was professional, friendly and fun! The beachside lunch was over-the-top delicious and a great time to get to know the fellow guests and crew better. We will definitely be back asap! Thanks, Big Beard's! It was AWESOME! read more

Big Beards does not go out of their way to accommodate people coming from cruise ships do our morning tour was not crowded, unlike the other tour boats we saw that day. Captain Greg and First Mate Simon were competent, helpful and professional. read more

We had such an amazing time sailing out to Buck Island with Captain Curtis and Zoey and Simon. Snorkeling, beach time and yummy cookout with some delicious fruit punch! We had a great time! read more

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We had the best full day trip! It's absolutely worth it to do the full day as you get multiple times to snorkel and the cookout on the beach with the fresh Mahi was the best I've ever had! Amazing crew and team! read more

Big Beard's Adventure Tours - Boating Near Me - St Croix, Virgin Islands

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Best snorkeling trip in St Croix!!!! The crew, Severance Jackie Dave and Cayman were awesome. Our entire family enjoyed the half day trip. Thanks read more

The crew was fantastic! Severin, Gabe, Sydney and the woman who's name I cannot remember were the dream team. Tour was timely and wonderfully accommodating. We did the half day tour which is 2 stops on Buck Island. Incredible views and delicious cocktails served in cute little Dixie cups. read more

Big Beard's Adventure Tours - Fish along the coral trail. - Boating Near Me - St Croix, Virgin Islands

Buck island was definitely on our to do list for my girlfriend's 50th birthday celebration. Big Beard's Adventure was exactly what we were looking for (half day trip) Jill was very helpful and accommodating setting up the reservation on short notice. Once we arrived at the marina, Captain Curtis and Jackie helped restore my girlfriend's previous negative experiences in the water. Jackie would not allow Jada to give up before having the opportunity to experience snorkeling for the first time. Both Captain Curtis and Jackie both really have a passion for being on the water and teaching everyone on board about Buck Island. I would highly recommend using Big Beard's Adventure for your next outing in St. Croix!! read more

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A few things to know. The boat will be very crowded with lots of people in the water at the same time. Also, the reef has had substantial damage by recent hurricanes and is not what you expect. The colors are lacking, the fish are few and far between and the amount of time in the water is about 45 minutes. The hardest part is the on and off of the boat--I have artificial knees and while snorkeling and swimming are no problem, the ladder on this boat is extremely difficult. No assistance or advice was offered, and getting back on board (twice) was not pleasant at all. I would look for much smaller outfits or even just some of the beaches have great snorkeling with easy walkouts. read more

Big thumbs up. If Big Beards looks like something you would enjoy, I say don't hesitate. Super professional and staff is extremely safety minded. Also super nice. read more

Fun time and good snorkeling. Only suggestion is having help with gear when getting out. read more

This tour came highly recommended on every "things to do" post/ website we came across and it's for good reason. I want to say first that this is a strenuous snorkel. They pull up to one side of Buck Island, where you can get a feel for their provided snorkel gear, and then they take you to the other side and anchor out about 100 yards in the ocean. It was pretty rough and if you aren't prepared for this there is the possibility of being disappointed (it's also possible that the ocean will be much calmer on the day that you go, of course). We did the full day tour and the Captain, Greg, and his 2 person crew were great. Greg was really funny and knowledgeable, I had a nice conversation with his crew mate, Svaughn (probably an absolute butchering of how he spells his name), and Brooke helped my wife when she had difficulty snorkeling. It's hard to communicate with a snorkel in your mouth but after she helped my wife, she checked back with me specifically several times via hand signals to make sure things were going ok. Wear a hat and put sunscreen on before and during the trip because it's a lot of sun if you aren't fortunate enough to get one of the roughly 10 shaded seats on the boat like we did. They did burgers/ hot dogs/ Mahi and chips for lunch. They also do a vodka punch after snorkeling but you can bring any beverage you want for the trip and use their coolers on board. Overall, it was a great way to spend the day. We had an awesome time and would recommend Big Beard to anyone read more

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Captain Curtis, Chuck, Amy and.... the other wonderful crew member who did the half day Buck Island trip on 3/28 were fantastic. My 14 year old son and I had an amazing time. as a hesitant snooker I appreciated Chuck's free lesson and tips, and I loved how relaxed and flexible things were. There were also some seniors on the trip, and I admired both their pluck in coming but also how much the crew tended to them and helped give them this awesome experience. read more

We did an all day snorkel tour and it was FANTASTIC Well run by fun and efficient staff. Great food Great snorkeling Great sailing Great photos Highly recommend!! read more

Big Beard's Adventure Tours - Boating Near Me - St Croix, Virgin Islands

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I can never say enough good things about our cruises with Big Beards. our family has been on at least 5 tours and the staff is always amazing! Captain Severin, Captain Curtis, Chuck and First Mate Jackie are the best! The boat is amazing and the sailing is so relaxing. The lunch cruise is delish! The food is so filling and makes you want to nap a little on the way back to the pier. 10/10 would always recommend. These guys are true professionals! read more

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What an amazing experience! We left for Buck Island on the full day tour on October 13th. We're still not sure what was more amazing; the weather, the island, the snorkeling, or the crew! We were on a full boat (did not feel crowded at all), our crew was Gabe, Brooke, Severin, and Dominic. This crew definitely made this trip special! All were super professional, approachable, friendly, and incredibly focused! I would recommend Big Beards to anyone going to St Croix!! Just make sure you take plenty of reef friendly sun screen! read more

Big Beard's Adventure Tours - Boating Near Me - St Croix, Virgin Islands

We took the full day catamaran tour to Buck Island! Excellent and entertaining Crew, beautiful sights and wonderful barbecue on the beach!

8/28/2024 Fantastic day trip snorkeling at Buck Island! The time snorkeling went by too quickly! Captain Curtis was very informative as to the marine life and coral to look for prior to going out into the water! His first mate, Simon, was a great water tour guide, plus he was also very informative and gave very detailed directions and hand signals for us to follow while in the water! The food and drinks were phenomenal! Both Captain Curtis and Simon should be treasured by Big Beard's Adventure Tours, because they are truly gems!! We wish we could do it again! read more

Had day tour review: I'm so glad we decided to take this half day tour. It was the best three hours. We met at big beards on the boardwalk. FYI parking can be a hassle. It's tree parking. We took the 9am tour, so parking was just a tad bit easier for us. We were loaded up (no shoes allowed on board) and were greeted warmly by staff. Our first stop was a spot on buck island where you can relax on the beach or practice your snorkeling. They will also teach those that need lessons. There's not much to see in that spot, but it is a nice introduction to the water. Second stop is where it is all at. They first take you in a guided tour of the reef and then give you about an hour of free time. We snorkeled the whole hour. I saw some very colorful fish. The best part for me was seeing a school of blue fish. Once back on board, the party started. They had all you can drink vodka punch (made with mutiny island vodka) ready for all. I must say, it was pretty strong, so be careful because the punch deceives you. The boat was roomy. The staff was excellent. They provide the snorkel gear, float vests and all the water you can drink. There's a bathroom on board. They do have a big ice chest. You can bring your own food and drinks on board too. You can book online. On the way back, they offered us half price bookings for the rest of our stay. I definitely recommend taking a tour with this company. read more

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We took a half day trip to Buck Island on April 6, 2025 with Big Beards. The crew was top notch. I was a bit hesitant as I am not a strong swimmer. I did ok during the "practice" time at the front of the island, but when we went to the reef, it was choppier than I felt comfortable in so I planned to remain on the boat while my hubby took the tour. The Captain encouraged me to try it, reminding me that I could hang on to the lifebuoy that one of the reef guides would have with her the entire time. Amy swam the buoy over to me and I went for it. Amy was so understanding and led me through the reef backwards and forwards and even led me to a couple of different spots to check out. This was indeed one of the most magical, best experiences I have ever had. Thank you for the nudge, Severin, and thank you for taking such good care of me, Amy! read more

Great crew, fun family experience to Buck Island! We had a fantastic experience on the 1/2 day snorkeling trip to Buck Island. The crew, Molly, Leah and Cornelius were amazing!! Our daughters (14 & 9) hadn't snorkeled before so the crew was incredibly helpful in teaching them how to use the equipment and getting them comfortable in the water. They were all so great with the kids and made it a lot of fun for us with their humor. And the fish were amazing to see! Really colorful. Leah towed the girls around using a ring so they felt more comfortable and explained what they were seeing along the way, so it was educational as well. I highly recommend them for families and anyone looking for an incredibly friendly, fun and entertaining day! read more

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We had an amazing time on the half-day trip to Buck Island. Everything went exactly as advertised, from on-time departure to snorkel instruction to vodka punch on the return. Capt. Tito, and crew members Emily and Dawn, were friendly, helpful, and always on the lookout for our safety and fun. The coral formations are other worldly. The water is teeming with a variety of fish. We even saw a school of squid! We 100% recommend this tour and team! read more

Greatest sail boat to buck island, crew was phenomenal. Chuck the deck hand was life of the party, my man Chuck hats off sir see you soon. Captain severan was top notch excellent captain very informative and handled that sail boat with FINESSE. Awesome crew ready to go back. We love big beards only place to sail. We encountered sea turtles, barracuda, blue tang and lots of other fish. Lunch was great even got some hermit crab races going. See y'all next time! Thanks a lot from the man with the big beard!! read more

We had a great trip out to Buck Island. Molly and Jackie were excellent and we were well cared for. Beach is stunningly beautiful and the snorkeling was good too. All in all, my family and I enjoyed our half day adventure greatly and recommend them highly. read more

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Our adventure on Renegade was perfect! Captain Greg and crew were knowledgeable and very personable. Many of them chatted with us on the ride over to Buck Island and gave us pointers on places to eat and things to do. As for the tour....it was just like we'd imagined it. The turquoise water and coral made it a snorkelers paradise. Our group of six had a blast and even got to witness a shark swimming under us, along with many colorful fish. The cookout on the beach was delicious after a morning of snorkeling. We would highly recommend Big Beard's Tours! read more

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Found this online while home looking for this to do once we were on the island. I'm not a boat person so this was for sure my speed (but slow driving on the boat) it was like cruise control. The crew(Micheal and Emily) was perfect and I will do again when I go back. Have cash for tips cause you make it back to the boardwalk and that's important! read more

Big Beard's Adventure Tours - Crew - Boating Near Me - St Croix, Virgin Islands

Great tour with a great crew and a fantastic meal from Captain Curtis, Leah, Simon and Joe! Buck island is beautiful with excellent snorkeling! read more

Great trip and a smooth ride. We saw lots of fish, some sharks and my favorite the barracuda! Crew was awesome and funny.

Had a great time and Captain Tito was amazing! Well worth the price and couldn't ask for a better overall experience! Will definitely be back! read more

Big Beard's Adventure Tours - Boating Near Me - St Croix, Virgin Islands

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Captain Severin & Charlie were a great time & so helpful the entire trip! Not only did they know a ton about Buck Island & Charlie was a pro at snorkeling, they made it fun & were very welcoming. When we come back with friends we will definitely do it again!! Buck Island and the reef were both beautiful & relaxing! read more

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Great excursion! Buck Island is a must see attraction. The beach was amazing, best snorkeling I've ever done!! We saw so many fish! The staff was great and super helpful! If I go again, I might skip the full day package as we just went back to St Croix for hot dogs and hamburgers. It was great but I probably wouldn't do it again. I'll stick to the half day. read more

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We had such an amazing time, it was our first time snorkeling. Our captain was Curtis and first mate was cayman both were so nice and very helpful explaining everything and making the experience even more amazing. I wish words and pictures could do justice for this place but there's not. The price was pretty decent given they take you to an island, provide snorkeling gear and take you out on a trail to see all the wonders of the ocean. read more

Big Beard's Adventure Tours - Buck island - Boating Near Me - St Croix, Virgin Islands

Super fun snorkeling trip. Finding them was really easy right on the boardwalk. The first snorkel site wasn't great, but it was really just to get accustomed to our equipment. The island was beautiful. The second snorkeling stop was amazing with an underwater snorkeling trail. The coral was amazing to see. They then bring you to the beach for a hotdog/hamburger/veggie burger/fish lunch. The rum punch was great, it was just really sweet, so we actually brought our own drinks that we can put into the cooler. All in all we had a blast and would definitely recommend this trip. read more