St. John Snorkel Tour from St. Thomas: New Horizons & Breakaway Review
For visitors staying in St. Thomas who want to experience St. John's protected national park reefs without catching a ferry and renting a car, the New Horizons & Breakaway snorkel tour is the most popular option for snorkeling in St. John USVI from St. Thomas — and with 2,018 reviews and a 4.9-star average, it earns that reputation. This full-day tour picks up at Margaritaville or Sapphire Beach, takes you to three distinct snorkel sites in and around the Virgin Islands National Park, and brings you back with a continental breakfast, open bar, and picnic lunch included. Here is everything you need to know before you book.
Tour at a Glance
Why This St. John Snorkel Tour from St. Thomas Works
The most common complaint about St. John from cruise ship passengers and St. Thomas hotel guests is logistics: the ferry takes 20 minutes from Red Hook, then you need a taxi or rental car to reach the national park beaches, and you have to time the return ferry.
The New Horizons and Breakaway tour removes every one of those friction points. You board a large powerboat at Margaritaville or Sapphire Beach on the east end of St. Thomas at 8:30 am, and the boat handles everything from there — navigation, snorkel stops, food, and returning you to the same dock.
The tour runs three snorkel stops in St. John's protected waters. The captain selects sites based on daily conditions — Maho Bay, Honeymoon Bay, Cinnamon Bay, Leinster Bay, and Waterlemon Cay are all potential stops, with the USVI St.
John National Park as the anchor site. Sea turtle sightings are reported in the majority of reviews. Stingray, eagle ray, nurse shark, barracuda, and dense schools of reef fish are all commonly spotted across the three stops.
- 3 snorkel stops in USVI National Park and surrounding reefs
- Sea turtles, stingrays, eagle rays, nurse sharks reported across reviews
- Captain selects best sites based on daily sea conditions
- All snorkel gear provided and fitted on board
- Expert guides assist first-time snorkelers in the water
The boat departs St. Thomas and arrives at the first snorkel site roughly 45 minutes into the trip, during which a continental breakfast of fresh fruit, muffins, and coffee is served on deck. After the first stop, a full buffet lunch — shrimp, Caesar salad, deli sandwiches, fruit, and dessert — is served on the water before the afternoon snorkel stops.
The open bar runs throughout the day and includes local rum punch (the "Pain Killer" is the signature drink), beer, hard seltzer, and soft drinks.
What You Will See at the Three Snorkel Stops
Each of the three stops has a different character. The national park reef is typically the main event — a coral garden in 8–20 feet of water with healthy staghorn and brain coral, packed with yellowtail snapper, blue tang, sergeant majors, and trumpetfish. Sea turtles are most reliably spotted here, grazing the seagrass between the coral heads.
- Green and hawksbill sea turtles — sighted on the majority of tours
- Southern stingrays — common in sandy patches between reefs
- Spotted eagle rays — occasional, near deeper reef edges
- Nurse sharks — occasional, resting under coral overhangs
- Reef fish — hundreds of species including parrotfish, barracuda, angelfish
- Large starfish — common in seagrass zones
The guides stay in the water with guests and actively point out marine life — several reviewers note that the guides knew exactly where to look. At some stops the crew places a floating mat in the water for guests who prefer to observe from the surface without swimming. Life jackets and flotation belts are available for less confident swimmers.
What Is Included — and What Is Not
The $165 per person price covers essentially everything you need for a full day on the water.
| Included | Not included |
|---|---|
| Continental breakfast | Gratuities (tip the crew — they work hard) |
| Full buffet lunch | Towels (bring your own) |
| Open bar all day | Underwater camera or housing |
| All snorkel gear | Reef-safe sunscreen (bring your own) |
| Life jackets + flotation | Personal items |
| Coast Guard-certified boat | Transport to the marina pickup point |
Itinerary — How the Day Runs
The schedule below is approximate — the captain adjusts based on sea conditions and which sites are clearest on the day.
| Time | What happens |
|---|---|
| 7:45 am | Board at Sapphire Marina (if staying at Sapphire Resort) |
| 8:30 am | Board at Margaritaville (main meeting point) |
| 9:00 am | Depart St. Thomas — continental breakfast served on deck |
| ~9:45 am | First snorkel stop — USVI National Park reef (45–60 min) |
| ~11:00 am | Buffet lunch and open bar served on the water |
| ~12:00 pm | Second snorkel stop — bay or cay (45 min) |
| ~1:15 pm | Third snorkel stop — different reef character (45 min) |
| ~2:30 pm | Return cruise — open bar continues, music plays |
| ~3:00 pm | Arrive back at marina |
Important Things to Know Before You Book
A few practical points that will help the day go smoothly:
- Bring reef-safe mineral sunscreen — chemical sunscreen is banned in USVI National Park waters
- Bring a towel — towels are not provided on this tour
- Tip the crew — gratuity is not included in the price; $20–30 per person is typical
- Cruise ship passengers: provide ship name, docking time, and re-boarding time at booking
- Maximum 32 travelers — book in advance during peak season (Dec–March)
- Seasickness: the boat is large and stable but the open Caribbean can have chop; take medication if prone
What to bring
Reef-safe mineral sunscreen, a towel, a reusable water bottle, cash for tips, and a dry bag for your phone and valuables. Underwater housing for your phone makes the snorkel stops much more memorable.
- Reef-safe mineral sunscreen (required — bring your own)
- Towel (not provided)
- Cash for crew gratuity
- Dry bag for phone/camera
- Change of clothes or cover-up
Not allowed
Chemical sunscreen (oxybenzone/octinoxate) is banned in Virgin Islands National Park waters by USVI law. The captain may ask guests to rinse off chemical sunscreen before entering the water.
Meeting Point — Margaritaville St. Thomas
Who This Tour Is For — and Who Should Skip It
This tour works best for a specific type of traveler. If the description below sounds like you, it is worth the price.
- Cruise ship passengers docked in St. Thomas with a full day to spare
- Hotel guests on St. Thomas who want to snorkel St. John's national park reefs without logistics
- Families or mixed-ability groups — beginners are well-supported by the crew
- Anyone who wants food, drinks, and gear all included in one price
- First-time snorkelers who need in-water instruction
Not suitable for
Guests who are looking for an intimate or small-group experience — the boat holds up to 32 people, which some reviewers found crowded. Also not ideal for guests who are prone to seasickness on open water, or for those seeking advanced snorkeling at sites like Waterlemon Cay. Guests staying on St.
John itself should consider the kayak tour (tour-5), which departs from Cruz Bay and reaches protected national park coves by paddle.
- Travelers seeking a small-group or private experience (max 32 guests on this tour)
- Those with strong seasickness — open Caribbean water is involved
- Advanced snorkelers wanting Waterlemon Cay or deep offshore sites
- Guests already staying on St. John (the kayak tour is a better fit)
St. John Snorkel Tour from St. Thomas — FAQ
Where does the St. John snorkel tour from St. Thomas depart?
The main meeting point is Margaritaville St. Thomas, at the Water Sports Boutique by the blue building on the left side of the beach, at 8:30 am. Guests staying at Sapphire Resort can board directly at Sapphire Marina at 7:45 am. The tour returns to the same dock by approximately 3:00 pm.
Do I need to take the ferry to St. John separately?
No. The boat departs from St. Thomas and takes you directly to the snorkel sites in St. John's protected waters. You never set foot on St. John itself — the tour visits the offshore reefs and cays of the national park. No separate ferry ticket is needed.
Will I see sea turtles on this tour?
Sea turtle sightings are mentioned in the majority of reviews — the guides know the grazing areas and point guests toward the turtles. That said, wildlife is never guaranteed. The captain selects sites where turtles are most reliably seen based on conditions that day.
Is this tour suitable for children?
Yes, several reviews mention families with children having a great time. Life jackets and flotation devices are available. Children must be able to swim or be comfortable with snorkel gear. Very young children (under 5) may find the full 6-hour day tiring.
What food is served?
Continental breakfast (fresh fruit, muffins, pastries) is served on the way to the first snorkel site. After the first stop, a full buffet lunch includes shrimp, Caesar salad, deli sandwiches, fruit, and brownies. The open bar runs all day with rum punch, beer, hard seltzer, and soft drinks.
How far in advance should I book?
The boat holds a maximum of 32 guests and frequently sells out in peak season (December–March). On average, this tour is booked 26 days in advance. Book as soon as your travel dates are confirmed. Free cancellation applies up to 24 hours before departure.
What Travelers Say
Great time — 3 different snorkel stops, beautiful scenery, turtles, stingrays, and many varieties of fish. Crew was wonderful, helpful, friendly and fun. Would recommend for an all-day adventure on the water.
Best snorkel tour in the islands hands down and we have done many. Jake and the crew made the tour next level. Fresh fruit, muffins, shrimp Caesar salad — and the snorkeling was incredible. We saw fish, nurse sharks, turtles and so much more. Well worth every penny.
Such an excellent day. Captain Stewart, Aaron, and Nick were awesome — knowledgeable and helpful. They adapt to the conditions and always find the best spots. Turtles, rays, nurse sharks, huge starfish, and loads of colourful fish. I'm so glad we went with this tour.