Buck Island National Monument, St. Croix

If you take one of the charter trips (and we highly recommend you do), you will probably meet one of the islands well-known Buck Island residents at Turtle Beach, Sammy the Stingray.  Sammy is quite friendly and seems to love people.  She greets everyone as they step off the boat, and will allow you to get close enough to feel her sandpapery skin.  Our guests consensus is this trip is awesome, an absolute MUST do.  In fact, we would even go so far as to say that it is one of the best reasons to visit St. Croix instead of another Caribbean island.

Snorkeling takes place on the other side of the island from Turtle Beach, among the beautiful staghorn coral gardens.  The Park Service maintains an underwater nature trail here and approved charters have friendly guides who will help even the most timid or young people to experience the wonders of the undersea life, including parrotfish, French angelfish and blue tangs.  The staghorn corals rise as much as 30 feet from the bottom, large brain corals and star coral are also abundant.  The arc of reef to the north and east creates a shallow lagoon between it and Buck Island, and lessens the wave action.  

Scuba diving Buck Island is allowed in only 2 designated areas.  These 30 to 40 foot shallow dives go through haystack formations of elkhorn coral.  Contact any of the St. Croix dive shops for information.

Private boating to Buck Island is allowed.  Please contact the National Park Service visitor center in Christiansted for information.   

There are also picnic areas and walking trails on Buck Island.  Picnic areas provide tables, charcoal grills and toilets (some shade available) at West Beach, there is a shelter at Diedrich's.

Thanks to the National Park Service, you can check out the virtual view.  Then come to St. Croix for your Caribbean vacation and enjoy the real thing.

Buck Island Licensed Tour Operators

340-773-1460   
email: BUIS_Superintendent@nps.gov
Danish Custom House, Kings Wharf
2100 Church Street #100
Christiansted, St. Croix, VI 00820-4611

National Park Service Approved Concessionaires

Big Beard's Adventure Tours - 773-4482. 
Half and full day trips.  Big Beard is an ordained minister and can perform weddings aboard ship.

Buck Island Charters - 773-3161. 
Sail with Captain Heinz aboard his 42 ft. trimaran Teroro II or with Capt. Carl aboard the smaller Dragonfly.  Half or full day tours.

Caribbean Sea Adventures - 773-2628
Full and half-day trips by motor or sail.
Glass bottom boats.

Jolly Roger - 513-2508
Half or full-day on this 42' Cat with Capt. Mike.