Best Boat Snorkeling Company In Barbados: Explore The Island's Waters

Barbados is a snorkelling paradise, with its crystal-clear waters, diverse marine life, and calm conditions. From the west coast to the south, there are plenty of beaches and companies offering snorkelling tours. So, which is the best boat snorkelling company in Barbados? Well, that's a matter of opinion, but here are some options to get you started in your search for the perfect snorkelling adventure.

Best snorkelling beaches in Barbados

Barbados is a great destination for snorkelling, with calm waters and an abundance of natural and man-made reefs that attract tropical fish, turtles, manta rays, stingrays, and more. Here are some of the best beaches for snorkelling on the island:

Carlisle Bay, St. Michael

The Carlisle Bay Marine Reserve is a snorkeller's paradise, with six shipwrecks located close together and popular turtle tours. The area also offers umbrellas, sun loungers, drinks, and food, making it a convenient spot for a full day of snorkelling and relaxation.

Batts Rock, St. Michael

Batts Rock offers excellent swimming conditions and good snorkelling opportunities at both ends of the beach. It's also equipped with plenty of shade, parking, and public facilities, making it a comfortable and accessible choice.

Folkestone Marine Park, St. James

This protected area offers very good snorkelling conditions due to restricted watercraft access. The restricted access makes it a safer option for snorkelling while still providing the chance to explore a diverse range of marine life.

Thunder Bay, Lower Carlton, St. James

Thunder Bay boasts a large area of beautiful reef, particularly at the southern end, which continues quite far offshore. This spot is ideal for those who want to explore a more extensive reef system and discover the variety of marine life that calls it home.

Sunset Crest, St. James

For those seeking a more secluded snorkelling experience, the busy west coast area of Sunset Crest offers the best snorkelling off the beach at the southern end of the Holetown boardwalk.

In addition to these spots, the west coast of Barbados is known for its calm waters and is ideal for snorkelling. The beaches in this area, such as Speightstown, offer a unique appeal and exciting snorkelling experiences.

Best snorkelling boat tours in Barbados

Barbados is a great place for snorkelling, with its warm turquoise waters, crystal clarity, and excellent visibility stretching from 40 to 70 feet year-round. The island boasts a diverse array of coral types, tropical fish, and friendly sea turtles. Here are some of the best snorkelling boat tours in Barbados:

Harbour Lights - Chair & Turtle & Shipwreck Snorkel Tour

This tour offers the perfect combination of relaxation and exploration. With a cocktail in hand, you can lounge on the beach and then explore the underwater world, including shipwrecks and turtles. This tour departs from Carlisle Bay and offers a full refund if cancelled up to 24 hours in advance.

Good Times Too Premium Catamaran Lunch Cruise

For a more intimate experience, this cruise limits its passenger count to 20 people. Setting sail from the west coast, you can enjoy a delicious lunch and explore the crystal-clear waters of Barbados. The crew is highly attentive and ensures a safe and enjoyable experience.

Barbados Catamaran Turtle Snorkel with Open Bar

This catamaran cruise takes you along the calm, crystal-clear waters of the Barbados coastline. With an open bar, you can sail and snorkel in style while spotting turtles and exploring the vibrant marine life that Barbados has to offer.

Barbados Shore Excursion: Carlisle Bay Turtle & Shipwreck

If you're short on time but still want to experience the best of Barbados snorkelling, this 1.5-hour cruise is a great option. Departing from Carlisle Bay, you'll get to see shipwrecks and swim with turtles. This tour is also refundable up to 24 hours in advance.

Folkestone Marine Park

Located in the moon-shaped Carlisle Bay, this marine park is part of the Bridgetown UNESCO World Heritage Site. With six shipwrecks to explore, including the Berwyn wreck, which is popular with snorkelers, you'll get to see a variety of marine life, including coral gardens, squirrelfish, and even lobsters. The nearby Folkestone Beach also offers an artificial reef created from the Stavronikita shipwreck, providing a clear-water snorkelling experience rich with marine life.

These boat snorkelling tours in Barbados offer a range of experiences, from relaxed sailing and swimming to up-close encounters with turtles and exploration of shipwrecks. Remember to take a brightly coloured buoy or float to ensure visibility while snorkelling, and always prioritise your safety when exploring the beautiful underwater world of Barbados.

Best spots to see turtles in Barbados

Barbados is a great place to see turtles in their natural habitat, with the opportunity to swim with them, too. The island is home to three species of sea turtles: the hawksbill turtle, the green turtle, and the leatherback turtle, the largest of the three. The hawksbill and leatherback turtles are critically endangered, and the green turtle is endangered.

The best spots to see turtles in Barbados are on the south and west coasts, offering the calmest snorkelling conditions. Here are some of the top places to see turtles:

Carlisle Bay Marine Park

Carlisle Bay is one of the most popular places for snorkelling in Barbados, with multiple shipwrecks that have created a thriving habitat for marine life. In addition to sea turtles, you can also see tropical fish, seahorses, rays, and eels. There are several beaches around Carlisle Bay, such as Pebbles and Brownes, and you can also take a boat ride out to the bay from the Boatyard beach club.

Paynes Bay

Paynes Bay is another great spot to see turtles, with calm seas and a gorgeous backdrop. The beach is well-serviced, with shops, restaurants, and rental properties.

Alleynes Beach

Alleynes Beach is known for having a lot of turtles, and you don't have to swim out very far to see them. The water is crystal clear, and there are fewer jet skis than at some other beaches.

Worthing Beach

Worthing Beach is a long stretch of golden white sand with calm, shallow water, making it an excellent spot for kids, families, and inexperienced swimmers to see turtles. Just bring your own snorkel and mask, as there aren't any places to rent equipment here.

Freights Bay

Freights Bay is one of the best places to surf in Barbados, and you can also see turtles here while waiting to catch a wave. However, it's not recommended for snorkelling as the water is packed with beginner surfers, and it's not easy to get into the water from the shore.

Boat Tours

There are also several boat tour companies in Barbados that offer the opportunity to see turtles, such as Barbados Excursions, Tiami Cruises, and Hayden Browne's Barbados Snorkeling Tours. These tours typically include snorkelling equipment, food, drinks, and transportation to the best spots to see turtles.

Best spots to see shipwrecks in Barbados

Barbados is known as the shipwreck capital of the Caribbean, with thousands of vibrant fish filling the glistening ocean. Carlisle Bay alone has lost approximately 200 ships since the 17th century, and there are at least 10 recorded wrecks to explore. Here are some of the best spots to see shipwrecks in Barbados.

SS Stravronikita (The Stav) – built in Denmark in 1956, this 356-foot Greek freighter boat was purposely sunk in 1978 to create an artificial reef. Now home to a variety of fish and coral, it rests in 120 ft of water and is considered one of the best wreck dives in Barbados.

Carlisle Bay – this bay has a variety of wrecks and offers perfect conditions for beginner divers. Here are some of the wrecks you can find:

• The Bajan Queen – formerly known as The Pelican, this was Barbados' first tugboat during the construction of the Bridgetown Harbour in the 1960s. It was later converted into a party boat and renamed the Bajan Queen. It was donated, cleaned up, and sunk in 2002, now resting just a few feet below the surface.
• The Eillon – one of the deepest wrecks in Carlisle Bay and one of the most popular shipwreck sites in Barbados. This 110-foot drug boat was sunk in 1996 and is now surrounded by tropical fish.
• The Berwyn – this World War I French tugboat was sunk by its own crew in 1919 and sits 7-10 feet below the water's surface. Its calm waters and age make it quite healthy, attracting a lot of marine life.
• C-Trek – an abandoned concrete structure sunk in 1986, accessible by freediving but better explored through scuba diving.
• Cornwallis – during World War II, this Canadian freighter was sunk by a torpedo from a German U-Boat. It was relocated to Carlisle Bay in 2003 from a high boat traffic region of the bay.

Friars Crag – a 100-foot Dutch freighter sitting in 55 feet of water about a mile off the South Coast of Barbados. Home to incredible creatures like tropical fish, crabs, lobsters, and hawksback turtles since 1984. Unfortunately, it suffered massive damage from Hurricane Ivan in 2004 but has been slowly restored.

The Pamir and Friar's Craig – these two wrecks are sister ships that were purposely sunk for divers in 1985. The Pamir has remained completely intact, while Friar's Craig has broken into three large pieces. Both provide excellent man-made reefs with a multitude of marine life. The Pamir is a great option for beginner divers.

Best spots to see coral in Barbados

Barbados is known for its beautiful beaches, pristine white sands, and turquoise waters. The island is also a premier place for snorkelling, with shipwrecks, coral reefs, and warm ocean waters creating the perfect conditions to explore a diverse variety of aquatic life. Here are some of the best spots to see coral in Barbados:

Carlisle Bay

Carlisle Bay, on the west coast of Barbados, is one of the best locations to snorkel directly from the beach. The bay is surrounded by coral reefs and is known for its clear waters, making it a great spot to explore the intricate coral formations. Leeward Carlisle Bay alone has "netted" around 200 ships since the 17th century, providing an intriguing backdrop and habitat for marine life. You can snorkel around shipwrecks such as the SS Stavronikita, which has transformed into thriving artificial reefs. Carlisle Bay is also part of the Bridgetown UNESCO World Heritage Site.

Folkestone Marine Park

Folkestone Marine Park, located on the west coast of Barbados, is a protected area renowned for its vibrant coral reefs and clear waters. The park features an underwater trail marked with buoys, guiding snorkelers to various points of interest. You can expect to see colourful coral reefs, schools of fish, and even the occasional sea turtle or stingray. The nearby Folkestone Beach offers golden sands for sunbathing and tranquil waters for kayaking and stand-up paddleboarding.

Dover Beach

Dover Beach, on the south coast of Barbados, is known for its beautiful white sand and calm waters. Just offshore, you'll find a vibrant coral reef teeming with colourful fish, making it a great spot for snorkelling. Dover Beach also offers a range of water sports such as sailing, windsurfing, and jet skiing.

Needham's Point

Needham's Point, located on the southwestern shore of Barbados, is a small stretch of sand that attracts sea turtles. As a Hawksbill Turtle nesting beach, your chances of spotting these creatures in the wild are high. The reef at Needham's Point is home to various species of turtles, and you can rent snorkel gear and join guided swims from the nearby Barbados Blue dive shop.

Sandy Lane

Sandy Lane, with its sought-after West Coast location and gorgeous beach, offers easy access to fringing reefs just a few metres offshore. These reefs are home to a variety of tropical fish, corals, and the occasional hawksbill turtle. Sandy Lane provides a quiet and exclusive beach experience.

Paynes Bay

Paynes Bay, on the west coast of Barbados, is known for its shallow reef and calm waters, making it an ideal spot for snorkelling. You can swim with curious green and Hawksbill sea turtles just offshore and observe a wide variety of tropical fish. For the best visibility, morning or late afternoon snorkelling is recommended.

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