Christiansted, VI
Buck Island Reef National Monument
A marked underwater trail through an elkhorn coral barrier reef, on an uninhabited island reached only by licensed boat.
- Snorkeling
- Ages 6+
- ~6h
- Paid
Water Adventures with Kids in US Virgin Islands
We pulled these 14 water adventures out of our full catalog of kid-friendly spots in US Virgin Islands. Every listing has the ages it suits, what it costs, how long to budget, parking notes, and what to pack.
14 adventures found
St. John, VI
Trunk Bay
An underwater snorkel trail with signs mounted on the seabed, in shallow calm water inside Virgin Islands National Park.
- Snorkeling
- Ages 4+
- ~4h
- Paid
Christiansted, VI
Cane Bay Beach
Swim a couple of hundred feet from the sand and the reef simply ends at a wall dropping thousands of feet into open blue. Easy entry, big drop-off.
- Snorkeling
- Ages 6+
- ~3h
- Free
Christiansted, VI
Salt River Bay Bioluminescent Bay
Night kayaking in a glowing bay at the only documented place where a Columbus landing party came ashore on what is now United States soil.
- Kayaking
- Ages 6+
- ~3h
- Paid
Frederiksted, VI
Frederiksted Pier
Pier pilings encrusted with orange and purple sponge hold seahorses, frogfish and octopus in shallow, sheltered, unusually clear water.
- Snorkeling
- Ages 7+
- ~3h
- Free
St. John, VI
Cinnamon Bay Beach
The longest beach on St. John, with a small offshore cay within snorkelling range and a Danish sugar plantation ruin trail just behind the sand.
- Swimming
- Ages 2+
- ~4h
- Free
St. John, VI
Hawksnest Bay
The closest good reef to Cruz Bay: elkhorn coral heads sit a short swim from the sand, with parking directly beside the beach.
- Snorkeling
- Ages 4+
- ~3h
- Free
St. John, VI
Honeymoon Beach
A calm crescent reached by a half-hour walk from Cruz Bay, with kayak and paddleboard rental, snorkelling gear and a beach bar on the sand.
- Swimming
- Ages 2+
- ~4h
- Free
St. John, VI
Maho Bay Beach
Green sea turtles graze the seagrass a few yards off the sand, in water so shallow and calm you can watch them standing up.
- Snorkeling
- Ages 3+
- ~3h
- Free
St. Thomas, VI
Brewers Bay Beach
A free local beach by the university with calm shallow water, sea grape shade, food vans behind it and planes landing directly overhead.
- Swimming
- Ages 2+
- ~3h
- Free
St. Thomas, VI
Coki Beach
The best shore snorkelling on St. Thomas - dense reef fish right off the sand, in shallow, protected, usually calm water.
- Snorkeling
- Ages 4+
- ~3h
- Free
St. Thomas, VI
Lindquist Beach (Smith Bay Park)
A quiet territorial park beach with soft sand, calm shallow water and a view across to St. John. The small entry fee keeps the crowds away.
- Swimming
- Ages 2+
- ~3h
- Paid
St. Thomas, VI
Magens Bay
A mile-long horseshoe bay so sheltered that the water barely moves, which makes it the safest and calmest swimming on St. Thomas for small kids.
- Swimming
- Ages 1+
- ~4h
- Paid
St. Thomas, VI
Sapphire Beach
Reef within easy swimming range at both ends, a long shallow sandy middle for small children, and a straight view across to St. John from the sand.
- Snorkeling
- Ages 4+
- ~3h
- Free