PegNDerek's Snorkeling

Where intelligent life returns to the Sea              

Shipwreck Sail and Snorkel (Buck Island)

Ship’s Excursion out of Charlotte Amalie, St. Thomas, USVI

Ship: Norwegian Spirit (NCL)

Sailing Date: July 22, 2006

Date of Snorkel: July 25, 2006

Equipment Availability: we have our own which we take with us, but the operators of the Castaway Girl have a good supply of snorkels, masks, fins and vests. All equipment to borrow appeared clean and well maintained. 

Water Access: Off the front of the Catamaran

We knew in advance that this would be yet another trip out to Buck Island 3 miles south of Charlotte Amalie (see other reviews), but we were attracted by the opportunity to see yet another portion of it’s underwater delights, this time to the wreck of the Cartonanza.

Our excursion vessel, the Castaway Girl was well maintained and staffed by a lively and enthusiastic group of local young people. No shoes are allowed on the boat—they are placed in large buckets when you first get on board and lined up on the pier to be collected as you disembark. The trip out to the island was a bit rough and the crew did a wonderful job to ensure that a few sea-sick passengers were made as comfortable as possible. Smoking is allowed at the back of the catamaran.  The “coast guard certified” bar tenders did a wonderful job of distributing drinks and snacks for free en route back to the pier.  Long Sleeve T-Shirts and Tank Tops with the Castaway Girl’s name and logo were also available for sale on the way back.

As with all of the snorkeling sites around Buck Island, this one is a deep (20 feet or more in most spots), but the ship wreck is well worth a gander.  The Cartonanza was a drug runner at the time of her wreck off Buck Island and several hurricanes pushed her around the area until she was finally broken up and deposited at her current location. The bow and engines are clearly visible, along with portions of the hull scattered over approximately 20 square yards of ocean floor.  There are plenty of fish to see, but there is not much variety—mostly Tang, Damselfish (including numerous Sergeant Majors), Barracuda and a few varieties of Parrot Fish.  Other smaller species are scared off by the shear quantity of snorkelers—three boat loads at the time of our excursion. A telephoto lens is absolutely essential for any decent shots at a site like this!

Snorkeling Grade: B-