Big Beard's Adventure Tours — Local services in Christiansted

Go sign up for their adventure now...Don't wait, I promise it is worth it!

We did the full day adventure and it was one of the best days we had. They also have a half day adventure, but after experiencing the full day I couldn't imagine it being any shorter.

We all meet at the dock and you check in at their office. It is a very easy process. After check in they collect all your shoes and you board the sail boat (full day boat). Half day is a motor boat, but it is a double hull boat. These style boats help with motion sickness, but if you get motion sickness prepare ahead of time as you still can feel it out there.

They have these new small patches that go behind your ear and are waterproof (my wife gets sea sick, so we are experience in finding a no hassle product). You can find these motion sickness products on amazon.

After boarding the boat they will go over safety and the plan for the day. They offer the ability to get pictures. I highly recommend that you do this. The pictures are done by Mandy and they were stunning and the prices are very reasonable.

As you head out to Buck Island you get to enjoy time with your family and you get to meet the other folks on the boat. You also get to look back at St. Croix and see the beauty of where you are staying.

Once we made it to the beaches of Buck Island I was so amazed by the clear blue water and the soft sands of the beach. I quickly jumped in and enjoyed the water. We swam for a while in the water and ran our feet in the beautiful sand on the island. Mandy also took some pictures of us on the beach.

After about 45 minutes at the beach they pulled the anchors and we moved to the other side of the island were we had the chance to snorkel the underwater trail through the reefs. The trails are all maintained by the United States Park Service. As it may sound funny to hear there are trails under water, it helps those that aren't as experienced and it helps protect the reefs.

Following our snorkel time we headed to another beach. At this beach they cooked hot dogs, hamburgers, and mahi. The food hit the spot after a great day...You also have the ability to bring your own drinks and food. They provide a cooler for you.

Through the whole trip they provide ice cold water to help keep you hydrated. At noon through the rest of the journey they also provide you vodka punch. They use the local Mutiny Vodka!

After lunch they bring you back...

The whole experience was a blast. The crew, was so professional, but also a lot of fun. They really top off the experience.

We also met some great people on the boat that continued to see throughout the island.

I highly recommend Big Beard's...

This was one of the best experiences on St. Croix and a fantastic value. They offer a day trip or a half day trip to Buck Island. They also offer private charters. We went on a full day trip to Buck Island for $120 per person. Included in the price was a trip to the beach on the west side of Buck Island where the boat crew offered some snorkeling lessons and time to explore the beach or free snorkeling for half an hour before heading over to the reef on the east side of Buck Island. There the crew offered a snorkeling tour of the reef followed by free time to snorkel on our own. Then they took us to a secluded beach where they cooked up some hot dogs, burgers, and Mahi - to go with the vodka punch they mixed on the boat. Then back to Christiansted under sail power. All this took about 6 hours and was included in the price. (The other boat is a power boat so not all trips will include sailing.)

The captain was fantastic as was the rest of the crew. They were very professional, but also fun and kept the atmosphere pleasant with conversation, small nautical lessons, games, and informative facts. They were sure to remind us of the history of Buck Island and how it became so protected and reminded everyone to make sure not to take anything from the island nor to disturb the wildlife or the coral. They clearly care about their guests and the local natural preserve.

One thing they mentioned only after the trip, which I wish we had known before is that if you do a second trip within your stay on the island, your second trip is half price! I would have done it at least twice if I had known.

Buck Island was fantastic! The beach was shielded from the wind free of large waives. (You are not permitted by law to take anything from the island - not even sand, shells, or plants - nor leave anything behind that would pollute the area.) The reef is full of life and fun to see. But the reef is on the west side where the wind can create some waives so be prepared for water to go down your snorkel. Still absolutely worth seeing the amazing variety of fish, coral, and other sea creatures.

Overall, I recommend the experience and I would do it again if I had more time and expect that I will do so if/when I return...

My husband and myself did the half day Buck Island tour May 11th 2024. I’m a bit afraid of water but I was very comfortable and felt safe on the boat. There was enough space and I appreciate how Captain Curtis was very thorough in explaining everything in detail and answered all questions before and during the tour. He mentioned something about allergy medication and my husband remembered that he didn’t bring his inhaler. The boat was just about to sail and I’m sure they like to start on a time. I think our car was parked 3-5 minutes away, but Captain Curtis let my husband go back for the inhaler. This was very important to us because although we didn’t want to miss the trip, it was essential for him to have his inhaler, just in case he had an asthma attack. The staff were very nice and accommodating. Safety is very important. If you are a weak swimmer, can’t swim or afraid in some sort of way, please let them know so that they can assist you if you want to do the snorkeling part. You will wear a life jacket for the snorkeling and you can also use another flotation device, a ring to hold onto if you don’t feel comfortable. You may opt to stay close to the boat once they go to the reef area because once out in the water they moved quickly. I thought that the young man that was assisting me was going to pull me along while I used the ring but while I was snorkeling I let go somehow and started snorkeling without the use of the ring. I was very comfortable doing this until I looked up and didn’t see anyone. Also the ring that I depended on was now gone. I was able to make it back to the boat and therefore conquered a fear. It was a very good experience being able to see many colorful fish.

Music will be played on the tour and you will see the bluest, sea green waters you have ever seen. Once you get to breathtaking Buck Island they will give you a simple class about how to snorkel if you like. The island is pristine and stunning and you won’t regret booking this tour. After we were done with the tour they served some delicious Cruzan punch. They even allowed us to fill up our drink containers with it so that we could...