Question 1

Will my whole family enjoy SNUBA®?

Accepted Answer

SNUBA® is a perfect activity for the whole family. It allows children as  young as eight to experience the underwater world with their parents  and even their healthy grandparents. All ages enjoy SNUBA®.

Question 2

How long is the SNUBA® adventure?

Accepted Answer

Orientation and guided underwater tour comprise about two to three hours.

Question 3

Where does the air come from?

Accepted Answer

A scuba tank sits in a raft, which floats along behind you on the surface.

Question 4

How many participants per professional guide?

Accepted Answer

A maximum of 6 participants per professional guide.

Question 5

What is the maximum depth I can SNUBA® dive to?

Accepted Answer

20 feet, although you may stay at any depth you feel comfortable at.

Question 6

How physically fit do I have to be?

Accepted Answer

You are not required to be physically fit but you should not feel tired  after walking a hundred yards down the beach and you must be in good  health. Please check our Medical History page to see if you need to consult a physician prior to your participation.

Question 7

What is the minimum and maximum age for SNUBA® divers?

Accepted Answer

The minimum age is 8 years old and there is no maximum age limit. The only requirement is good health.

Question 8

My ears hurt when I dive down while swimming or snorkeling in a pool, will they hurt when I SNUBA®?

Accepted Answer

Usually, people’s ears hurt when they dive down while snorkeling or  swimming in a pool because they DO NOT equalize their ears. You need to  equalize the pressure in your ears just as you do when you are coming in  for a landing in the plane, coming down a mountain, or sometimes even  in an elevator. We teach you how to equalize your ears to keep them  comfortable throughout the dive.

Question 9

How much time is spent under water?

Accepted Answer

Approximately 30 to 40 minutes under the water, though your in-water experience is about 45 minutes to an hour.

Question 10

When are your tour times?

Accepted Answer

Tour times are Monday through Friday at 11:00 a.m.

Question 11

Where do the SNUBA® dives take place?

Accepted Answer

Our SNUBA® operation starts on the beach with the shallow water practice  in waist-deep water and then a gradual descent to a maximum depth of 20  feet. On St. John, we SNUBA® off of Trunk Bay. We do not do the SNUBA®  dives on the snorkel trail at Trunk Bay, but on a nice reef on the West  end of the beach, between Jumbie Beach and Trunk Bay Beach.

Question 12

How do I get from St. Thomas to St. John?

Accepted Answer

This is easy! There are ferries that leave every hour on  the hour from Red Hook, St. Thomas to Cruz Bay, St. John and there are  plenty of taxis ready and willing to take you to Trunk Bay. The ferry  ride from Red Hook to St. John is 20 minutes long and will cost $8.15  per person for adults and $1 per child under 12 years. The taxi ride to  Trunk Bay from Cruz Bay will take approximately 20 minutes and will cost  $6 per person.

Taxis from Charlotte Amalie or WICO Dock (where most ships dock) to  Red Hook cost about $15 to $23 per person and the taxi ride will take  about 30 to 40 minutes.

Returning to St. Thomas from St. John; use the above directions  reversed. Ferries from Cruz Bay, St. John to Red Hook, St. Thomas leave  every hour on the hour.

The Virgin Islands National Park charges a $5 per person admittance  fee (under 16 years of age are free) to get into Trunk Bay, St. John.  80% of this fee stays in the local park to keep trails clean, provide  water for the shower facilities at Trunk, etc.

We do not recommend bringing a car over from St. Thomas to SNUBA® as  parking is difficult and getting on and off the barge will take up a lot  of your day.

Question 13

I wear glasses; can I wear them while I SNUBA®?

Accepted Answer

Since you will be wearing a snorkel/dive mask, generally glasses will  not fit under the mask and if they do, the arms are in the way of your  vision. Keep in mind everything will look 25% closer and bigger while  under the water so this will help. The other thing we recommend is  disposable contacts. We know there are people that have tried contacts  in the past and those that do not wear them because of astigmatism but  the disposables are very thin and more comfortable than the “old style”  contacts and since you will just be wearing them for SNUBA® or  snorkeling it probably will not matter if they are perfect for your  astigmatism. (You would need to ask your doctor about this.) Though they  now make contacts for those with astigmatism. If you are staying  on-island you may be able to rent a prescription mask from one of the  local dive shops.

Question 14

Can I bring my own snorkel equipment?

Accepted Answer

We do provide everything you need for the dive but if you have your own snorkel equipment and prefer to use it you may do so. We request that the mask does not leak or fog on you. For those purchasing new masks, be sure to wash the inside of your mask thoroughly with soap and/or toothpaste. Clean the WHOLE inside, the skirt and the glass. The manufacturer coats the inside with a protecting agent and that needs to come off or it will fog on you. Also, if you plan to do any snorkeling before or after your SNUBA® you will have your equipment to do so.

Question 15

Should I be afraid of the marine life?

Accepted Answer

We have some of the friendliest ocean waters in the world. Generally,  the only way you can get hurt by the marine life is if you touch it.  Mainly the coral or the sea urchins and they are not going to jump out  and get you. Please do not touch or stand on the coral, not only can it  hurt you but you may kill it.

Question 16

Can I bring my own underwater camera?

Accepted Answer

Yes! We take digital photos for purchase, providing all works well with  the camera, but our photos are generally of you, not of the fish. It is  often less expensive to buy the disposable underwater cameras in the  States prior to leaving for your vacation rather than buying them here.

Question 17

Is there a place I can keep my valuables?

Accepted Answer

Yes, we can lock your valuable in our shed or you can rent a locker from the snorkel kiosk.

Question 18

Are reservations required?

Accepted Answer

Yes, we keep our groups small to ensure a personal, high-quality tour.  In order to secure your space, we recommend making reservations prior to  the departure of your vacation.

Question 19

What is your cancellation policy?

Accepted Answer

Our cancellation policy is strictly enforced. If you need to change the number in your party or cancel you must do so 48 hours prior to your reservation time to avoid a 50% charge and 24 hours prior to your reservation time to avoid a full charge. Sunburn, illness, missed flight, missed cruise; all must give 24-hour cancellation notice to avoid full charge. If your ship does not come in, there is no charge.

Question 20

I have a mustache; will that be a problem?

Accepted Answer

A mustache may make your mask leak a bit but we teach you how to clear  the water out. You can also put some chapstick or Vaseline on it to help  with the seal or you may want to shave a bit under your nose so your  mask will seal better. This question is mainly for those that decide not  to shave on their vacation, a clean shave will make your experience a  lot more enjoyable but if you do not want to shave, we can work around  it.

Question 21

What equipment do I wear?

Accepted Answer

A light harness to keep the air line out of the way, a weight belt, a mask, and fins.

FAQ

Frequently asked questions