Buck Island - Best Way There Is?

[N&T]

My wife and I arrive at St. Thomas on the Dawn Princess in early January and we want to go to Buck Island to snorkel. I'm looking for suggestions on lining up a boat trip there. Ideally we'd like something with some speed as we don't want to spend hours coming and going. Would also like to arrange a second stop at St John. Any suggestions? How much is to simply charter the boat or panga?

[leslee]

Went to an area called "Buck Island" in St. Thomas several years ago and loved it. We went on one of the excursions where they only take about 6 people on private sail boats owned by locals who work through the cruise lines....we had time to shop in the morning, eat something light and do the sail/snorkel in the afternoon and if booked through the ship they will make sure you get back to the ship on time...part of the St. Thomas Buck island area has sea turtles in one area and that is the place you need to go....went back again another time and did not get to the area with the sea turtles...I think they call it "turtle cove"...pretty cool to see the turtles....the more famous BUCK ISLAND NATIONAL PARK is in St. Croix....when we went there the water was very choppy and visability was not as good as what we were expecting. We did an excursion through the cruise lines in St. Croix also. If you don't want to sail out to a snorkel place in St. Thomas, take a taxi to Coki beach in the morning and snorkel there....easy entry from the beach.