Rent or Take a Guided Tour in the Virgin Islands?

Because we have both options available here in the Virgin Islands, we are often asked if it’s better to rent your own water sports gear such as fins-mask-snorkel and kayaks, or if we recommend taking a guided tour instead. Our advice is really dependent on the guests and what it is you’re hoping to get out of your experience.

Guided tours are best if you want structure, safety, and local insight. Rentals are ideal if you want flexibility, independence, and a slower pace.

Here are a couple of things to consider when choosing to rent equipment or take a tour:

Have you ever snorkeled or kayaked before? If there’s anyone in your group who is unfamiliar with the equipment, sticking with a guide can help everyone feel more comfortable in the water. A guide can give you tips and tricks to overcome stumbling blocks like keeping water out of your mask, not inhaling water in your snorkel, and how to pivot your kayak. For first-timers, families, or anyone unsure in open water, guided kayak and snorkel tours remove uncertainty and reduce risk.

Do you know the area? How familiar are you with the USVI waters? If you haven’t explored the sea here much yet, going on a tour with a guide will better familiarize you with not just how to navigate your way around, but also teach you about the flora + fauna around you – especially what NOT to touch. This is especially important in the Virgin Islands, where protected reefs, currents, and wildlife require local awareness.

If you’ve got questions, our expert guides have answers. A guided tour means you get the insider scoop on the islands’ plants, animals, history, local secrets, and more. Our guides are also excellent wildlife-spotters, pointing out creatures your untrained eyes may miss.

But if you’d rather just leisurely float without an agenda (no judgement here!), renting your own kayak or snorkel gear will be a great fit for you.

Many guests choose tours early in their trip, then switch to rentals once they’re confident.

If you’re visiting for more than a couple of days, we always recommend that you do both! Start your trip with a guided tour so you can familiarize yourself with the waters and the equipment. Then, rent some gear and expand on your experience with fresh confidence over the rest of your trip.

Whatever you choose, we know you’re going to have an amazing time and we’re here to make that happen! The Virgin Islands are an incredible destination for exploring the natural world. Visit our Home page to view all of the tours and equipment rentals available by island.

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What was that?! USVI Underwater Mysteries, Solved.

By Chrissann Nickel • July 30, 2026

If you’ve ever been snorkeling here in the US Virgin Islands, you got to be surrounded by an abundant array of marine life. We’re fortunate to have thriving reefs with a high diversity of living things. However, if you didn’t go with a guide , you likely may have missed some things and/or seen some things that stumped you. We have a lot of things in the water here that may not be identifiable at first glance, which is what makes going on a guided snorkel tour so much fun. We’ve said it before and we’ll say it again—even if you’ve been snorkeling here many times, you can always get some value out of going out with a guide. Our local guides know these waters intricately and have a deep knowledge and passion for the USVI marine environment. Joining them for a snorkel tour (and yes, you can set up a private tour , if you prefer!) means you can get all of your questions answered, learn some cool facts, and have things pointed out to you that you may miss on your own. Here are a couple of things underwater that you might have seen and thought, “What on earth was that thing?!”