While researching St. Croix, I found several references to Tamarind Reef as a possible snorkeling site. Snorkeling, which we love to do, seems to be the primary activity here and we wanted a snorkel option where we could remain flexible but not spend a fortune.
After leaving the ship we caught a taxi to the Tamirand Reef Resort for the cost of $25.00 per person. Our driver said he did not take many people there and wasn’t sure what quite to expect so he went to the bar to ask about what our options were. The resort was very welcoming and told us to come in and enjoy ourselves and that we were welcome to snorkel and use the pool. They also had a nice restaurant if we wanted to buy lunch but it was not required. There was no admission fee or requirement that we buy anything so our total cost was $25 per person. We had our equipment, but if you needed to rent equipment was available at the beach for $15 for the day.
The reef runs parallel to the very rocky beach and is only 40-50 feet offshore. It contains large clusters of brain coral and sea fans. In addition, there was a large school of Blue Tangs that we followed around. but there were not as many fish as we had hoped.
After snorkeling for a couple of hours and spending some time at the beach we walked to the pool for a short swim before ordering lunch at the adjacent restaurant. For lunch, we shared an order of nachos and wings. The portions were huge and the food very good. The total food and drink bill was about $30.00, making the cost of the entire day well under $100 for two people. A similar trip from the cruise ship costs $119 per person. Overall it was a very enjoyable day at the beach, and we would certainly consider doing this again.