Buck Island

Buck Island, a 180-acre island surrounded by almost 20,000 acres of protected coral reef and seabed, is located less than two miles from St. Croix’s northern coast. Noted for excellent snorkeling, hiking, and one of the nicest beaches on St. Croix, Buck Island packs a lot of punch for nature-loving visitors. The island and surrounding reef make up Buck Island National Monument (340/773-1460, www.nps.gov/buis, 6 a.m.–6 p.m.), which was declared thus by President Kennedy in 1961. President Clinton added 18,135 acres of seabed and reef to the monument as part of the U.S. Coral Reef Initiative in 1998.

Buck Island is a nesting ground for the endangered brown pelican, hawksbill, leatherback and green sea turtles, and the threatened least tern. The barrier reef that surrounds the majority of the island has extraordinary coral formations, deep grottos, abundant reef fishes, sea fans, and gorgonians. An underwater snorkel trail on the east end showcases a small part of the reef, while hiking trails cut through the dry forest and provide views of the surrounding sea.

The National Park Service manages Buck Island, and human activity is limited on and around the island. A half dozen concessionaires are licensed to provide day trips to the island. Private boats must adhere to strict regulations; fishing is very limited. Anchoring is by permit only. Meanwhile, the Park Service has installed basic infrastructure to give the public access to Buck Island’s attractions. There are moorings near the underwater snorkel trail and a concrete dock at Diedrich’s Point on the western shore. Picnic tables and pit toilets are at the western end of the island.

A hiking trail traverses the island’s western end, passing flowering frangipani, Turks head cacti, and orchids. The trail climbs to an observation point at mid-island, where you can see St. Thomas, St. John, and the British Virgins on a clear day.

Getting There

Licensed concessionaires offer half- and full-day trips to Buck Island. Half-day trips include snorkeling on the underwater trail and a short visit to the western beaches. Full-day trips give visitors more time underwater and enough time to hike the island’s trails.

It is easy to feel like a member of the herd at Buck Island, especially since the Park Service requires tour operators to guide you through the underwater trail. For the best experience, try to get on a trip with fewer than six people. If you want to hike the complete trail, be sure to tell the tour operator of your wishes so you will get on a trip that will give you at least 1.5 hours on the island.

Most concessionaires leave from Christiansted, and the trip to Buck Island takes between 30 and 80 minutes, depending on the type of boat. Other trips leave from Green Cay Marina east of Christiansted. Trips to the island are shorter from here. Expect to pay between $40 and $75 for a half-day trip and between $60 and $100 for a full day.

Mile Mark Watersports (59 King’s Wharf, Christiansted, 340/773-2628, www.milemarkwatersports.com) offers full- and half-day trips on sailboats or powerboats. It is the only concessionaire to offer diving as well as snorkeling, although diving at Buck Island is not highly recommended due to accessibility and weather conditions.

Big Beard’s Adventure Tours (Queen Cross St., Christiansted, 340/773-4482, www.bigbeards.com) provides a beach barbecue on full-day trips.

Two smaller operators leave from Green Cay Marina and get to Buck Island much more quickly. They are Teroro II and Dragonfly (340/773-3161) and Diva, (340/778-4675) which has a passenger limit of six.

Private boats must obtain a permit from the National Park Service before anchoring or mooring at Buck Island. There is no anchoring inside the reef; the only anchor zone is off West Beach, where the bottom is sandy.