Barbados · TURTLE AND SHIPWRECK SNORKELING

Swimming With Turtles in Barbados: The 15 Best Trips

34 tours  ·  from $36 a head

The turtles gather off the west coast and the wrecks sit in Carlisle Bay in about ten metres of water, so almost every operator visits the same two stops. These 15 differ on boat size, how long you get in the water and whether lunch is real. Prices and group sizes below.

Barbados Catamaran Turtle and Shipwreck Snorkeling Cruise - The first 45-minute stop, turtles and reef life
Catamaran Cruises, Cruises & Boat Tours, Tour Reviews, Tours in Barbados, Turtle and Shipwreck Snorkeling

Barbados Catamaran Turtle and Shipwreck Snorkeling Cruise

1.Barbados Catamaran Turtle and Shipwreck Snorkeling Cruise

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 2,175 reviews · from $85Our pick

Join El Tigre, a spacious 60-foot catamaran limited to 36 people, for two 45-minute snorkeling stops along Barbados’ west coast. Swim near turtles, explore a shipwreck, enjoy rum punch and beer, and choose the five-hour option for onboard lunch and a third stop. Hotel pickup is available from select hotels.

“Amazing catamaran tour. Snorkling with sea turtles and tropical fish. Swimming over coral reefs and shipwrecks. Delicious Bajan lunch and plenty of rum punch.”

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Barbados Catamaran Turtle Snorkel with Lunch and Open Bar - Bajan Lunch and an Open Bar
Catamaran Cruises, Cruises & Boat Tours, Drinking Tours, Lunch Experiences, Tour Reviews, Tours in Barbados, Turtle and Shipwreck Snorkeling

Barbados Catamaran Turtle Snorkel with Lunch and Open Bar

2.Barbados Catamaran Turtle Snorkel with Lunch and Open Bar

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 1,396 reviews · from $110

Spend about five hours aboard a small-group catamaran off Barbados, snorkeling in Carlisle Bay among turtles, fish, and sometimes stingrays. The crew supplies masks, fins, noodles, and life jackets, then serves a Bajan buffet, snacks, and an open bar while you sail the west coast. Pickup and return transport are offered.

“This was an amazing experience the food and drinks were awesome and the guys on the boat were great!”

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Barbados Turtle and Shipwreck Snorkel Adventure - Carlisle Bay’s calm water and six wrecks
Tour Reviews, Tours in Barbados, Turtle and Shipwreck Snorkeling

Barbados Turtle and Shipwreck Snorkel Adventure

3.Barbados Turtle and Shipwreck Snorkel Adventure

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 902 reviews · from $36Best value

From Bridgetown, you’ll cruise to Carlisle Bay for a 90-minute swim around shipwrecks, turtles, rays, fish, and seahorses. Snorkel gear, drinks, showers, a small glass-bottom viewing area, and a waterslide are included. The crew helps nervous swimmers and keeps children well cared for.

“Even though I didn’t snorkel myself. It was a fun filled experience watching even seeing the turtles as they come up for air”

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Barbados: Catamaran Tour with Snorkeling and Lunch - The first swim, turtles, and getting comfortable in the water
Catamaran Cruises, Cruises & Boat Tours, Lunch Experiences, Tour Reviews, Tours in Barbados, Turtle and Shipwreck Snorkeling

Barbados: Catamaran Tour with Snorkeling and Lunch

4.Catamaran Tour with Snorkeling and Lunch

★★★★★★★★★★4.8 · 857 reviews · 5 hours · from $115

Sail Barbados’ west coast aboard El Tigre, with Captain Ryan and crew members such as Winston providing friendly help, snorkeling gear, turtle and shipwreck stops, a hot buffet, and an open bar. The five-hour trip suits swimmers and nervous beginners alike, with floats, shade, music, and hotel or cruise-terminal pickup available.

“The tour was amazing and the crew fantastic! I would definitely recommend this activity if you come to Barbados!”

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Bridgetown: Carlisle Bay Turtle and Shipwreck Boat Cruise - Meeting at Savvy on The Bay
Carlisle Bay Beach Days, Cruises & Boat Tours, Tour Reviews, Tours in Barbados, Turtle and Shipwreck Snorkeling

Bridgetown: Carlisle Bay Turtle and Shipwreck Boat Cruise

5.Carlisle Bay Turtle and Shipwreck Boat Cruise

★★★★★★★★★★4.4 · 474 reviews · 1h 30m · from $36

Spend 90 minutes aboard Tranquility Cruises in Carlisle Bay, with guided stops for turtles, fish, rays, and shipwrecks. You can watch through the glass bottom, snorkel with supplied gear, then use the boat slide or jump from the top deck. English-speaking guides help nervous swimmers, and juice is included.

“Absolutely stunning experience. Saw way more than expected and several turtles came by pretty quickly. An abundance of fish. Wow. Great staff and guide. Can’t recommend this enough.”

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Barbados Shore Excursion Snorkel cruise and Beach Day - Carlisle Bay and Savvy on the Bay
Carlisle Bay Beach Days, Cruises & Boat Tours, Shore Excursions, Tour Reviews, Tours in Barbados, Turtle and Shipwreck Snorkeling

Barbados Shore Excursion Snorkel cruise and Beach Day

6.Barbados Shore Excursion Snorkel cruise and Beach Day

★★★★★★★★★★4.5 · 441 reviews · from $58

Meet your shuttle outside Barbados cruise port for a short ride to Carlisle Bay. Board Tranquility Cruises for a 90-minute trip with snorkeling at a shipwreck and turtle area, plus a glass-bottom viewing spot. Back at Savvy on the Bay, your lounger, umbrella, welcome drink, showers, bar, and beach time are included.

“Picked up from cruise terminal for the short drive to Carlisle Bay where we were taken to the ticket office, given wristbands and a choice of sunbeds and umbrellas which were ours for the duration, after 1.5 hours it was time for the snorkel boat trip, all the staff were fantastic, we were given inflatable vests, mask and snorkels and went as a group with a guide who told us where to look, we saw Turtles, Barracuda, Rays and a multitude of tropical fish, after 1.5 hours we sailed back to the shore and our beds for a further 2 hours on the beautiful beach and a complimentary drink. There…”

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Shore Excursion Barbados Beach Day & Turtle Swim Experience - Meeting your ride at Bridgetown port
Carlisle Bay Beach Days, Shore Excursions, Tour Reviews, Tours in Barbados, Tours in Bridgetown, Turtle and Shipwreck Snorkeling

Shore Excursion Barbados Beach Day & Turtle Swim Experience

7.Shore Excursion Barbados Beach Day & Turtle Swim Experience

★★★★★★★★★★4.2 · 421 reviews · 6 hours · from $50

Spend a cruise stop at Savvy on The Bay in Carlisle Bay, then join Tranquility Cruises to snorkel around a shipwreck and look for sea turtles. Transport from Bridgetown port, a beach chair, umbrella, welcome drink, mask, snorkel, and vest are included. Lunch is extra, and the sea portion lasts about two hours.

“We really enjoyed this trip. The guides were incredible!”

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Elegance Catamaran turtles swim and lunch cruise - Shipwreck snorkeling after the turtles
Catamaran Cruises, Cruises & Boat Tours, Lunch Experiences, Tour Reviews, Tours in Barbados, Turtle and Shipwreck Snorkeling

Elegance Catamaran turtles swim and lunch cruise

8.Elegance Catamaran turtles swim and lunch cruise

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 369 reviews · from $165

Join Captain Cali and the Elegance crew for a five-hour Barbados cruise limited to 12 people. You’ll swim with turtles, snorkel above shipwrecks, enjoy a Bajan buffet and open bar, then sail the west coast before returning to Bridgetown. Pickup is offered from many south and west coast hotels, ports, and accommodations.

“The incredible service of the crew of the ship! They were so attentive and so personable. The boat was so clean, well stocked and so nice. The food for lunch was some of the best I had on my whole trip. The bar was well stocked with a good array of choices. No one went hungry or thirsty. Special thanks to Cali, Mavi and Wayne All Day for their exceptional service (and their sense of humor!). All 11 in our group thoroughly enjoyed our time with all of you. Dancer, Big Boy, Pretty Boy, Punky, Pocahontas and the rest of our crew will never forget the amazing experience you provided!”

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Barbados Island Tour, Monkey feeding & Swimming with the Turtles - Cherry Tree Hill and the green east coast
Barbados Island Tours, Tour Reviews, Tours in Barbados, Turtle and Shipwreck Snorkeling, Wildlife and Garden Tours

Barbados Island Tour, Monkey feeding & Swimming with the Turtles

9.Barbados Island Tour, Monkey feeding & Swimming with the Turtles

★★★★★★★★★★4.5 · 329 reviews · from $147

Spend about seven hours touring Barbados with a local guide, visiting the Wildlife Reserve at feeding time, Cherry Tree Hill, Morgan Lewis, Bathsheba, and Carlisle Bay. Enjoy a Bajan lunch, then cruise with Tranquility Cruises for turtle snorkeling, a shipwreck stop, and a waterslide. Guides may include Stephen, Glyne, Ryan, Kwame, or Omar.

“bring some nausea medicine if you’re carsick like me there’s a lot of bumpy roads and hills but it’s worth it just be prepared.”

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2 Hours Turtle Feeding, Shipwreck & Reef Snorkeling Tour Barbados - The sunken barge and the fish feeding frenzy
2-Hour Experiences, Tour Reviews, Tours in Barbados, Tours in Bridgetown, Turtle and Shipwreck Snorkeling

2 Hours Turtle Feeding, Shipwreck & Reef Snorkeling Tour Barbados

10.2 Hours Turtle Feeding, Shipwreck & Reef Snorkeling Tour Barbados

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 307 reviews · from $65

From Folkestone Marine Park, cruise Barbados’ west coast on a glass-bottom boat, swim with hawksbill turtles, snorkel over a fish-filled wreck and reef, and use the onboard slide. The 2-hour trip costs $65, includes drinks and gear, and usually carries no more than 20 people.

“We really enjoyed this trip. It was perfect for us. We saw lots of turtles and had a great time swimming. The boat ride itself was wonderful seeing the lovely Barbados coast. It was two hours which was the perfect amount of time. The staff was wonderful. We actually talked about doing it a second time.”

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Che’s snorkel cruise! turtles & shipwrecks (semi private) - A small boat, not a floating party
Cruises & Boat Tours, Private, Tour Reviews, Tours in Barbados, Turtle and Shipwreck Snorkeling

Che’s snorkel cruise! turtles & shipwrecks (semi private)

11.Che’s snorkel cruise! turtles & shipwrecks (semi private)

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 303 reviews · from $75

Join Che, Carlton, or Kamal for a three-hour, small-group snorkel cruise from Barbados’ west coast. Leave at 8 a.m. to reach the turtle habitat and three shipwrecks before larger boats arrive. Gear, snacks, drinks, limited pickup, and underwater photos are included. Strong swimming skills and a boat-ladder climb are required.

“Wonderful and informative trip with Che and crew. We had teens and a 7 year old, and they all loved it. There are also life vests and pool noodles for people who are not strong swimmers.”

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Barbados Catamaran Snorkel Cruise with Lunch and Open Bar - Turtles, wrecks, rays, and reef fish
Catamaran Cruises, Cruises & Boat Tours, Drinking Tours, Lunch Experiences, Tour Reviews, Tours in Barbados, Turtle and Shipwreck Snorkeling

Barbados Catamaran Snorkel Cruise with Lunch and Open Bar

12.Barbados Catamaran Snorkel Cruise with Lunch and Open Bar

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 192 reviews · from $110

Sail Barbados with a small crew and up to 12 people, stopping around Carlisle Bay and the west coast for turtles, fish, rays, and shipwrecks. Expect a Bajan buffet, rum punch, soft drinks, and hotel pickup. Crew members may include CJ, Daniel, Mario, or Akil, depending on the departure.

“What a brilliant day ..... Danny the youngest and the best captain in the Caribbean . Couldn't have been better sunshine, blue sea, fab food and turtles . A day I would definitely recommend. Thank you Danny”

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Harbour Lights-Chair &Turtle Shipwreck Snorkel Tour(10:30-1:30pm) - What happens on the Koopa Troopa boat
Carlisle Bay Beach Days, Tour Reviews, Tours in Barbados, Turtle and Shipwreck Snorkeling

Harbour Lights-Chair &Turtle Shipwreck Snorkel Tour(10:30-1:30pm)

13.Harbour Lights-Chair &Turtle Shipwreck Snorkel Tour(10:30-1:30pm)

★★★★★★★★★★4.5 · 185 reviews · from $39

Spend the day at Harbour Lights on Carlisle Bay with a reserved lounger and umbrella, then join the 45-minute Koopa Troopa boat trip to a shipwreck and turtle area. Guides help with gear and weaker swimmers. Turtles are never guaranteed, but the shallow wrecks and tropical fish make this a simple, good-value beach outing.

“This booking was perfect. Chairs and umbrella ready when we got there, easy taxi ride and everyone was super friendly”

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Barbados: Carlisle Bay Beach Day and Turtle Swim Experience - Arriving at Savvy on The Bay
Carlisle Bay Beach Days, Tour Reviews, Tours in Barbados, Tours in Bridgetown, Turtle and Shipwreck Snorkeling

Barbados: Carlisle Bay Beach Day and Turtle Swim Experience

14.Carlisle Bay Beach Day and Turtle Swim Experience

★★★★★★★★★★4.3 · 169 reviews · 6 hours · from $50

You get a full beach day at Savvy on The Bay plus a Tranquility Cruises boat trip to swim with turtles and snorkel around shipwrecks. Expect warm, clear water, provided gear, a welcome drink, and helpful crew members such as Ron, Mr T, and G Man. Hotel pickup is included within 10 km of Savvy.

“Prompt pick up from hotel, beautiful beach, no rocks so easy in and out of the sea. Boat trip to see the turtles and snorkel and then back on the boat for short trip to the shipwreck and another snorkel, lots of fish, stingrays and a good view of the wreck. Back to the beach and a good selection of places to eat one minutes walk from your sunbed. Everyone friendly and helpful.”

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Carlisle Bay Clear Kayak Shipwreck Tour - Getting onto the water and learning the basics
Canoes & Kayaks, Carlisle Bay Beach Days, Kayak and Watersports Tours, Tour Reviews, Tours in Barbados, Turtle and Shipwreck Snorkeling

Carlisle Bay Clear Kayak Shipwreck Tour

15.Carlisle Bay Clear Kayak Shipwreck Tour

★★★★★★★★★★4.5 · 106 reviews · from $53

Paddle a transparent kayak across Carlisle Bay with a guide such as Nicky, Nikky, or Nigel. You can see three nearby shipwrecks, corals, tropical fish, turtles, starfish, and sometimes stingrays without putting your face in the water. The tour lasts about 90 minutes, includes a waterproof phone case, and ends with rum punch on the beach.

“Our kayaking guide, Nicky, was great and very helpful. The kayaks were open and completely clear allowing you to see the bottom of the sea clearly. Unfortunately, it turned out to be very windy which prevented us from going out far enough for the shipwrecks. We did see turtles and starfish, but had to end early due to the wind. I would definitely try again on a calmer day.”

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