TravelTalkOnline Forums Travel and Vacation Forums British Virgin Islands Turtles, Rays, & Such

I've never seen a sea turtle in the wild and would like to cross that off my bucket list this December. Are there snorkel sites where we'd have a better chance at seeing sea turtles or maybe rays? I know my girlfriend would be thrilled as well and in fact, it would probably be the highlight of the trip for her. <img src="http://www.traveltalkonline.com/forums/images/graemlins/Wink.gif" alt="" />

See what options Gumption can offer. He knows where they are. http://www.seaitcleartours.com/

If you snorkel at Diamond Cay and Cooper, you are almost guaranteed to see a turtle. Likely you could see a sting ray as well.

I'd say we've probably seen turtles and sting rays every trip. Eagle rays a fair amount, but not nearly as frequent as the others.

Turtles - 10 to 20 feet of water or more.. Grassy areas
Rays - 10 to 20 feet of water or more.. Sandy areas

Wait, that's not entirely true.. I think most of the videos I took the last few weeks of turtles they were hovering around the corals, but in like 30' of water or more.

At which location(s) were you taking video?

Very cool! <img src="http://www.traveltalkonline.com/forums/images/graemlins/Clapping.gif" alt="" />

We've been all around the BVI and St. John this trip.. The turtles tend to be everywhere,, just have to put your time in the water,, you'll see 'em

Since you appreciated that video.. Here's two more short ones.

https://www.facebook.com/fred.johnson.142240/videos/10208172372889381/

https://www.facebook.com/fred.johnson.142240/videos/10208170934453421/

As long as we're sharing videos - here's one from cooper

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IH5Gz1TLk6k

This was also at cooper by Cistern point

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oiEa5XLlg38

And a stingray at Marina Cay

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zXv0mL_tVlQ

Dang Matrix, I think those turtles like you more than they like me! Nice.

You'll find Rays,Turtles, Barracudas and other sea life at anyone of the anchorages you'll be anchoring at.
Just get your camera and put on your snorkeling gear.

We have often seen rays (at dusk/night), circling around the dinghy dock near Quito's in CGB. Also many times in the dead coral lagoon at Marina Cay...snorkelling from the restaurant towards the reef, seen rays swimming along the bottom of the deepest part of the channel.

Best turtle sighting - a huge Hawksbill, when snorkelling off Peter Island. Sorry, cannot remember the name of the bay.

Deadmans on Peter has tons of turtles and rays, great quiet stop.

No rays but turtles almost everywhere we've been this week.

I agree with everyone, but I've seen the most turtles at Diamond Cay- they were EVERYWHERE the last couple times! I've seen the most rays at Marina Cay.

See Rays swimming under the my dock all the time and turtles in the mooring field at Anegada

Eagle Ray at Cistern Point in June.
https://vimeo.com/146066666

I agree with Matt. I have always seen turtles at Cooper and Diamond Cay.

Three large , beautiful rays swam right through Little Apple Bay a couple of weeks ago..we get them quite often in the summer..make sure you shuffle your feet as you enter the water as they love to bury themselves in the sand in the shallows!!We have also had a baby shark swim along the shorebreak chasing tiny baitfish..and once three huge whales swam right through the surfline!! Nice place to watch the wildlife..

All valid comments, and you can add Waterlemon Cay St John, on the inside particularly, to the turtle-spotting list.

Manpot- good to know! We'll watch for them. Sitting outside at Sebastian's right now with a glass of Pinot Grigio waiting for our room to be ready. This view is beautuful!!

Killing.me.slowly. Just kidding, I hope you are thoroughly enjoying yourself.
I saw my first spotted ray on our trip down over Halloween near Diamond Cay. I got a tad bit excited about it!

I've seen turtles all over the BVI's, but at Diamond Cay they're usually so abundant that you have to be careful with the dinghy! The only place I always see a ray is Trunk Bay on St. John...there's one that is always swimming around the beach...it's fun to sit on the beach and wait for people to notice it. <img src="http://www.traveltalkonline.com/forums/images/graemlins/Grin.gif" alt="" />

Sounds like we need to simply get our faces in the water more! Thanks to everyone for the many suggestions. Will let you know if I can cross off the 'sea turtle viewing' from my bucket list upon my return.

Pretty much everywhere, as stated. I've always run into one or two snorkeling the north side of Kelly's Cove (Water Point) at the entrance to the Bight on Norman. Snorkel over the grass, close to the point. (This is also a scuba diving site.)

last trip down [ a number of years ago ] I spent 10 minutes with a very friendly turtle at the indians <img src="http://www.traveltalkonline.com/forums/images/graemlins/Woof.gif" alt="" /> <img src="http://www.traveltalkonline.com/forums/images/graemlins/Woof.gif" alt="" /> <img src="http://www.traveltalkonline.com/forums/images/graemlins/Woof.gif" alt="" /> <img src="http://www.traveltalkonline.com/forums/images/graemlins/Woof.gif" alt="" />