Glide over turquoise coral reefs, swim beside green sea turtles, and meet the famous swimming pigs on a Nassau Bahamas snorkeling trip from the heart of New Providence. Compare every catamaran, speedboat and kayak tour and book with free cancellation.
Updated 2026-06-27
Quick answer
Nassau snorkeling tours combine a reef stop, a turtle site and the swimming pigs into one trip of 3 to 6 hours, costing $125 to $242 with gear and lunch. The pigs reached from Nassau live on Rose Island, twenty minutes offshore, not in the Exumas, which are a separate day and a separate flight. Every boat here leaves from New Providence.
Key takeaways
Top Rated — 943 reviews, 4.8★ Most-Reviewed Nassau Snorkeling Tour
Set sail from Nassau on a full-day catamaran cruise through the Bahamas. Meet the swimming pigs at Pig Beach, snorkel a Caribbean reef alongside sea turtles, and enjoy lunch in the sunshine.
Real-time dates and prices for our top-rated Pig Beach, turtle and reef snorkeling cruise.
These Nassau snorkeling tours cover the full range — from a quiet small-group kayak-and-snorkel adventure to spacious catamaran and speedboat cruises that combine reef snorkeling, sea turtles and the swimming pigs at Pig Beach. Every tour includes gear and most include lunch. Prices are per person.
from $153Top Rated — 943 reviews, 4.8★ Set sail from Nassau on a full-day catamaran cruise through the Bahamas. Meet the swimming pigs at Pig Beach, snorkel a Caribbean reef alongside sea turtles, and enjoy…
from $125Most Booked — 3,096 reviews Speed out to Green Cay, Pearl Island, and Rose Island on a fast boat from Nassau. Swim with the famous pigs, snorkel along a reef, look for sea…
from $140Beach Club — 4.5★ Visit the famous swimming pigs of the Bahamas on a boat tour from Nassau, then relax at a stunning beach club. Enjoy free time for kayaking and snorkeling…
from $179Luxury Catamaran — 4.8★ Sail in style aboard a luxury catamaran. Swim with the pigs, snorkel colorful reefs, chill at Rose Island, and enjoy complimentary lunch, snacks, water, and rum with a…
from $15998% Recommend — 4.9★ Set sail from Nassau and explore the waters around three islands on a spacious catamaran, skipping the crowded boats. Snorkel a coral reef by Pearl Island, meet the…
from $242Small Group, Max 6 — 5.0★ Enjoy a guided ocean adventure on this small-group tour. Kayak out to a floating platform beside a vibrant coral reef to swim and snorkel, then paddle to a…
| Tour | Price | Rating | Book | Reviews | Duration | Type | Includes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Kayak Adventure | $242 | 5.0 ★ | Check | 89 | 3 hrs | Small-group kayak + snorkel | Drinks, gear, pickup |
| Luxury Catamaran + Rum | $179 | 4.8 ★ | Check | 63 | 6 hrs | Catamaran — pigs + reef | Lunch, snacks, rum |
| 3-Stops Catamaran | $159 | 4.9 ★ | Check | 360 | 5.5 hrs | Spacious catamaran | Lunch, drinks, gear |
| Pig Beach + Turtles | $153 | 4.8 ★ | Check | 943 | 5.5 hrs | Catamaran — pigs + turtles | Lunch, gear |
| Pigs + Beach Club | $140 | 4.5 ★ | Check | 482 | 4 hrs | Boat + beach club | Lunch, snacks, kayaks |
| 3 Islands Speedboat | $125 | 4.3 ★ | Check | 3,096 | 4 hrs | Speedboat — 3 islands | BBQ lunch, gear |
Almost all Nassau snorkeling happens on the cays and reefs a short boat ride east of New Providence and Paradise Island. The water is warm and clear, the reefs sit close to the surface, and most spots can be combined with the swimming pigs and sea turtles on a single half-day trip.
Together these reefs and cays make up the best Nassau Bahamas snorkeling for every level, from first-timers to confident swimmers.
| Spot | Best for | Access | Level |
|---|---|---|---|
| Rose Island Reef | Pigs, turtles & reef | Boat | Easy |
| Pearl Island | Coral reef & lunch | Boat | Easy |
| Green Cay | Sea turtles | Boat | Easy |
| Athol Island | Reef fish & wreck | Boat | Moderate |
| Cable Beach | Shore reef | Shore | Easy |
Rose Island sits about 20–25 minutes by boat east of Nassau and is the hub for the swimming pigs, calm reef snorkeling and quiet beaches. Pearl Island has a lively coral reef and a beach club popular with cruise passengers, while Athol Island shelters reef fish and a small wreck. Green Cay, on the three-island speedboat route, is the most reliable place to snorkel with green sea turtles.
The reefs around New Providence support a rich slice of Caribbean marine life. Green sea turtles are the most sought-after sighting and are reliably found at Green Cay and the Rose Island reefs. Southern stingrays and the occasional spotted eagle ray glide over sandy patches, while docile nurse sharks rest under ledges at deeper sites.
Reef fish are everywhere — parrotfish, blue tang, sergeant majors, yellowtail snapper and the silvery Nassau grouper. Look into the rocky crevices for spiny lobster, queen conch and starfish on the sandy bottom.
Guided Nassau snorkeling tours on this page range from $125 to $242 per person. The $125 trip is a fast three-island speedboat tour that packs in the pigs, a reef and a turtle stop with a BBQ lunch. Mid-range catamaran cruises ($140–$179) add more space, a beach club or Rose Island time, and extras like rum punch and a full Bahamian lunch.
At the top end, the $242 small-group kayak adventure caps the group at six people for a private-feeling reef and beach experience. Snorkel gear is included on every tour. Note that feeding or swimming with the pigs is sometimes a small on-site cash extra (around $30–$35) — confirm with your operator when you book.
It's worth being clear, because tour names can be confusing. The world-famous swimming pigs you've seen in photos live at Big Major Cay in the Exuma islands — roughly 80 miles south of Nassau and a separate, full-day or fly-in trip. The Nassau "swim with pigs" tours on this page instead visit a closer pig beach on Rose Island, about 20–25 minutes by boat.
It's the same playful pig encounter, much easier to reach on a half-day from Nassau — just not the original Exuma colony. We'd rather you know before you book.
Snorkeling in Nassau is good year-round, with water temperatures between about 73°F and 86°F — no wetsuit needed at any time. The clearest, calmest conditions run from December through April, when visibility often tops 100 feet. Late spring (May) and late autumn (November) are sweet spots with warm water, good clarity and fewer crowds. Summer is warmest (mid-80s°F) with occasional afternoon showers, and the official hurricane season runs June through November, when mornings are usually the calmest time to be on the water.
In short, the best time to snorkel in Nassau is December through April for visibility, or May and November for warm water with smaller crowds.
Every tour on this page provides snorkel gear (mask, snorkel and fins), and most provide flotation vests. Wear a swimsuit and bring a rash guard for sun protection — the Bahamian sun is strong even on cloudy days. Pack reef-safe sunscreen, a towel, sunglasses, a hat for the boat and a waterproof phone case or camera.
Bring a little cash for tips and for the optional pig feeding. You don't need to be a strong swimmer thanks to the vests, but you should be comfortable floating in open water.
Nassau is one of the busiest cruise ports in the Caribbean, and snorkel tours are among the most-booked shore excursions. Ships dock at Prince George Wharf in downtown Nassau, a short walk or taxi from most tour meeting points and marinas. Half-day trips of 3–6 hours fit comfortably within a port day; the 3-hour small-group kayak tour is the quickest if your time ashore is limited.
When booking, give the operator your ship name and all-aboard time so they can get you back to the cruise port on schedule.
Yes. The reef and cay sites around Rose Island and Pearl Island are sheltered and calm, and every guided tour uses local crews with safety gear including flotation vests and a briefing. The main things to manage are sun exposure (reef-safe sunscreen and water), light seasickness on the boat ride out, and respecting the reef — never stand on or touch coral.
The nurse sharks you may see are docile and harmless if left alone. Tours suit beginners and families, though some have a minimum age (often around 5), so check before booking.
Water stays warm all year, so timing is about visibility and crowds, not temperature.
Water temperatures are approximate monthly averages (°F). No wetsuit needed at any time of year.
Schematic — not to scale. See the live map above for exact locations east of Nassau.
Our family had an unforgettable day on the catamaran. Snorkeling over the coral reef was magical, the pigs were a fun highlight, and the crew were welcoming and professional.
The stops were timed perfectly, never rushed. The reef was healthy with lots of fish and we saw sea turtles at Green Cay. The lunch on board was delicious — highly recommend.
Booked the small-group kayak trip for my birthday and it was magical — just the three of us. We kayaked out to the reef, snorkeled for ages and had drinks on a quiet beach.
Kareem and Franklin were the best. We snorkeled for two solid hours and saw turtles, stingrays and nurse sharks, then drank fresh coconut on a secluded beach. A trip highlight.
Water stays between 73°F and 86°F with visibility often over 100 feet. No wetsuit required — ever.
Most Nassau tours combine the Rose Island swimming pigs, green sea turtles at Green Cay and live coral reefs on a single half-day.
We lay out real prices, ratings and review counts so you can pick the right boat — and we tell you the pigs are at Rose Island, not Exuma.
Tours leave minutes from Prince George Wharf and fit a port day. Free cancellation up to 24 hours before on every trip.
A sample of the marine life Nassau reefs are known for — and where it is most reliably spotted.
The best Nassau snorkeling is on the reefs and cays just east of the city. Rose Island combines calm reef snorkeling with the swimming pigs, Pearl Island has a lively reef and a private beach club day, and Green Cay is the most reliable spot for green sea turtles. Cable Beach offers easy shore snorkeling if you'd rather not take a boat. Compare every Nassau snorkeling tour to match a spot to your trip.
No — and this trips a lot of visitors up. The world-famous swimming pigs live at Big Major Cay in Exuma, about 80 miles south of Nassau and a separate day trip. Nassau "swim with pigs" tours visit a closer pig beach on Rose Island, roughly 20–25 minutes by boat. It's the same fun pig encounter, just far easier to reach on a half-day. Our Pig Beach, turtle and lunch cruise review walks through one tour that includes them.
Yes. Green sea turtles are commonly seen, especially at Green Cay on the three-island speedboat tour and around the Rose Island reefs. Like all wild animals, sightings aren't guaranteed on any given day, but turtle stops are a standard part of most Nassau snorkeling tours.
The sharks you're most likely to see are docile nurse sharks resting under ledges — they're harmless if you don't touch or provoke them. Serious incidents are very rare. Guides know the calm sites and brief you before you get in — our small-group kayak and snorkel review describes a quiet, guided trip where you may see nurse sharks, turtles and rays.
Year-round. Water sits between about 73°F and 86°F, so no wetsuit is needed. December through April brings the clearest, calmest water (visibility often over 100 feet), while May and November offer warm water with fewer crowds.
You don't need to be a strong swimmer — every tour provides flotation vests and gear, and guides keep an eye on the group. You should be comfortable floating in open water. Several tours are beginner-friendly and welcome families; check minimum-age rules (often around 5) before booking.
The tours on this page run from $125 to $242 per person and last 3 to 6 hours. The cheapest is a fast three-island speedboat trip; a spacious 3-stop catamaran cruise and a luxury catamaran with rum sit mid-range; the priciest is a small-group kayak adventure capped at six people. Snorkel gear is included on all of them.
Bring a swimsuit, rash guard, reef-safe sunscreen, a towel, sunglasses, a hat and a waterproof phone case. Snorkel gear is provided. Pack a little cash for tips and the optional pig feeding (around $30). If you're on a cruise, give the operator your ship's all-aboard time. Questions? Contact us and we'll help you choose.