Catamaran or Speedboat? Choosing Your Turks and Caicos Snorkeling Boat
The short answer. Pick a catamaran for a sociable day with shade, a slide or an open bar and room for 40 or 50. Pick a speedboat, usually as a private charter, for a small group that wants to cover more cays at its own pace. The catamaran is cheaper per person; the speedboat is yours alone.
The boat you choose decides the day more than the reef does. A big catamaran and a small speedboat can visit the same water and still give you two different afternoons. Before you book any of the best snorkeling tours in Turks and Caicos, it pays to know which kind of boat suits your group.
What is a catamaran day like?
Stable, social and shaded. A catamaran has two hulls, so it rolls less at anchor, and the deck gives a crowd room to spread out. The sailing catamarans from the Ritz-Carlton and Grace Bay Club beach carry up to 50 and pour an open bar, and the double-decker from The Bight Park adds a slide and a diving board.
You share it, and the snorkel group is large. That suits families and friends who want a lively day and do not mind company in the water.
What is a speedboat day like?
Quick and flexible. A speedboat covers more water between stops, so you can reach the outer cays, a sandbar and a reef in one half day. Most speedboats here run as private charters for your own group of six, eight or ten.
It is less shaded and it bounces more at speed. It suits a group that wants to set its own route and spend the time in the water rather than on the deck.
How do they compare?
| Catamaran | Speedboat or private boat | |
|---|---|---|
| Who is aboard | Up to 40 or 50, shared | Your group, up to 6, 8 or 10 |
| Fare | $109 – $199 per person | $1,500 – $3,700 per boat |
| Motion | Stable at anchor | Bumpier at speed |
| Shade and space | Plenty; cabins and nets | Limited; a bimini top |
| Stops | Two or three, set by the crew | As many as time allows, set with you |
| Extras | Slides, open bars, sails up | Your own music, food and pace |
Do the sum for a group. A $1,500 private boat for six costs $250 a head, not far above a deluxe catamaran seat. The private charters page lists every boat with its size and fare.
Which is better for snorkeling itself?
Either, if the reef is right. The deluxe catamaran sails out to the barrier reef, and the short reef sail anchors over coral near shore. A private speedboat can reach quieter reefs the big boats do not use, and you stay as long as you want.
On a big catamaran you snorkel in a large group, which some travellers find crowded. On a private boat you snorkel with your own party. The top spots page shows which reefs each boat reaches.
Which is better with children?
The catamaran, for most families. It is stable, shaded and has a toilet, and the Bight Park double-decker lends flotation devices. A private boat is the better choice with a baby or toddler, because you set the pace and the boat takes any age.
The family friendly tours page lists the youngest guest every boat takes.
Which is better if you get seasick?
The catamaran. Its two hulls roll less at anchor, and on a big deck you can sit outside with your eyes on the horizon. Take a remedy before you board either way.
A speedboat is fine on a calm day, but the ride between stops is where the motion is. If you are prone to it, ask the crew to take the runs gently.
What does each boat cost per head?
On a catamaran, the fare is per person, so the price is the price. On a private boat, the fare is per boat, and the sum depends on how many of you there are. A $1,500 boat for six works out at $250 each; a $1,700 boat for eight at $212; a $1,575 boat for ten at $157.
So a full private boat can cost less per person than a deluxe catamaran seat. For a couple, the shared boat wins on price every time. The planning page sets every fare band side by side.
Where does each boat start?
The catamarans mostly board on the beach: the sailing catamarans at the Ritz-Carlton and Grace Bay Club, the double-decker at The Bight Park, and the sail-and-snorkel straight off selected hotel beaches. The private speedboats start from the marinas, Blue Haven on the Leeward end and Turtle Cove on the north shore, or collect you from your hotel. The departure points page covers each one.
When is each boat at its best?
A catamaran is at its best on a warm afternoon, when the shade and the bar matter most. A speedboat is at its best on a calm morning, when the runs between cays are smooth and the reefs are clearest. The best time to visit page covers the seasons, and the FAQs answer the rest.
Who should pick which?
- Couples who want an easy, social afternoon: a sailing catamaran from the resort beach.
- Families with children over 3: the double-decker or a catamaran with lunch.
- Families with a baby or a toddler: a private boat that takes any age.
- Groups of six to ten: a private charter priced per boat.
- Snorkelers who want quiet reefs: a private speedboat from a Leeward marina.
What do you give up on each boat?
On a catamaran you give up control: the crew sets the stops, the timings and how long you stay, and a big snorkel group can feel crowded at a busy reef. On a speedboat you give up comfort: less shade, a harder ride between stops and no slide or bar. Neither is wrong; they suit different groups. Decide which of the two you would rather live without, and the choice makes itself.
What about a sailing catamaran for your own group?
That exists too. A Blue Haven Marina charter runs a private half day on a catamaran among the Caicos Cays, priced per person with a minimum of two. It gives you the catamaran's stability with a private crew, which suits a couple who want both.
The snorkel combo tours page covers the shared boats that add Iguana Island or a conch cook-up to the reef.
Know your boat now? Below are a shared sailing catamaran, a private speedboat from Blue Haven and a private catamaran charter; every other fare is compared on Turks and Caicos Snorkeling Tours.
A catamaran, a speedboat and a private catamaran
4-Hour Catamaran Sail and Snorkel Tour from Grace Bay
A catamaran that boards off the hotel beach: Half Moon Bay and an optional Iguana Island landing.
From $145 per person
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Private Half Day Luxury Snorkeling Charter
A private snorkel boat from Blue Haven Resort for up to six, drinks aboard.
From $1,800 per group, up to 6
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Half Day Private Charter in Caicos Cays
A private charter from Blue Haven Marina, priced per person with a minimum of two.
From $1,220 per person (min. 2)
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