Hi Reader,

I hope you're having a wonderful week.

One of my favorite things about traveling is getting to experience wildlife in its natural habitat. Whether it's whales in Alaska, bears in the Smoky Mountains, or sea turtles in the Caribbean, those are the memories that stay with me long after the trip is over.

This week I wanted to share one of our favorite snorkeling adventures from St. Thomas.

Snorkeling With Sea Turtles in St. Thomas

If you love the ocean, snorkeling with sea turtles should absolutely be on your travel bucket list.

While visiting St. Thomas on a Caribbean cruise, we booked a snorkeling shore excursion to Turtle Bay. The water was crystal clear, and before long we spotted several beautiful sea turtles peacefully swimming and feeding below us.

Watching them glide effortlessly through the water was incredible. It's one of those travel moments where everything slows down, and you simply enjoy being there.

Our guide even found a sea urchin and carefully brought it to the surface so we could get a close look. Gary had the chance to hold it for a quick photo before it was gently returned to the water. It was such a fun way to learn more about the marine life without disturbing it.

I'll be sharing a couple of photos from the trip, including one of the sea turtles and another of Gary with the sea urchin.

If you're arriving on a cruise ship as we did, you'll find plenty of snorkeling excursions available. If you're spending several days on the island, there are even more options to choose from.

👉 Browse some of our favorite St. Thomas snorkeling tours​

If you're planning a visit, I also put together a guide with more ideas for exploring the island.

👉 Read it here:
​11 Top Things to Do in St Thomas​

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💡 Travel Tip

Tips for First-Time Snorkelers

If you've never snorkeled before, don't worry. It's much easier than most people expect.

Here are a few tips that helped us:

• Relax and simply float. You don't need to swim hard. Small movements with your fins are usually enough.
• Practice breathing through the snorkel before heading into deeper water.
• Look around slowly. You'll see much more marine life when you aren't rushing.
• Never touch coral, fish, sea urchins, or other marine animals. Even a light touch can damage fragile ecosystems.
• Keep your distance from sea turtles. Many destinations have laws requiring visitors to stay at least 10 feet away, while others require about 30 feet. Let the turtles come and go naturally.

The best snorkeling experiences happen when you're simply observing nature without interfering with it.

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🧳 Travel Find of the Week

Two Waterproof Essentials We Always Pack

When we're heading to the beach or out on a snorkeling excursion, these two inexpensive items always come with us.

📱 Waterproof Phone Case

I love having my phone with me in the water so I can take photos without worrying about splashes or dropping it overboard. It also keeps sand and saltwater away from the phone.

👉 Waterproof Phone Case​

🎒 Waterproof Fanny Pack

This has become one of my favorite travel purchases. It keeps our phones, room keys, credit cards, and cash dry while we're at the beach or on small boats. It's much easier than running back to shore or leaving valuables unattended.

👉 Waterproof Fanny Pack​

Both have traveled with us on cruises, beach vacations, kayaking trips, and snorkeling excursions around the world.

Thanks for coming along on another adventure.

Have you ever snorkeled with sea turtles? I'd love to hear where your favorite snorkeling spot is. Just hit reply and let me know.

Until next time,

Melodie
​Travel Must Do's​

P.S. Join the Come Travel with Melodie Facebook group to share travel tips, ask questions, and connect with fellow travelers.

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