What was that?! USVI Underwater Mysteries, Solved.

If you’ve ever been snorkeling here in the US Virgin Islands, you got to be surrounded by an abundant array of marine life. We’re fortunate to have thriving reefs with a high diversity of living things. However, if you didn’t go with a guide, you likely may have missed some things and/or seen some things that stumped you. We have a lot of things in the water here that may not be identifiable at first glance, which is what makes going on a guided snorkel tour so much fun. 

We’ve said it before and we’ll say it again—even if you’ve been snorkeling here many times, you can always get some value out of going out with a guide. Our local guides know these waters intricately and have a deep knowledge and passion for the USVI marine environment. Joining them for a snorkel tour (and yes, you can set up a private tour, if you prefer!) means you can get all of your questions answered, learn some cool facts, and have things pointed out to you that you may miss on your own. 

Here are a couple of things underwater that you might have seen and thought, “What on earth was that thing?!” 

Anemones:

Attached to reefs or rocks (or really, any hard surface), these squishy looking creatures come in many different varieties. Some have long, thin tentacles, and some have shorter, plumper ones. Depending on the moment, you may even see a hole in the center, which is its mouth. Most anemones have tentacles that will sting you, so, like everything underwater, look with your eyes, not your hands.

Flamingo tongue:

You will likely see these clinging to purple sea fans or soft coral. This creature is actually a type of snail. Many think it’s a colorful shell with a cool pattern, but that’s actually the live tissue of the snail that’s covering the shell. 

Sea hare:

This creature looks like a large sea slug, or even like a type of sea cucumber with horns. They can be spotted in beds of seaweed or sediment, as they are herbivores. Sea hares can release ink to deter predators, so refrain from picking them up.

White sea urchin:

Also known as the West Indian sea egg, its body is dark in color and can look like shades of purplish black or reddish brown. The spines are white, but they aren’t as brittle as the typical black sea urchin, and thus, less likely to stick in you and be difficult to remove. Sometimes you will see these urchins with sea grass that looks stuck to them; this is them holding it in place intentionally with their little tube feet to use as sun protection in shallow waters.

Caribbean reef squid:

These squid are not very large (under 8 inches in length) and are usually seen in small groups. They use their wing-like fins to move around and almost seem to hover in the water in front of you. They can jolt away quickly if threatened, and can also use a burst of ink in defense. Watch them without startling them to enjoy their brilliant colors. 

What’s something you’ve seen while snorkeling here that initially puzzled you?