Disorganized and Loud Tour with Several Disappointments We booked the Emerald Reef Snorkeling, Iguana Island & Shipwreck Tour advertised as a 3-hour excursion, but our experience fell short. We were scheduled for the 9:00 a.m. tour, arrived early, and were told upon arrival that it was canceled due to low participation—no missed calls or messages despite being told we’d been contacted. We were moved to the 1:00 p.m. tour, which threw off our plans for the day.
Once aboard, we weren’t informed that we’d be stopping at Beaches Resort to pick up about 25 guests. We waited nearly 30 minutes while they boarded. The water was rough that day (red flag warning), so snorkeling was moved to a different site known for turtles, not fish. “Safety first,” of course, but the alternate spot was too choppy to safely snorkel, so my husband and I stayed on the boat.
Iguana Island was disappointing—the trees have mostly been cut down, so there were very few iguanas. There was no guide or “fascinating facts” as advertised, just a brief stop with food and free time to wander a mostly barren island. The “shipwreck tour” was simply viewing the wreck from a distance.
Most of the excursion was a fast, noisy boat ride with extremely loud music—more like a party cruise than the scenic tour described. On the positive side, the captain, Viguel, was friendly and engaged with guests, the complimentary beer and rum punch were appreciated, and the boat itself was very nice with a shaded upper deck. We didn’t return until around 5:10 p.m., about 40 minutes later than advertised, which left us rushing to dinner.
