Snorkeling & water sports · Sapphire Beach
Snorkeling you swim to, not one you board a boat for
The reef at Sapphire Beach starts close enough to the sand that you can walk in from the condo with a mask. Turtles, rays and reef fish, and three sets of gear already in the unit.
📍 6720 Estate Smith Bay, Unit D101, St. Thomas, VI 00802, U.S. Virgin Islands
Sapphire Beach on the East End of St. Thomas is a swim-to snorkel spot: the reef sits close to shore off the coral-beach side of the bay, and guests regularly see sea turtles, stingrays and Caribbean reef fish without getting on a boat. It is one of the reasons the owners bought here.
Unit D101 sits on that beach at ground level, and keeps three sets of snorkel gear, beach chairs, floats, noodles and a cooler in the unit and the patio box — so a morning snorkel costs nothing and takes five minutes to organize. The on-site Dive-In dive shop rents windsurfers, kayaks and floats, and the Sapphire Beach Marina next door runs boats, wave runners, day sails to St. John and Trunk Bay, catamaran trips to Jost Van Dyke and speedboats to Virgin Gorda and The Baths.
Photo gallery
Inside Unit D101 and the beach outside it
Real photos of the condo, the patio, the pool and Sapphire Beach. Click any image to open it full size.
What you'll see and where
Two beaches: one for swimming, one for the reef
The resort has two stretches of shore. The half-mile white-sand main beach is the one for swimming, lounge chairs and the shallow turquoise water. The coral beach on the marina side is where the reef is — that's where the fish are, and where the turtles graze the sea grass.
Bring the gear from the unit, walk down, and go. Because you are not paying for a boat trip you can go twice a day, or go for twenty minutes before lunch, which is the real luxury of staying on the beach rather than driving to it.
If you want to go further afield, the Dive-In shop on the property handles rentals, and the marina books sunset cruises, day sails, deep-sea fishing and BVI charters. Lindquist Beach — another of the island's best — is an eighteen-minute walk away.
- Type
- Entire condo, private corner unit
- Bedrooms
- 1 bedroom, 1 bathroom
- Sleeps
- Up to 4 guests
- Beds
- King bed + queen sleeper sofa (crib available)
- Floor
- Beach level, Building D — no stairs
- Check-in
- After 4:00 PM
- Check-out
- Before 11:00 AM
- Parking
- Free permit from the resort office
- WiFi
- Included
- Rating
- 9.8/10 from 259 Vrbo reviews
Amenities
What comes with the condo
Bath towels, beach towels, toiletries and a hair dryer are provided, and the kitchen is stocked down to the coffee filters.
Location
Sapphire Beach, East End of St. Thomas
Address: 6720 Estate Smith Bay, Unit D101, St. Thomas, VI 00802, U.S. Virgin Islands. Building D is the row closest to the water; D101 is the ground-floor corner unit.
How far is everything
Guest reviews
9.8 out of 10, across 259 stays
“We loved this condo and its location. I don't think there is a better location on the entire property. We loved the full kitchen and cooked many meals ourselves.”
Nancy B. · stayed 7 nights, Vrbo
“The host, condo and grounds are all amazing, clean, beautiful beach, beautiful condo, pool was well kept and grounds were kept beautiful. 10/10”
nicole v. · stayed 5 nights, Vrbo
“The condo was right on the ground floor steps from the pool and beautiful view!”
Kari S. · stayed 1 night, Vrbo
“Being able to step outside each morning and watch the sunrise was awesome. The live music right outside our door was an awesome bonus!”
Jody M. · stayed 5 nights, Vrbo
Host: Michelle Kennedy, a Vrbo Premier Host who has owned at Sapphire Beach since 2006. Ratings and quotes are taken from the public Vrbo listing #120968, September 2026.
Book direct
Check availability at Unit D101
Send your dates and party size and you will hear back from the host with availability and the best direct rate.
“Send request” goes straight to the host — nothing opens on your computer. Prefer to talk? Use WhatsApp, write to sapphirerentalsd101@gmail.com or call +1 (347) 515-0618.
Reserve on Vrbo instead
The same condo — Unit D101, listing #120968 — is bookable on Vrbo, with instant confirmation, card payment and Vrbo’s own cancellation and protection terms. Booking direct with the host avoids the traveler service fee Vrbo adds at checkout, which is why the form above is usually the cheaper route.
Frequently asked
Questions about this condo
Can you snorkel straight off the beach?
Yes. The reef at Sapphire Beach is close to shore on the coral-beach side of the bay, so you walk in from the sand. No boat needed.
What will I see?
Guests report sea turtles, stingrays and Caribbean reef fish. Conditions vary with the day and the season, as anywhere.
Is snorkel gear provided?
Three sets are kept in the condo, along with beach chairs, floats, noodles and a cooler. The on-site dive shop rents anything else.
What other water sports are on site?
The Dive-In dive shop rents windsurfers, kayaks and floats. The Sapphire Beach Marina next door handles boats, wave runners, day sails, sunset cruises, deep-sea fishing and BVI charters.
Can we take a day trip to snorkel elsewhere?
Yes — day sails go to St. John and Trunk Bay, catamarans to Jost Van Dyke and the Soggy Dollar Bar, and speedboats to Virgin Gorda and The Baths. Most leave from the marina or from Red Hook, under a mile away.
Is there another good beach within walking distance?
Lindquist Beach is about an 18-minute walk. The East End beaches are all within a two- to ten-minute drive of each other.
More about this condo
Same condo, the details that matter to you
One beachfront unit, written up from a few different angles — pick the one that matches your trip.
Sapphire Beach Resort & Marina · St. Thomas, USVI
Sapphire Beach Condo D101 — 9.8/10 from 259 stays
Book direct and the host answers you, not a call center. Rates include all fees.