Skip to content

Sapphire Beach

BeachesSt. ThomasRed Hook and the East EndLast verified October 30, 2026

Sand, palms and sea grape trees at Sapphire Beach above turquoise water and reef, with a sailboat at anchor and a green headland across the bay

Photo: anoldent, CC BY-SA 2.0

Sapphire Beach

Sapphire Beach is on the East End of St. Thomas, just outside Red Hook, and is known for soft sand and turquoise water. Snorkeling starts right from shore over a shallow reef with brain coral, where turtles, rays, parrotfish and angelfish are often seen, and the Department of Tourism points snorkelers to the rocky eastern edge for the most coral. The same guide lists a two-story beach bar with live music on Sunday afternoons and a shop a few steps from the beach that rents snorkel gear, paddleboards, beach chairs and sand toys. Under the Virgin Islands Coastal Zone Management Act, beaches cannot be fenced off and the public has the right to use them, but no official source gives parking details for day visitors. The Department of Planning and Natural Resources (DPNR) tests the water here weekly; check its latest advisory before swimming.

Services

  • Shore snorkeling over a shallow reef
  • Two-story beach bar
  • Snorkel gear, paddleboard and beach chair rentals nearby

How we checked

Last verified on October 30, 2026. The business has not reviewed this listing.

Source: USVI Department of Tourism, https://www.visitusvi.com/st-thomas/best-st-thomas-beaches/ (reef, beach bar, live music, rentals), https://www.visitusvi.com/experience/best-snorkeling-on-st-thomas/ (soft sand and turquoise water near Red Hook, marine life, rocky eastern edge) and https://www.visitusvi.com/experience/things-to-do-in-red-hook-on-st-thomas/ (location, snorkeling from shore); DPNR Coastal Zone Management public access page, https://dpnr.vi.gov/coastal-zone-management/public-access-viczmp/; DPNR beach advisories, https://dpnr.vi.gov/beach-advisory/ (Sapphire Beach is a monitored beach); all accessed 2026-10-30. No official source gives public parking or lifeguard details, so none are claimed.

USVI Realty does not rank, rate or endorse the places and services in this directory. Hours, fees and rules change, so check the official source before you go.

Around Red Hook and the East End

Sailboats moored on the turquoise water of Red Hook Bay, with red-roofed waterfront buildings, marina docks and green East End hills behind

Photo: Fred Hsu, CC BY-SA 3.0

Red Hook, St. Thomas
Yellow, teal-roofed Urman Victor Fredericks Marine Terminal on the Red Hook waterfront, seen from an arriving ferry, with homes on the green hillside above

Photo: Smallbones, CC0

Red Hook, St. Thomas
Clear turquoise water at Coki Beach with snorkelers offshore, the white dome of Coral World's observatory tower and Thatch Cay behind

Photo: Gruepig, CC BY-SA 3.0

Coki Point, St. Thomas