Private Snorkeling or Fishing in Nassau – 55ft Cocorijo

Crystal-clear water, one private boat. Nassau’s 55-foot Hatteras Cocorijo gives your group a flexible half-day on the sea, with snorkeling, fishing, swimming, beach time, or island stops in the mix. I like the freedom to choose your activities and the fact that the captain and crew serve only your party. I also like that snorkel gear, fishing gear, bottled water, ice, and local beer are provided. The main drawback is the price: $1,650 per group, which is fair for ten people but costly for a small party, especially since lunch and the Rose Island landing fee cost extra.

This charter works best when you want more than a fixed boat ride. Captain Roscoe, Mate Cleo, and Stewardess Kassandra receive especially warm praise for their care with children, their friendly manner, and their attention to safety. Still, fishing is fishing: one family spent a half-day without a bite, so choose this trip for time on the water rather than a guaranteed catch.

Key points to know before boarding

• A private 55-foot Hatteras: Cocorijo carries only your own group, with room for up to 10 people.
• Choose your day: Combine two activities such as reef snorkeling, fishing, swimming, sunbathing, or an island visit.
• Rose Island lunch stop: Afternoon or full-day charters may visit Footprints Beach Bar and Grill, but lunch and the landing fee are extra.
• A strong crew reputation: Roscoe, Cleo, and Kassandra are often praised for being friendly, attentive, and helpful with children.
• Four hours goes quickly: The trip is about four hours, so keep your plan focused rather than trying to do everything.
• Weather matters: Poor conditions can lead to a new date or a full refund, and cancellation is free up to 24 hours ahead.

Starting at Sterling Marina on Paradise Island

Your charter begins at Carnivale Bahamas, located at 1 Marina Way in Sterling Marina at Hurricane Hole, Paradise Island. This is the meeting point for both arrival and return, and hotel pickup is not included.

That detail matters in Nassau. You will need to arrange your own way to the marina, so allow time for traffic and finding the correct dock. Cruise ship passengers must provide their ship name, docking time, time they plan to leave the ship, and re-boarding time when booking. That information helps the operator judge if a four-hour outing fits your port schedule.

The boat itself is a major part of the appeal. Cocorijo is a 55-foot Hatteras, not a small open skiff. A larger yacht generally gives you more room to move around between activities, and it makes the trip feel suitable for a family celebration, a group of friends, or a special day in Nassau.

You are not joining a mixed boatload of strangers. The charter is private, which means the captain can adjust the pace to your group. If half the party wants to snorkel and the other half prefers to fish, you have a better chance of finding a workable plan than you would on a fixed group excursion.

Building a four-hour plan that works

The charter lets you choose two activities. Options include snorkeling at a coral reef, visiting Gilligan’s Island, deep-sea or inshore fishing, swimming, sunbathing, or relaxing on a beach.

That choice is useful, but four hours is not a long time once you include the ride out, anchoring, moving between locations, and returning to the marina. I would pick two main goals before you board. Snorkeling and swimming make a natural pair. Fishing and a short swim work well for a group with mixed interests. Trying to fish, snorkel at several sites, visit an island, eat lunch, and spend time on the beach could leave every activity feeling rushed.

The crew can explain the marine life and underwater plants you see. That adds value for families, since children get more from a reef stop when someone points out what they are looking at. Cleo, Roscoe, and Kassandra have also been praised for helping young children feel comfortable on board and keeping an eye on family groups.

The private format also gives you space to ask questions. You are not trying to catch the captain’s attention from the back of a crowded boat. If you want a slower swim or more time to sit in the sun, tell the crew early.

Snorkeling near Nassau’s coral reefs

The snorkeling portion is the clearest reason to book this charter. The plan can include a colorful coral reef and, depending on conditions and the captain’s judgment, more than one snorkeling area.

One family described snorkeling between Gilligan’s Island and Rose Island, followed by a stop where they saw sea turtles. Another group snorkeled at two locations during an afternoon outing. These details suggest that the itinerary can change with sea conditions and the interests of your group, rather than following one rigid route.

Bring realistic expectations. Coral reefs are living places, not an aquarium with guaranteed animal sightings. Visibility, wind, water conditions, and the season all affect what you see. The operator supplies snorkel equipment, so you do not need to pack your own mask and fins unless you prefer your personal gear.

I like that the crew can combine snorkeling with other water time. You might spend part of the stop looking over the reef, then simply swim or float before returning to the boat. That is less tiring than making the entire outing a nonstop water activity.

A practical point: tell the crew about the swimmers in your group at the start. The supplied information says most people can participate, but it does not promise a particular level of swimming instruction or special equipment. Families with young children should plan to stay close and ask the crew how they want everyone to enter and leave the water.

Fishing, from a possible grouper to a quiet ocean

Fishing is another option, and the boat carries the necessary fishing equipment. You can choose deep-sea or inshore fishing, depending on your interests and the captain’s plan.

The results can vary widely. One family caught a 25-pound grouper and a six-foot reef shark during a half-day trip. The grouper was later prepared for dinner at Anthony’s, following Cleo’s recommendation. Another family, hoping to introduce four children to deep-sea fishing, went home without a bite and felt the boat moved too quickly for the lines to work well.

That contrast is important. Book this as a fishing attempt, not a fish guarantee. The captain can set lines and choose a fishing area, but no charter can promise a catch. If your group has children, combine fishing with snorkeling or swimming so the day still has a clear reward if the fish stay away.

The fishing setup may suit mixed groups particularly well. One person can focus on the rods while another enjoys the view, sits in the sun, or waits for a chance to swim. Ask in advance how much time you want devoted to fishing. A private charter gives you a better chance to make that request, though the captain still has to work within weather and sea conditions.

Fresh fish can sometimes become part of the day, as it did for one family, but that depends entirely on what you catch and any local arrangements. Do not count on a meal from the boat.

Gilligan’s Island and the Rose Island option

Gilligan’s Island is offered as one possible stop. It is described as one of the most photographed islands in the world, making it a good choice if you want a scenic break from the boat and a memorable backdrop for photographs.

The exact amount of time there depends on your selected activities and the charter length. For a four-hour outing, I would treat the island as one of your two main goals rather than add it on top of a long fishing session and several reef stops.

Rose Island offers a more developed stop at Footprints Beach Bar and Grill. The setting includes white sand and clear turquoise water, with lunch, music, a fully stocked bar, sunbathing, volleyball, and billiards. It sounds like a pleasant change of pace after snorkeling or fishing, especially for a group that wants some land time.

There are two catches. Footprints is listed as an option for afternoon or full-day charters, so it may not fit every four-hour plan. Also, the lunch and landing fee are not included in the charter cost. Ask for the current details before treating this stop as part of your budget.

Rose Island is likely best for people who want a social beach break rather than a quiet, completely undeveloped shore. Music, a bar, games, and lunch give the stop more variety, but they also mean it is not simply an empty beach and a towel.

The crew and the feel on board

Crew service is the most consistently praised part of this experience. Captain Roscoe, Cleo, and Kassandra are repeatedly described as professional, welcoming, attentive, and easy to spend time with. Families particularly appreciated their help with young children and the sense of safety they created.

The boat has also been described as clean, with a friendly and social atmosphere. That matters on a private charter because the crew helps set the tone for the whole day. You can expect a more personal experience than a basic transport service, with help preparing gear, finding activity areas, and making the group comfortable.

The crew lineup may vary. Other trips have been led by Captain Davy, Tyson, Ding, Keith, Chris, Karro, Bobo, and Freddy, so do not assume Roscoe, Cleo, and Kassandra will be assigned to every departure. The important point is that the company has several crew teams, and the available feedback includes strong praise for more than one team.

The overall rating is 4.9 from 42 ratings, with 95 percent recommending the experience. Those figures support the idea that service is a major strength, but they do not erase the fishing risk or the extra costs at Rose Island.

What the $1,650 price really buys

The listed price is $1,650 for the whole group, up to 10 people. At full capacity, that works out to $165 per person. For ten people sharing a private 55-foot yacht, that can be a sensible use of money, especially if your group values privacy and wants to mix activities.

For four or five people, the math changes. A five-person group would effectively pay $330 per person before any lunch or landing fee. That is a premium price, but you are paying for the boat, crew, equipment, flexibility, and private setting rather than just a seat on a snorkel boat.

Included items are a local captain and guide, bottled water, an ice cooler, snorkel gear, fishing gear, and local beer. Food is not included, and the general terms also say drinks are not included unless specified. Since local beer is specifically listed, I would clarify what beverages are available before departure, especially if children or non-beer drinkers are in your group.

Hotel pickup and drop-off are not included. A few private arrangements have included pickup from hotel jetties, but you should not assume that is standard. Confirm the boarding point and any transport plan directly when you reserve.

Who should book Cocorijo

I would consider this charter a good fit for:

• Families who want a private boat and help with children
• Groups of friends with mixed interests
• Couples or families marking a special occasion
• Cruise ship passengers with enough time in port
• Fishers who are happy with the chance of a catch
• Snorkelers who want to combine reef time with swimming or an island stop

It is less suitable for a small group on a tight budget. It may also disappoint anyone who wants a guaranteed fishing result, a full day of island-hopping, or a fixed schedule with no decisions to make.

The experience is private, but it is not fully all-inclusive. Plan for the marina on your own, budget for food at Rose Island, and agree on your two main activities before you leave the dock.

Booking, weather, and timing tips

The average booking lead time is about 50 days, so reserve early if you need a particular date, especially during busy cruise and holiday periods. Confirmation arrives at booking, and the ticket is mobile.

You can cancel for a full refund up to 24 hours before the start time. Changes or cancellations inside that 24-hour window are not accepted for a refund. Cutoff times use local Bahamas time.

Weather can affect the outing. If poor weather causes cancellation, you will be offered another date or a full refund. Since reef snorkeling and fishing both depend on sea conditions, keep some flexibility in your Nassau schedule if possible.

Wear swim clothing, bring sun protection, and carry anything you need for the beach. The supplied details confirm water, ice, snorkeling equipment, and fishing gear, but they do not list meals, hotel transfers, or every personal item you may want.

Should you book this private Nassau charter?

Book it if you want a private yacht, a friendly crew, and control over the day. The strongest reasons are the roomy Cocorijo, the choice between snorkeling and fishing, and the crew’s record of treating families with care. For a full group of ten, the price is much easier to justify.

Think twice if you have only a few people, a strict budget, or a must-have fishing catch. My best advice is to choose two realistic activities, confirm the Rose Island costs, and tell the operator about children and cruise timing before you pay. Do that, and Cocorijo offers a flexible way to experience Nassau’s reefs, beaches, and open water without surrendering your day to a crowded schedule.

FAQ

Where does the Cocorijo charter start?

The meeting point is Carnivale Bahamas at 1 Marina Way, Paradise Island, in Sterling Marina at Hurricane Hole, The Bahamas.

Where does the charter finish?

The activity ends back at the same meeting point.

How long is the private charter?

The experience lasts approximately four hours.

How many people can join the boat?

The private charter can accommodate up to 10 people in your group.

What activities can I choose?

You can choose two activities, including snorkeling at a coral reef, visiting Gilligan’s Island, deep-sea or inshore fishing, swimming, sunbathing, or relaxing on a beach.

Is snorkeling equipment provided?

Yes. Snorkeling equipment is included, along with fishing equipment.

Is food included in the price?

No. Food is not included unless specifically stated. Lunch at Footprints Beach Bar and Grill on Rose Island, along with the landing fee, is extra.

What happens if the weather is poor?

If the experience is canceled because of poor weather, you can choose another date or receive a full refund. You can also cancel up to 24 hours before the start time for a full refund.