If you’re visiting St Lucia soon then you might be wondering if you need to pack water shoes.
I was wondering the same thing but couldn’t find much information so I did some research and put together this handy guide.
This post covers if you need water shoes in St Lucia, other snorkeling dangers to be aware of and the best water shoes for St Lucia.
Do You Need Water Shoes In St Lucia?
Yes, you do need to wear water shoes in St Lucia as the seafloor often has sharp rocks, coral and sometimes even sea urchins.
In general, the sand on most of St Lucia’s beaches is very soft, especially on the beaches situated in front of the fancy resorts.
The Sugar Beach Viceroy Resort actually imported their sand from Guyana to ensure it was the absolute best quality!
Sugar Beach is one of the best places for snorkeling and, even though the sand on the beach is soft, when you get into the water itself, you’ll find that the seafloor isn’t quite as soft.
You could definitely injure your feet if you’re not careful!
Sharp rocks, partial coral reefs and even sea urchins can be found. It’s better to be safe than sorry so bring along your favorite pair of water shoes.
It’s the same story with most of St Lucia’s beaches so if you’ll be spending lots of time in the water itself or want to go snorkeling then bring water shoes.
The Verdict: You should bring water shoes to St Lucia to protect your feet when in the ocean.
Best Water Shoes For St Lucia
Getting a quality pair of water shoes is really important as you want them to do the job they’re designed to do.
If you happen to stand on a sharp rock, your water shoes need to be strong enough to protect your foot from injury.
These water shoes are suitable for both men and women and are super highly rated.
They come in plain black as well as tons of other fun designs so there is definitely something for everyone.
As well as being extremely comfortable, they are also pretty durable so your feet will remain safe and sound at all times.
- Water Shoes (highly rated)
St Lucia Snorkeling Dangers

Although swimming in the sea in St Lucia is safe, there are definitely some snorkeling dangers in St Lucia that you should be aware of.
Whilst there are no sharks in St Lucia (yay!), it’s possible that you might bump into the occasional jellyfish.
I actually wrote an entire guide on St Lucia jellyfish so you know what to expect. The key takeaway is that there are jellyfish but stings are rare and usually mild.
Sea urchins also show up from time to time and, although their stings are harmless to humans, they are very spiky so could really injure you if you stand on one.

If you cut your foot on one, there is also a risk of infection so it’s best to wear water shoes.
Other than that, you have very little to worry about when it comes to St Lucia snorkeling dangers.
All of the other marine creatures that you’ll meet are super friendly. Tropical fish are the most common but you can also see turtles in St Lucia too at certain times of year.
St Lucia is one of the Caribbean’s best locations for snorkeling so it’s worth giving it a go whilst you’re there.
Best Snorkeling Tour
I personally always book onto a snorkeling tour like this one.
These are pretty awesome and make the day super easy and laidback.
You’ll be taken to the absolute best snorkeling spots on the island which is a blessing as transport in St Lucia is pretty bad (there’s no Uber in St Lucia and renting a car isn’t easy).
You also get a knowledgeable guide who will guide you around and ensure you see as much marine life as possible.
This tour also includes a boat tour by catamaran, an open bar, a waterfall and two snorkeling stops.
And that’s it!
Thanks for reading this post on if you need water shoes in St Lucia.
There’s lots of great ways to enjoy the ocean in St Lucia. Aside from snorkeling, you can surf in St Lucia too.
Need more help planning your St Lucia vacation?
Related Posts: