Private Snorkeling or Fishing in Nassau – 55ft Cocorijo

Nassau’s 55-foot Cocorijo gives you something most boat trips cannot: a private plan. With your own captain and crew, you can spend the half-day snorkeling a reef, fishing offshore, swimming near an island, or simply enjoying the water instead of following a fixed route. Captain Roscoe, mate Cleo, and stewardess Kassandra are among the crew members associated with this charter.

I like two things right away. First, the boat can carry up to 10 people for one group price, which makes the $1,650 cost easier to justify for a family or a group of friends. Second, the crew has handled very different outings, from children’s snorkeling trips to fishing that produced a 25-pound grouper and a six-foot reef shark. The main caution is simple: fishing is fishing. One half-day outing produced no bites, so choose this charter for time on the water, not a guaranteed catch.

Key details before you book

• A private 55-foot Hatteras: Cocorijo is reserved for your party, with space for up to 10 people and a crew dedicated to your group.
• You choose the mix: Pick two activities, such as reef snorkeling, fishing, swimming, sunbathing, or an island visit.
• Rose Island can add a relaxed lunch stop: Footprints Beach Bar and Grill offers food, music, drinks, beach time, volleyball, and billiards, but lunch and the landing fee cost extra.
• Snorkel and fishing equipment are supplied: Bottled water, an ice cooler, snorkel gear, fishing gear, and local beer are listed as included.
• The meeting point is on Paradise Island: Start at Carnivale Bahamas, 1 Marina Way, Sterling Marina, Hurricane Hole.
• Weather matters: You can cancel for a full refund up to 24 hours before departure, and poor weather can lead to a new date or full refund.

A private Nassau boat day with room to change plans

This is not a standard sightseeing cruise where everyone follows the same script. You board at Sterling Marina and discuss the day with the captain and crew. For a four-hour charter, you will normally want to choose two main activities rather than try to do everything.

That flexibility is the real selling point. You might spend the first part snorkeling at a coral reef, then fish for the remaining time. Or you could skip fishing and focus on swimming, an island stop, and a slow lunch. If your group includes children, older family members, strong swimmers, and people who prefer to stay aboard, a private boat makes it easier to keep everyone happy.

The crew setup also adds comfort. Captain Roscoe, Cleo, and Kassandra have been praised for helping families with young children, explaining the boat and ocean to younger passengers, and keeping the mood friendly. Other crew members, including Davy, Tyson, Ding, Keith, Bobo, Freddy, Chris, and Karro, have also been associated with Born Free Charters on related outings. Your exact crew may differ, so treat the names as useful context rather than a promise.

The boat itself is a 55-foot Hatteras, described as beautifully maintained. That matters on a half-day charter. You have room to move around, sit out of the sun, and shift between conversation and water activities. Still, this is a boat trip, not a resort day. Bring sun protection, a swimsuit, and a towel unless your booking instructions say otherwise.

Leaving Sterling Marina on Paradise Island

Your start and finish point is Carnivale Bahamas at 1 Marina Way, Sterling Marina, in Hurricane Hole on Paradise Island. The charter does not include hotel pickup and drop-off, so you need to arrange your own way to the marina.

Cruise ship passengers must provide the ship name, docking time, disembarkation time, and re-boarding time when booking. This is more than paperwork. A private boat trip has a fixed departure and return window, and the captain needs enough information to judge if the timing works for your ship.

The activity ends back at the same meeting point. That makes it fairly easy to plan around a hotel stay on Paradise Island, but you should leave a sensible cushion if you are returning to a cruise ship. The published trip lasts about four hours, yet marina movements and changing conditions can affect the exact rhythm of the day.

Choosing your two activities

The charter lets you combine two activities. Ask your group what matters most before you board. A family with children may prefer snorkeling and swimming. Friends may choose fishing and a beach stop. A mixed group might enjoy snorkeling first, followed by a quiet ride and lunch at Rose Island.

The options include:

• Snorkeling at a colorful coral reef
• Deep sea or inshore fishing
• Swimming
• Sunbathing on a beach
• Visiting Gilligan’s Island
• Visiting Rose Island and Footprints Beach Bar and Grill on an afternoon or full-day charter

You can also ask about seeing swimming pigs, since that has been part of at least one family outing connected with this boat service. It should not be treated as a guaranteed feature of every four-hour booking. Confirm what can fit your date, weather, and chosen route.

The phrase choose two activities deserves attention. If you select fishing, snorkeling, and a long island lunch, the day may feel rushed. The captain can help you set realistic priorities, but the more time you spend traveling between places, the less time remains at each stop.

Snorkeling around Nassau’s reefs and islands

Snorkeling is likely the most dependable choice if your group wants to see the Bahamas underwater. The charter supplies snorkel equipment, and the crew can point out marine life and underwater plant life. You do not need to spend time renting masks and fins separately, which saves both money and marina errands.

The exact reef location can change with sea conditions and the captain’s judgment. One reported route placed snorkeling between Gilligan’s Island and Rose Island, with a second snorkel area included on another outing. That suggests the crew can use more than one site when conditions and timing allow.

I like the private format here because you can ask for help without feeling rushed. If one child needs a mask adjusted, or someone wants an explanation of what they are seeing, the captain or mate can give attention to your group. Several families have specifically valued the crew’s calm help with young children and their attention to safety.

Do not expect a formal marine biology lesson with a fixed script. The information is informal and comes from the crew as you explore. Bring your own prescription mask if you rely on one, since the supplied equipment is standard charter gear and individual fit can vary.

Snorkeling also depends on the day. Water clarity, wind, current, and comfort in the water all affect the experience. If your party has mixed swimming ability, tell the crew before leaving the marina. You can then decide how much time should be spent in the water and how much should be devoted to a beach or boat-based activity.

Fishing, from a promising catch to a quiet half-day

Fishing is available as deep sea or inshore fishing, with all necessary fishing equipment provided. That makes this a convenient choice for families who do not want to pack rods, reels, or tackle. The crew can set up the gear and guide you through the basics.

The results can vary sharply. One family caught a 25-pound grouper and a six-foot reef shark on a half-day trip. They later ate the grouper at Anthony’s restaurant after receiving a recommendation from Cleo. Another group, hoping to give four children a fun deep sea fishing experience, spent the half-day moving through the water without a bite and felt the boat was traveling too fast for their expectations.

That contrast is important. No charter can promise fish, especially in a short four-hour window. I would book this for the chance to fish in Bahamian waters and for the time spent with your family, not as a guaranteed meal. If landing a catch is the main purpose of your trip, ask in advance about the fishing plan, the preferred style of fishing, and what can realistically be covered in four hours.

Inshore fishing may suit a group that wants less time heading offshore and more time near islands and reefs. Deep sea fishing may appeal to experienced anglers or anyone hoping for a larger catch, but conditions and luck still control the result. Tell the captain whether the group includes first-time fishers or children, so the outing can be shaped accordingly.

Gilligan’s Island and the Rose Island option

Gilligan’s Island is offered as one of the possible stops and is described as one of the most photographed islands in the world. The appeal is visual and social: clear water, an island setting, and a chance to step away from Nassau’s developed shoreline.

Do not assume every charter will include it. You choose two activities, and a four-hour booking has limits. If the island matters to you, request it when booking and ask how it fits with snorkeling or fishing.

On afternoon and full-day charters, you may also choose Rose Island and Footprints Beach Bar and Grill. This stop offers a white sandy beach, turquoise water, lunch, music, a fully stocked bar, sunbathing, volleyball, and billiards. It is the most complete relaxation option in the menu, especially for a group that wants both a boat ride and a beach afternoon.

There are extra costs. Lunch and the landing fee at Footprints are not included in the charter price. The general inclusions list mentions bottled water, an ice cooler, snorkel equipment, fishing equipment, and local beer, while food and drinks are otherwise excluded unless specified. I would confirm the beverage details before departure and budget separately for lunch, drinks beyond the listed local beer, and the landing fee.

What the crew adds to the day

The strongest pattern across the experience is the crew’s personal service. Roscoe, Cleo, and Kassandra have been repeatedly associated with a friendly, professional approach. Their work has included helping young children, making families feel safe, keeping the boat clean, explaining ocean life, and adjusting the tone from active fishing to quiet relaxation.

That matters more than it might sound. A private charter can feel awkward if the crew stays distant or pushes a fixed plan. Here, the best use of the format is to speak up. Tell them if you want more snorkeling, less fishing, a quieter ride, help with children, or time on the beach.

The mood seems flexible, too. Some outings have focused on fishing, some on snorkeling and island stops, and others on a relaxed afternoon with drinks and music. If your group wants a party atmosphere, say so. If you want a calm family trip, say that instead. The crew cannot change the weather or guarantee a catch, but they can shape the feel of the day.

Is $1,650 a fair price?

The cost is $1,650 per group of up to 10 people, not per person. At the maximum group size, that works out to $165 per person before any extra lunch, landing fees, or other purchases. For five people, it comes to $330 each. The value improves quickly as your party gets larger.

Compared with booking several separate seats on a shared boat, a private charter gives you control over the route and avoids spending the day with strangers. It can also be a good choice for a family that needs flexibility. You are paying for the boat, captain, crew, gear, and private use, not just for a snorkel stop.

The price is harder to justify if only two or three people are going and you mainly want a short swim. In that case, a shared excursion may cost less. This charter makes the most sense when you have a larger party, want several activities, or care about setting the pace.

Keep the extras in mind. Footprints lunch and the landing fee are not included, and hotel transportation is not provided. Food and most drinks are also outside the stated price, although local beer is listed among the inclusions. Confirm the final inclusions before paying so your group is not surprised at the marina or beach stop.

Who will enjoy Cocorijo most?

I would recommend this charter to families, groups of friends, cruise passengers with a well-planned schedule, and visitors who want more control than a shared boat provides. It works especially well for a group with mixed interests. One person can fish while another prefers snorkeling, and the group can spend the rest of the time swimming or relaxing.

It is also a good match for families with children. The crew has experience assisting younger passengers, and the private format lets you set a comfortable pace. Still, children must be supervised around the water, and parents should be clear about swimming ability before the boat leaves.

This may not be the right choice if you want a guaranteed fishing result, a fixed list of famous stops, or an all-inclusive beach club package. It is also less attractive for a very small party that does not plan to use the private boat format.

The charter is booked around 50 days in advance on average, so popular dates may require planning. Confirmation arrives at booking, and mobile tickets make the entry process simple. Free cancellation applies up to 24 hours before the start time. Cancellations or changes inside that window are not refunded, and poor weather can lead to a different date or a full refund.

Should you book this Nassau charter?

Book Cocorijo if you have a group large enough to share the cost and want a flexible day on the water. The strongest reasons are the private 55-foot boat, included snorkel and fishing gear, the choice of two activities, and a crew that can work well with families and different age groups.

I would be more cautious if fishing is your only goal. The 25-pound grouper and reef shark show what can happen, but the no-fish outing shows the other side. For the best value, choose your priorities before boarding, confirm the crew’s plan, budget for Rose Island extras, and treat the catch as a bonus rather than the promise.

FAQ

How much does the private Cocorijo charter cost?

The price is $1,650 per group for up to 10 people. The charter lasts approximately four hours.

Where does the charter depart?

The meeting point is Carnivale Bahamas, 1 Marina Way, at Sterling Marina in Hurricane Hole on Paradise Island, New Providence Island. The activity ends back at the same meeting point.

What activities can I choose?

You can choose two activities from options that include coral reef snorkeling, deep sea fishing, inshore fishing, swimming, sunbathing, and visits to Gilligan’s Island. On afternoon or full-day charters, Rose Island and Footprints Beach Bar and Grill may also be available.

Is snorkeling equipment provided?

Yes. Snorkel equipment is included, along with fishing equipment for the fishing option.

Is food included?

No. Food is not included unless specifically stated. Lunch and the landing fee at Footprints Beach Bar and Grill are extra. Local beer is listed as included, while other food and drinks should be confirmed before departure.

Is hotel pickup provided?

No. Hotel pickup and drop-off are not included. You need to make your own way to the marina.

What happens if the weather is poor?

The experience requires good weather. If it is canceled because of poor weather, you can be offered another date or a full refund. For a full refund after a personal cancellation, you must cancel at least 24 hours before the start time.