Silke E.
Yelp
I love Coki Beach for its fun vibe and feeding the fish. We've been to St Thomas twice in the last two years and Coki Beach on a Sunday, for Sunday Fun Day is a must... though it was definitely better in early 2022 when cruise ships hadn't really started coming back in yet after Covid.
Coki Beach is a fairly narrow band of sand, so with the cruise ships back in full swing and dropping passengers off en masse it can get crowded, be aware and get there early for a good spot! Parking is limited as well, another reason to get there early, otherwise you risk having to park along the street which can be quite adventurous.
Beach attendants offer lounge chairs and umbrellas for rent for a fee. In addition, there were floating lounge chairs and islands available for rent... THEY ARE NOT FREE and using them without paying is definitely frowned upon! If you are planning on staying the whole day, an umbrella is advisable since there really isn't much/any shade to speak of. In addition to the attendants renting beach equipment there are also 'waiters' coming around to order food and drinks from (they usually accept credit cards too)... or you can just get up, walk a few feet and get it yourself from a handful of beach shacks. Food is more authentic than in other places on the island and the frozen drinks are amazing.
Snorkel gear is available for rent as well, and there is a dive shop, as well as a little touristy shop selling clothing, hats, sunglasses and such. All this, together with the music being played over speakers, makes for a very fun beachy Caribbean vibe.
However, let's not forget the wonderful tropical fish and feeding them, an experience that still brings a huge smile to my face! Fish 'food' can be bought from vendors along the beach and the fish know it... you snorkel up to them and they swarm you eating right out of your hand, dozens of them, it's amazing! Is it the best, most pristine snorkel experience on St Thomas, no, but it is the most fun for sure. We also generally don't swim out too far or around the point towards the aquarium, so maybe it gets better there... for us Coki is about the beach vibe and the swarms of fish waiting to be fed. :) The aquarium, Coral World, offers a variety of experiences, but we've never gone, so have no idea if it's worth the money.
P.S. We didn't have any issues with things getting stolen on Coki and we did both bring our cellphones so we could take photos, however, as there is never a guarantee just don't leave anything unattended that you can't live with.