U.S. Virgin Islands Scuba Diving
Experience scuba diving in the Virgin Islands and see the treasure beneath the crystal blue Caribbean waters on your next virgin islands scuba diving vacation. The Virgin Islands is one of the most beautiful areas in the world for diving exploration. Dive USVI for some of the most spectacular underwater experiences. The air temperatures average about 77 degrees in the winter with water temperatures down into the mid-70s. Air temperature will average 83 degrees in the summer and water temperature will average 80 degrees. Great conditions for Virgin Islands diving.
St. Croix’s north shore wall features numerous underwater caves, tunnels, and pinnacles the perfect setting for St Croix scuba. St. Croix is also home to the 1,000-foot Salt River Canyon. Between St. Thomas and St. John the waters of Pillsbury Sound contain many shipwrecks to explore, including the freighter W.I.T. Shoal. St Thomas scuba and usvi diving will not disappoint. If you are looking for a place to accommodate several dives, try St. John Island. Home to the uninhabited Carvel Rock and Congo Cay, you will love St. John scuba.
Scuba Diving In St. Croix
Cane Bay Drop-Off is set some 100 – 150 yards offshore. The wall’s rim is set at 40 feet and is marked by a spur and groove formation with amazing brain corals and a wide variety of sea life.
Jimmy’s Surprise highlights a coral pinnacle that boasts tube sponges, moray eels, and queen angelfish. This advanced dive leads to its base, an area some 70- 80 feet in diameter
Rust-Op-Twist is named after the sugar estate and is a spur and groove formation set between Jimmy’s and Cane Bay Drop-Off. Down at 70 – 80 feet it is novice dive on the spot of a former fish farm.
West Palm Beach is a novice dive site set between Northstar and Cane Bay. Follow a spur and groove formation to a vertical wall at 30 – 40 feet. From here a slope leads down to 50 – 60 feet where it plunges further. Angelfish, orange elephant ear and other sponges, and butterfly fish are among the species you may see here.
Northstar Wall is a light to moderate dive, which extends from 50 to 130 feet. It may be reached from either boat or beach. The entrance is under a mile west of Cane Bay. Watch for sea urchins while swimming the 200-yard along the wall, which has, a Danish anchor embalmed on a sand shelf down around 60 feet.
Salt River Canyon East is set at the mouth of Salt River Drop-Off which slopes and is home to schools of fish.
Salt River Canyon West begins at 30 feet and swiftly drops to 90 feet, after which it plummets to 1,000 feet. Its caves and crevices house black coral forest, tube stingrays and other fish. The West Wall is one of the area’s most famous dives.
Little Cozumel is east of Salt River Canyon and is a 40 – 70 feet intermediate – level dive. Two small walls run from 40 – 70 feet and host a wide variety of coral. Barracuda, grouper, and snapper may be seen.
Butler Bay has shipwrecks to explore. Rosaomaira, a 177 foot steel-hulled freighter; Suffork Mae, a 140-foot trawler; and the Northwind, a 75-foot tugboat sunk in 50 feet of water, are among the wrecks to explore. This is an intermediate dive, but novices may visit the shallower wrecks.
Fredriksted Pier is a great day or night dive. Getting into the water here is simple, walk to the end of the pier and jump in, or you can use the ladder. After entering the water there will be sea rays, brittle star fish, Christmas tree worms, frogfish, trumpetfish, and arrow crabs. You can usually spot a sea horse here at night.
The Barge is on reef just outside Christiansted. Resting in 70-90 feet, it is a novice dive. Fish expect to be feed here and will let you know it. Yellowtail, barracuda, and coneys are among the residents.
Buck Island is a perfect dive for beginners. Here there is no current and offers beautiful coral caves to explore.