St Croix Anniversary Trip Oct 2020

[BAN0828]

We are celebrating our 20th anniversary and have scheduled our first trip to St Croix.

Looking for recommendations on where to stay, dive operator and a place for our anniversary dinner.

My husband is looking forward to seeing lots of octopus and seahorses

TIA

 

[jonhall]

Wish I could give you more updated info, but not sure what is open in way of accommodations and restaurants since hurricanes a couple of years ago.

The Pink Condos (look them up on Facebook) have been remodeled. I used to stay there as I had an aunt-in-law who lived there. They are on the west coast (sunsets) in Frederiksted. About 15 yards from the water, there used to be really good snorkeling. Like having a private beach.

Nep2une Scuba (formerly N2theBlue) in Frederiksted, right by the pier, would be a great dive op to use. The people that run it are really good - you can find them on Facebook or their website. They have a limit of 6 divers on the boat. Daytime and nighttime dives of the pier are a must - Nep2une will provide guides and lead you to the seahorses. You could do the daytime by yourselves.

A rental car would get you to Christiansted on the other side of the island where there used to be some good restaurants along the boardwalk. Frederiksted also used to have a couple of good restaurants. Hopefully someone who has been recently will help you out. If not, email Jenny Keith at Nep2une Scuba and get a recommendation from her.

Congrats on the 20th!

 

[BAN0828]

Jonhall thanks for the info. We'll check-out Nep2une Scuba and the Pink Condos.

 

[Scuba Scott]

Arawak Bay Inn B&B was a great place to stay. It is quiet and secluded. There is daily breakfast available. The owners really go out of their way to make sure you enjoy your stay and will adjust breakfast time and menu to your preference. Only disadvantage (advantage) is you will need to drive to get anywhere else. I dove with Cane Bay dive shop and they have a location on each side of the island. The Christiansted shop (closest to Arawalk) offers unlimited shore diving and is connected to a restaurant that has really good food and we ate there several times. The dive shop provides a shuttle to/from Arawak. Your DM from the boat during the day may end up being your waitress or tour guide that night. There are some really great places to go eat while you watch live entertainment but those all vary by day of week or week of month so you will choose based on when you are there. The dive shop can recommend something awesome.
You will need a rental car.
Dive the pier.
Dive the wall.
When in Fredericsted go to Lost Dog Pub and Pizza.

Congrats on 20!

 

[BoundForElsewhere]

We are celebrating our 20th anniversary and have scheduled our first trip to St Croix.

Looking for recommendations on where to stay, dive operator and a place for our anniversary dinner.

My husband is looking forward to seeing lots of octopus and seahorses

TIA

Congratulations!!

 

[drrich2]

St. Croix Research Report Aug. 2017 - St. Croix Research Report Aug. 2017

That report's a bit dated now, and the hurricane happened since, but it might give you some ideas. To start with, you'll probably need to pick a region, the Christiansted area of the Frederiksted area, to base yourself. Decide how many dives/day you wish to do. There are some topside entertainments, though it's not a major cruise ship stop (it does get some, though; less likely to be an issue this year I suspect, with the cruise industry so shut down).

 

[<*)))><]

Sand Castle on the Beach | Boutique hotel in Frederiksted, St. Croix, US Virgin Islands #stx #stcroix #usvi

Caveat, I've never stayed there but was scheduled to in Feb. Had to cancel trip. My memory tells me its not far from the pier.

 

[DarrynSami]

Our only diving experience was with Dive Experience in Christiansted. My stepson did his OW training with them and we did some boat diving on the reefs. Was a great experience. St Croix is small enough that with a rental car you can go anywhere. Lots to see and do. Have not been there since the pandemic took hold but you can google "st croix local news" and get up to date.

 

[jonhall]

Have had my memory refreshed a little reading some other comments and thinking about the diving.

Regarding diving, if it makes any difference, the calm side of the island is the west side (Frederiksted.) Besides the pier, there are reefs and small wrecks (not difficult.) Cane Bay, located on the Northwest side has "the" wall. It is somewhat protected as it is a bay. The water farther around to the north can be a little choppier at times- dove around Salt Canyon area and saw some great topography (east wall and submarine canyons) but water wasn't as clear and calm as west side.

Lost Dog Pub located in town (Frederiksted) was, before hurricanes, kind of a dive but had a great vibe and pizza - known for their white sauce, although you can get red. Read about it years ago in a dive magazine, it was like a divers hangout - not sure that was true but we started going every time we visited the island.

Hope this link to a webcam works: Official Page for Live St. Croix Web Cam | GoToStCroix.com It is in Christiansted looking across the water at Hotel on the Cay, which you could see if the awning weren't in the way. Always thought it might be fun to stay there. I occasionally look at this website when I'm dreaming about going back to St. Croix.

There is also the Divi Carina Bay which is all-inclusive. The only casino in the U.S.V.I is located here. Due to it's location on the south side of the island (although it is shown as being in Christiansted), you definitely would need a rental car to get to scuba diving and other attractions. They were closed due to the pandemic, but are reopening soon.

 

[BAN0828]

Have had my memory refreshed a little reading some other comments and thinking about the diving.

Regarding diving, if it makes any difference, the calm side of the island is the west side (Frederiksted.) Besides the pier, there are reefs and small wrecks (not difficult.) Cane Bay, located on the Northwest side has "the" wall. It is somewhat protected as it is a bay. The water farther around to the north can be a little choppier at times- dove around Salt Canyon area and saw some great topography (east wall and submarine canyons) but water wasn't as clear and calm as west side.

Lost Dog Pub located in town (Frederiksted) was, before hurricanes, kind of a dive but had a great vibe and pizza - known for their white sauce, although you can get red. Read about it years ago in a dive magazine, it was like a divers hangout - not sure that was true but we started going every time we visited the island.

Hope this link to a webcam works: Official Page for Live St. Croix Web Cam | GoToStCroix.com It is in Christiansted looking across the water at Hotel on the Cay, which you could see if the awning weren't in the way. Always thought it might be fun to stay there. I occasionally look at this website when I'm dreaming about going back to St. Croix.

There is also the Divi Carina Bay which is all-inclusive. The only casino in the U.S.V.I is located here. Due to it's location on the south side of the island (although it is shown as being in Christiansted), you definitely would need a rental car to get to scuba diving and other attractions. They were closed due to the pandemic, but are reopening soon.