I'm new here and new to diving but I'll give my input anyway. I've only dove in STX and have been certified less than 2 weeks. I have just a few dives but that number will be going up by at least 2 every week. On open water dive 4, after finishing the skills, we headed over the wall and I was amazed. I had entered a whole new world and knew I had just picked up a new lifelong hobby. Enough to go home and spend an entire pay check on my own gear. Tomorrow night I'm going on my first night dive off the Fredricksted Pier. I hear awesome things about this. Lots of octopus, seahorses, and other interesting sea life.
Shore entry is generally very easy, but can be difficult with rocky bottoms and mild waves. I haven't done any boat dives yet.
And like I said, not only can I not compare it to Abaco, I can't compare it to anything.