Dive and Play in US Virgin Islands
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My personal view, as a neighbour, would be to stay on St John, which is absolutely lovely (St Thomas, I am not a fan of; St Croix I have only been to a couple of times). You can fly into St Thomas or St Croix, but you need to take a ferry (5 mins) to St John.
Can't speak to the diving across the border, but the diving is of a pretty high quality in the BVIs (if I say so myself), so I would assume it is much the same in the USVI. although the USVI dive companies do come across to the BVI reasonably regularly to dive our one particularly famous site: the Wreck of the Rhone.
Can't speak to the diving across the border, but the diving is of a pretty high quality in the BVIs (if I say so myself), so I would assume it is much the same in the USVI. although the USVI dive companies do come across to the BVI reasonably regularly to dive our one particularly famous site: the Wreck of the Rhone.
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STT is the airport code for the main airport on St. Thomas. It's located slightly east of Charlotte Amalie. A lot of the major carriers fly into there as St. Thomas is a large cruise ship origin point. On a typical day there's 2-3 in port. So the crowds in town are corresponding. The East End is quite a bit quieter and offers more interaction with the local people. We preferred it. There's both nice resorts and condos for rent in the area.
St. Croix's airport is STX. American Flies into St. Croix directly from some U.S. cities. One thing not always obvious is that St. Croix and St. Thomas are pretty far apart. I read that the ferry between them is running again.
St. John is just across the bay from St. Thomas's East End so if you stay out there, its' a 10min. crossing. A friends nephew owns a business there, he said it's very peaceful.
Most of the interisland traffic between the USVI's and BVI's is done by ferry. They have fast ferries so most (all?) trips are under two hours interisland. Once you cross into the BVI's you'll need a passport and to go through customs/immigration each way. But it's a quick, painless process. Here's a list of ferry options: Virgin Islands Ferry Schedule
A couple of our group had an earlier flight home, they were able to leave Virgin Gorda at 8AM on the ferry and catch a 1PM flight home from St. Thomas - with time to spare to look around downtown.
We only did 4 dives off St. Thomas before diving a week in the BVI's. I thought the BVI's were much better. We stayed on Virgin Gorda which is the quieter of the two larger BVI's. Dove with DiveBVI and did all the good dives, the Rhone, Norman, Cooper, Dog Islands, the Indians, Salt Island etc. Not especially deep diving, most sites average 60' or so. I don't like wrecks but the Rhone is a must do dive. Tortola is the other major BVI, it's quite a bit larger.
St. Croix's airport is STX. American Flies into St. Croix directly from some U.S. cities. One thing not always obvious is that St. Croix and St. Thomas are pretty far apart. I read that the ferry between them is running again.
St. John is just across the bay from St. Thomas's East End so if you stay out there, its' a 10min. crossing. A friends nephew owns a business there, he said it's very peaceful.
Most of the interisland traffic between the USVI's and BVI's is done by ferry. They have fast ferries so most (all?) trips are under two hours interisland. Once you cross into the BVI's you'll need a passport and to go through customs/immigration each way. But it's a quick, painless process. Here's a list of ferry options: Virgin Islands Ferry Schedule
A couple of our group had an earlier flight home, they were able to leave Virgin Gorda at 8AM on the ferry and catch a 1PM flight home from St. Thomas - with time to spare to look around downtown.
We only did 4 dives off St. Thomas before diving a week in the BVI's. I thought the BVI's were much better. We stayed on Virgin Gorda which is the quieter of the two larger BVI's. Dove with DiveBVI and did all the good dives, the Rhone, Norman, Cooper, Dog Islands, the Indians, Salt Island etc. Not especially deep diving, most sites average 60' or so. I don't like wrecks but the Rhone is a must do dive. Tortola is the other major BVI, it's quite a bit larger.
Scuba Laura
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The best quality of St. Thomas is the diversity of diving and the islands location. From St. Thomas you can easily take a day off diving and visit St. John and the BVI's then be back in time to rest and be ready for another day of diving.
On the south/southwest of St. Thomas there are many wrecks and protected reefs, such as: The Wit Shoal, Miss Opportunity, Kennedy and other Navy Barges, reefs: East Wind, Flat Cay, Sprat Point, and Stone Face. Watch for articles about these sites which are going to be published in the next month or so in Sport Diving Magazine and Dive Training Magazine!
There are many convienent lodging places ranging from very affordable to high pampering with Dive Operations that arrange all-inclusive packages with, including all transportation for diving.
Good luck and have fun planning your dive vacation!
On the south/southwest of St. Thomas there are many wrecks and protected reefs, such as: The Wit Shoal, Miss Opportunity, Kennedy and other Navy Barges, reefs: East Wind, Flat Cay, Sprat Point, and Stone Face. Watch for articles about these sites which are going to be published in the next month or so in Sport Diving Magazine and Dive Training Magazine!
There are many convienent lodging places ranging from very affordable to high pampering with Dive Operations that arrange all-inclusive packages with, including all transportation for diving.
Good luck and have fun planning your dive vacation!
Aquabear
Contributor
Thanks you very much for the post. I am going to STT in March
, staying at the new Marriot_ frechmens reef? for 5 days. Offshore dives are plentiful but is there any good shore diving? Coki, Hull bay,Magens....? Wife and I are experienced divers but the other couple are new OW. When with them, I figured some shore dives would be easier on them not just a boat. I am experienced in uw nav. Your advice would be greatly appreciated. Also, we were planning on renting a car to go around the island and explore beaches/snorkel/dive sites, yes? I heard taxi prices are pretty high, being from NY I am use to high taxi prices.Thanks in advance.
Also, what local (homestyle) restauraunts reccommeds do you have?
islandmon
Contributor
To get some great information on diving in the Virgin Islands go to Scuba Diving in St. Thomas Virgin Islands I live here in St. Thomas and the water is usually clear and there are many shipwreck all around. There is great scuba diving here
Islandmon
St. Thomas Virgin Islands Frenchman's bay Vacation Villa rental by owner
Islandmon
St. Thomas Virgin Islands Frenchman's bay Vacation Villa rental by owner
islandmon
Contributor
This is islandmon again and I forget there is diving from the shore at Coke Beach. They are some nice people who run the dive center there.
islandmon
St. Thomas Virgin Islands Frenchman's bay Vacation Villa rental by owner
islandmon
St. Thomas Virgin Islands Frenchman's bay Vacation Villa rental by owner
Scuba Laura
Contributor
To answer your questions: Some of the dining on the south side of the island include: Dinners: Oceana, Craig and Sally's, Bella Blue, Banana Tree, Hook Line and Sinker, Betsy's Bar and Room With a View, many more to choose from. Lunches: Frenchtown Deli, Betsy's, Hook Line, and the Green House.
Coki is about the only shore diving on the island, and it's decent. I believe Homer over at Hull Bay does shores too. Admiralty has over 60 regularly used dive site ranging from beginners to advanced. Even the beginner sites can satisfy all as the dive guides can keep the beginners at the top of the reefs, and another guide takes the advanced deeper, yet everyone is in sight of each other. Wrecks available start at 45 ft and go as deep as 105. Dive sites are picked daily depending on the sea conditions, experience of divers and requested sites.
If there is anything else you need, please ask!
DIVE DIVE DIVE!!!
Coki is about the only shore diving on the island, and it's decent. I believe Homer over at Hull Bay does shores too. Admiralty has over 60 regularly used dive site ranging from beginners to advanced. Even the beginner sites can satisfy all as the dive guides can keep the beginners at the top of the reefs, and another guide takes the advanced deeper, yet everyone is in sight of each other. Wrecks available start at 45 ft and go as deep as 105. Dive sites are picked daily depending on the sea conditions, experience of divers and requested sites.
If there is anything else you need, please ask!
DIVE DIVE DIVE!!!
Scuba Laura
Contributor
I forgot to mention - Admiralty picks up Marriott guests by boat at the Marriott dock for no extra fee. Then it's a short boat ride to the first dive site.
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