Diving from St. John in March

[PaulWilliam]

I will be on a family trip to St. John in late March, and would like to get a day of diving in, if I can. I have read that the RMS Rhone should not be missed, and that Low Key Watersports has a nice all day trip to this wreck. Would this still be a good option, or maybe other dives would be better. Thanks, PW

 

[diversteve]

Better is subjective. I liked the Rhone and I don't generally dive wrecks - I often go the other way when others do. Both halves (2 dives) are interesting and it doesn't really exceed 70' anywhere so you get a lot of bottom time.

Cruz Bay Watersports also runs over there weekly - or at least used to. Don't forget your passport...

Near St. John Carval Rock is probably the best dive. Not always diveable due to conditions. Often if it's not they'll drop back to Congo Cay - at least they do from St. Thomas. It's another good dive in that area. We dove Grass Cay also - kind of underwhelming. Nice drift but shallow and not a lot to see besides the usual soft corals, fans etc. seen in that area.

 

[PaulWilliam]

Hi DiverSteve, Thanks for the input. I'll post what I end up doing and the conditions.

 

[diversteve]

would like to get a day of diving in

I missed this...for one day I'd probably head over for the Rhone. Cruising to/thru the BVI's is also interesting and it's probably the best wreck you can get to from St. John. We dove it April 28th, my log shows the viz was 30-50'. I remember the back being a little better or maybe it cleared up in the afternoon. Kind of atypical since most of our other 20 dives I could see the dive boat throughout the dive - most dives in the 60-70' range all week. It's nice diving but not especially deep since you're often pretty close to one of the smaller islands.

 

[PaulWilliam]

Hi DiverSteve, turns out that of the two shops I looked at, #1 offers a two dive package on the Rhone, and #2 offers one dive on the Rhone, then a dive at "Wreck Alley" Cooper Island and a 3rd dive at either "The Hook" or the "Painted Wall". Since I'm there for one day, #2 sounds the best to me (3 dives). Have you heard of the sites mentioned? Or would I be better off, just staying at the Rhone for both dives? Thanks.

 

[diversteve]

When the Rhone split it settled some distance apart. Most operators - including ours - moved between moorings after the 1st dive.
So doing one dive on it you'll probably have to pick between sites. Both have their advantages, the back was more interesting but the front has the famous swim-thru - the back is too collapsed for that. Lots more exposed machinery on the back - including the 15' tall prop and rudder.

Painted Walls is one of the best dives - makes the top 10 lists for most. There are few other dives that have the profusion of color seen there.

I don't know anything about wreck alley - we didn't go there.

I think just to see something different on each dive I'd go with the 2nd option.

 

[PaulWilliam]

Thanks, a bunch for your response. I'll post on how these went.