Diving in the VI's?

[imaswfan]

I was trying to plan a trip and I was just curious. How is the diving in the Virgin Islands (either US or UK)? Please post if any of you have had any good or bad dving experiences in the VI's. Any Island or shop recomendations?

Thanks for your advice!

 

[imaswfan]

bump!

 

[TSandM]

My painfully long and detailed and picture-laden trip report from the BVI. The short version: We had a ball.

 

[diversteve]

We did 10 days there in April, 3 on St. Thomas and 7 on Virgin Gorda. Dove 2-3 dives every day. I'd have to say that the diving was better in the BVI's, especially in the Dogs, Norman and Cooper Islands area. Both areas had a profusion of soft coral and fans, but surprisingly little fish life. But on just about every dive we saw sharks, turtles, barracuda or other interesting marine life. Best dives were the Indians off Norman Island and the Ledges or Chimney off the Dogs. Aquarium off VG was the best for fishlife, it's a shallow 2nd dive on the way back in. And there's the Rhone, the BVI signature wreck. It's the most interesting, intact 1800's wreck I've ever seen. From the BVI's it's 45min, from St. Thomas it's a day trip, 2-3 hrs. each way plus customs clearance.

Visibility on both islands was in the 50-60' range, maybe up to 100' in some areas. Pretty much no shorediving anywhere, on STT there's Coki Beach which would be good for getting wet only, on VG there's really no shorediving to speak of. Although there is excellent snorkeling at the Baths - something you've got to see if you go there.

We dove with DiveIn on St. Thomas - at Sapphire Beach resort, which looked pretty nice - though we didn't stay there. Good outfit, fast boat, they limit the divers to 12 on a boat that could take 16 so it's not crowded.

On BVI we dove with DiveBVI. I can't say enough good things about them. We had 10 divers so we had our own boat, their service level was exceptional. I'm sure you've seen ads for diveops where they claim that you'll only touch your gear getting it to the boat, in this case it was absolutely true. I've never seen 3 people work so efficiently in setting up gear, changing tanks, and being ready to dive with the group as needed. They have a new custom Newton diveboat. At the end of the week, our gear was cleaned thoroughly - around our schedule not theirs - before pickup. I did do several afternoon boat dives with other divers and different members of their staff and everyone provided exceptional, friendly service - so it wasn't just for our group. If I ever go back there again, they'll be my only choice. They also have 3-4 locations around VG and Marina Cay so it's convenient wherever you stay.

If you want a quiet island, Virgin Gorda is it. Driving there is pretty intense, lots of serious elevation changes. Get the car with the most torque if you rent one. And check the brakes...

More people/nightlife would be Tortola. On the US side, St. John looked really quiet, St. Thomas gets all the pod people(cruisers) so it's a lot of hustle/bustle with traffic everyday. Red Hook on the East End there moves a lot slower though and you actually get to experience the local culture there. Dive prices were a little high on both places, but everything is imported so their costs are higher.

PM if you need any more info.

 

[imaswfan]

Thank you both very much for the info!

 

[stcroix2]

we've posted some of the St. Croix videos (amateur) from our local dives:

http://video.google.com/videoplay?docid=6765328184787954213&pr=goog-sl&hl=en

We're not the best source for lodging, or airfare, but we do have some knowledge of the local dive sites, and operators. We have a kickout-able wall along our north shore. The most popular site, Cane Bay, also has a very nice beach. The "wall" drops off to several hundred feet from it's 40' ledge. Dive Experience, and SCUBA are the Christiansted dive shops/operators. Christiansted is one of our two local "towns." They are pretty Caribbean in that regard however, like nothing stateside. Anchor Dive Center and Cane Bay Dive Shop are situatied on the walls, both of which also boat divers to other sites. N2 Blue is physically located between these two shops, and often takes divers on kick-outs at Cane Bay. However they operate their 6-Pack dive boat out of the Fredericksted Pier on the West End of the island. Also over at that end Scuba Shack and Scuba West operate boats. Scuba West's is also a 6-Pack, whereas Scuba Shack's is a larger, more traditional wide beam dive boat. There is not a "bad" operator on the island. Dive Experience, Scuba, Anchor, and Cane Bay tend to cater more to the tourist diver, and the rest seem to make their bread and butter from those of us local divers who prefer boat dives. None of the dive sites on the island can be considered off shore. All are easily within a hundred yards or two of land. The two over at Christiansted normally have longer boat rides to get to their sites. AND we don't particularily like their Long Reef dive sites because of the SEWAGE issue. This is a Caribbean island with a ridiculously s t u p i d government and infastructure...vis-a-vis the SEWAGE issue. The rest of the island is fine. Vis is often in the 50+ range. Water is warm now, our computers identify it between 83 & 85 degrees at the moment. We have nearly 100 established dive sites, so you really should never have to worrry about being taken to the "same-old-site"

Should you narrow your choice to St. Croix, and have some specific questions, let us know.

Good Luck & Good Diving

Keith and Diane

 

[Linthorn]

I'll be there 7/26-8/2. I actually know the island reasonably (my family goes back to the late 1800's in C'sted, we bought my grandfather in 1917), but I've only dived once (Discover Scuba). I'm diving with Anchor for 5 days and thought a night dive at the pier in F'sted would be good. Who's good for a solo diver (wife doesn't dive)? Any "must-do" dives that I should ask about?

 

[stcroix2]

Probably should re-think the dive the pier plan. They are in the process of dredging it. So the silt is abundant, and the vis...not! We've seen Anchor over there with groups diving it recently, so maybe they have found the dolphins to the South of the Pier divable when the dredge is not working. This is Cruzanville, so it spends as much time not working as it does working. You'll love the dives with Anchor. The wall at Salt River is amongst the best dive sites on the island. And crusing out to them from Christiansted aboard Dive Experience or Scuba is less than pleasant quite a bit of the time.

We often have solo divers for the night dives with N2, so that isn't a problem. Derrick and Diane try to make them as easy as possible, yet be in a great night-dive area. Often it is Horseshoe or Butler's Ledge off the west end.

Besides the Salt River Wall, Cane bay is probably the most popular dive site on the island. It is accessable as a kick out directly from the cane bay beach. or the Cane Bay Dive Shop runs some inflatables out from their shop, again, right at the beach.

It seems that the most popular dive sites out on the west end are Armegeddon, and the Deep Wreck tour. Armegeddon is the old (pre Hurricane Hugo) Frederiksted Pier which was torn apart in the hurricane, loaded up on barges and dumped in this area. Makes a sur-real dive site! Entry is made from an area called Truck Lagoon, which is just a bunch of old truck chasis, also dumped in this area, but a bit shallower. The Deep wrecks are a Tug and a Barge sunk about 25 years ago or so. Nice wreck dives, always good for some Black Coral, eels and turtles.

Anchor is a good shop to hook up with, when you are traveling with a non-diver. It is a quick trip out to the dives, they rinse your gear...can even keep it for you during your stay, and you are out'a there by noon-ish, after two-tank boat dives. You'll have a good time with Shaun and Kevin.

 

[markrovner]

Just completed my AOW with Low Key Watersports in St. John. The operator was by far the best I've seen in ages -- comparable with Grand Cayman.

Most dives were near the cays in the channel between St. John and St. Thomas -- Stevens, Grass, Little St. James. Lots of critters, swarms of tangs, parrotfish, mixed hard and soft corals. Couple of nurse sharks. Viz was only fair to good -- i think 50 feet would be a stretch.

We had a ball!