Getting the most out of USVI's

[diver3523]

Hello Friends,

So, I'm going to the USVI in August. We're going to be staying on St. Thomas, since we're not looking for a "dive-only" trip this time (at least, that's what I'm told . That doesn't mean I won't try to get the absolute most out of my limited dive trips during my vacation. I've been reading the various posts on this forum, and on other websites about the diving on the islands, and it looks like my options on St. Thomas are slim. I enjoy a challenging dive experience, including drift diving, large pelagics, walls, etc. In reading about the islands, I have a couple of questions that hopefully locals or people with travel experience to the islands can answer, based on their wealth of experience:

1.) What are the signature "must-dives" on St. Thomas? How would you generally characterize the diving on this island, relative to the others?

2.) How easy will it be to dive on St. Johns from St. Thomas (i.e. is it feasible for the operators based on St. Thomas to do the better sites on St. Johns)? Is the best way to dive St. Johns to take the ferry over and head out with a shop based on that island?

3.) I've had difficult finding information about day-trip ferrys to St. Croix from St. Thomas. Is this a feasible day-trip? I've read great things about diving on St. Croix, and I'm wondering what the best way to do St. Croix would be, if I were based on St. Thomas.

4.) How are the day-trips to the BVI's from St. Thomas? Is it possible to get in some solid diving on the BVI's in a day?

Thanks in advance for all of your help! I appreciate everyones time and assistance.

 

[mike_s]

Don'e know where you're staying, but many of the St Thomas dive boats run to St Johns. We stayed at a resort on the "west end" of st thomas near Red Hook. The boats from there pretty much dive both islands without you having to take a ferry.

The ferry to St Johns is cheap and easy, but it sucks up too much time. Just get a dive boat that goes over.

St Croix is about 70 miles away ( I think). That's a long ferry trip to do in one day roundtrip. I doubt it's worth the time/effort.

Yes. You definately will want to visit BVI. From Red Hook, BVI is about a 30+ minute ferry ride. I think it's $30-$45 bucks including customs fees. (yes you'll have to clear customs). many dive operators do the HMS Rhone as a dive trip and you go over on their boat, clear customs, dive, dive, return and clear US customs.

Hope all that helps.

-mike

 

[RICHinNC]

Dont forget your passport if going to BVI.

Most dives on St T are boat dives....there is however one shore dive I am aware of...that being, Coki Beach. I didnt have time to do it when I was there and I hear mixed reviews but might be worth looking into.

I used Sawyer Dive ops when I visited and was pretty happy as have others been as well. There was one gent on here that didnt like the ops....

You will find St J very diff from St T as the island is like 90% a national forest. Rockerfeller owned it and when he gave it to the USA the deal was that much stay natural forest, so you will find it very much low keyed compared to ST T. Very easy to drive around on.

As for the best dive sites.....I suck at remembering names and seldom get them put down in my dive log but there is a dive there where you swim in cool gulleys and crevices....the dive ops will know.
Enjoy your trip and do a report.

 

[starlan]

Im going to St John this weekend and wil be staying there in a villa. The west end of St Thomas share the same sites with St John I beleive. There are a few pretty good sites I beleive. Depending on where you are staying try to do some wreck diving in St Thomas. The WIT Shoal comes most recommended I think but I dont think the West End operators do that dive so you may want to try Blue Island Divers if you are interested. As for sites in between St John and Thomas, I hear the better ones are Carvel Rock, Congo Cay, Cow and Calf and Little St James and Dog Island and all west end operators on St Thomas go to these I beleive. There is also a dive on St John called Eagle Shoal (supposedly the best dive around St John, its sort of like an underwater cathedral with very interesting formations, etc.. and good reef life) but no one will take you there except for one operator I found (6paqscuba). (its because its on the east end of St John, and operators dont want to trek out there). 6paq charges you more for it but I booked with them because I heard its a great site and seldomly dived. Its a longer trip then the usual 3-4 hour ones from St Thomas or St John, (thats why 6paq charges you more and the other operators dont do it because they charge one price and so dont want to waste time, gas, etcc. going there) but from what ive heard here and in magazines its a great site and try to do it if you can. Just take the ferry over and theyll probably pick you up from the dock.

Dont know about St Croix so I cant help you there but yes the best diving in USVI is St Croix (mostly because of the walls and larger fish you may see). Im not trekking out there to dive however, I dont think its worth it either like the poster that mentioned it above. (I recently did Turks and Caicos recently anyways and the wall diving there is pretty awesome), I just want to mostly relax and get a couple dives in around St John. Lastly, the Rhone trip in BVI waters as mentioned by the poster above is supposed to be a very good wreck (one of the best in caribbean apparantly). I beleive many operators do that trip both from St Thomas and St John. Hope this helps you get the most out of your trip and plan what kinds of dives you want to do.

 

[starlan]

Please Delete this post, I just cant seem to get away from double posting lately as my browser is pissing me off. Sorry about this.

 

[vel525]

Diver3523,

Check out scubadiving.com (in the travel section), there are a couple good articles regarding diving in the USVI and some general info about the islands. It seems like the "better" diving is on St. Croix. I would recommend telling your significant other to suck it up and that you are going on a "dive" trip (just kidding buddy). Good luck with the trip.

 

[Damselfish]

Even though it's supposed to be the best diving of USVI I wasn't that impressed with the diving in St Croix. I would just enjoy whatever the closer sites offer and not mess around with trying to work in St. Croix.