How's the diving in Saint John's?

[jedah]

I have never been to Saint John, but I've heard that the island, being 80% a national park, is beautiful above water and not over-developed.

Is the diving in Saint John also good? Or would it be better to go to the Caymans or BVI instead?

Thanks!

J.

 

[Rwhiting]

I did my first (resort course) dives in 1989 on St. Johns. As most first dives are, it was awe inspiring. Water clarity was superb, (100+ ft) and the corals appeared healthy. The scuba bug bit me hard as a result of these dives, and I immediately got my OW certification. Having subsequently been to the Caymans, BVI, Coz, GBR and other places, St. Johns has average diving IMHO. However for a combination of top side natural beauty and good quality (if not world class) diving, it's hard to beat the Virgin Islands, either US or British. If you want to see the best diving in the Carribean, go to Little Cayman or Coz (I hear Turks and Caicos rounds out the top 3 - I'm going to Provo in July, but haven't been yet). If hiking, beaches and other non-diving activities in a not over-developed area is as important as diving, I'd say go with St. Johns.
Rich

 

[Tim Ingersoll]

I would agree that St. Johns offers average diving by Caribbean standards. I wouldn't go there if it was all about the diving but I would dive there if I was there with family, etc.

 

[RICHinNC]

Where are you staying???

When you go downtown....and as you hit the town....the road curves to the right...there is a white church to the left.

Go on just a short distance and there is a right turn and the street goes up hill. At the top of the hill on the left side is the only dive shop there that I am aware of....other than if you have one at your resort....eg...the Westin.

Double check before you do any shore diving....I think that is still a no no.

If you get over to St. Thomas....check out Chris Sawyer....and there is one shore dive I am aware of there.....Coki Beach.
rich

 

[Chaseh]

there are at least two dive shops on St. Johns. There's one on the 1st floor of that open mini-mall on the beach, with their boats outside. I haven't dove with them, but seem to wander in there for a knick-knack every 5 yrs or so.

If you're staying on St. Johns, the dive opp will probably be working many of the small islands/rocks between there and St Thomas. The may also cruise into the BVI, but I don't know if you need to pass customs if you're not going on shore and only diving the BVI from there.

 

[pigletfish]

You're not going to find the world's most impressive dive sites on St. John, but the diving there is certainly pretty and pleasant. Lots of fish, turtles, stingrays, nurse sharks and such, in warm water with good viz. The snorkeling is excellent, esp. off Waterlemon Cay. And the beaches are fantastic. If you like a mixture of things -- diving snorkeling, hiking, beaches -- then St. John is a great choice.

 

[jedah]

So,

For the diving, you would go to Saint Thomas over Saint John??

J.

 

[pigletfish]

I wouldn't -- the two islands are so close that they share many dive sites. I personally prefer St. John -- it's not as developed or overrun with cruise ship passengers as St. Thomas. Also I can spend hours at a time snorkeling at Waterlemon Cay on St. John.

PS - the island is called St. John, not St. Johns or St. John's. (It's a common mistake; don't mean to upset anyone by pointing this out). Cheers!

 

[mike_s]

St John is very quiet and laid back, but you don't get as many restaurants and clubs that way either. So it's what your preferences are that are important.

Saint John, St Thomas, and BVI are all so close that they all pretty much have the same diving. St John and St Thomas are so close that you will most likely dive the same spots which are in the 3 mile strech between them.

The only way you can get to St John is by ferry (or private boat). It's a quick maybe 10 or 15 minute ferry ride between Red Hook (on St Thomas) to St John.

 

[jedah]

Thanks for the correction!

About staying in Saint John vs. St. Thomas, that's what I thought also, but I wasn't sure about the distance between the 2, and whether some of the dive sites were shared.

Thanks for the tips!

J.