St Croix questions

[NitroxAZ]

We are going to be vacationing in St. Croix the first week in December and have some questions.

1) How is the weather at that time of year?
2) Does it make sense to buy the Diverse Virgin passport and dive with the different dive ops that are part of it? Or should we dive with just one outfit? If just one, which one?
3) We are looking at staying at the Carambola? How is this hotel? We know that it is a little remote, but will rent a car.
4) Where to eat? Are there good places to eat near Carambola?

Any other information would be appreciated. Thanks.

 

[under water]

[1) How is the weather at that time of year?
here ya go .. http://www.wunderground.com/history/airport/TISX/1972/12/1/PlannerHistory.html?dayend=23&monthend=12&yearend=1972&req_city=Henry+E+Rohlsen&req_state=VI&req_statename=Virgin+Islands

3) We are looking at staying at the Carambola? How is this hotel? We know that it is a little remote, but will rent a car.
The hotel is really nice. It isn't really remote if you have a car. It isn't in the town.. but we liked that. You can dive & snorkel right from their beautiful beach, but it isn't the best reef. It is about a 10-15 minute drive to the dive locations.

4) Where to eat? Are there good places to eat near Carambola?
The Carambola fare is pretty decent and they have a show / dinner on Friday night called the "Pirates Buffet" that is the best thing going on the island.. it gets filled up with locals and there is a fun time to be had if you like watching and joining folks having a good time. it is a buffet and some of the food is really decent.
See the pix at the bottom of this page http://delargy.com/2006_07_Virgin_Islands/st_croix.htm
Book early for the pirate buffet.
There are also some nice restaurants as you drive along the coast towards Christiansted.. including "Bogey's"

I can't really comment on #2. We have just used one dive operator, Anchor Dive Center, which is a 10 minute drive from the hotel http://www.anchordivestcroix.com/
There are others that we would probably check out the next time, but we liked Anchor.
You will have fun!

 

[Eduardo]

We were on St. Croix in June and stayed at the Buccaneer. The restaurant is pricey but you may want to try it for a great sunset view from the hilltop. The bar area has a more casual (ie. budget) menu than the formal restaurant.

We also enjoyed Elizabeth's at the Palms Hotel (review http://www.entreevi.com/index.pl/article?id=729706). Very nice menu and right on the beach.

Rum Runner's in the Christiansted Harbor was very good and had great Pain Killers (local fruity rum concoction). Here is a forum that has an informative message board for USVI: http://virgin-islands-on-line.com/

I did a guided shore dive of The Wall with Cane Bay Scuba which was fabulous. I think you could do multiple days there without getting bored. Also did a boat trip out of the Harbor with S.C.U.B.A which I enjoyed. Would recommend both shops.

Enjoy your trip.

 

[CobaltDiver]

There are a couple of restaruants on the North Shore.

Off the wall - great sandwiches and pizza
Full Moon - burgers and bar food. Great sunday brunch with live music
Lobster Reef - some of the best lobster on island.

Carambola is great. They just finished a renovation.

The diverse virgin pas is not a bad idea. It would allow you to see the north shore, long reef, and the wrecks and peir of the west end.

 

[Diverraygr]

I was there in March- weather was the same each day, perfect. We had the slow time there, one afternoon I was the only diver on the boat. The dive master was doing a class with a student. We ate a different place each night and the food was good in every one. We stayed at the Hotel on the Cay. The hotel/resort is on it's own little island and you need to take a water taxi there (30 second ride). Also only beach in town so many people would come over for the day to use it. As a good place to eat we always ask the dive master what they like- never proved us wrong. I still have my pics on yahoo, drop an email and I can send you the link- sorry no under water pics.
Ray