St. Thomas St. John 1-week trip in Feb 2025 - Recommendations?

[BrettSeattle]

Hello friends! Our 4-person group (2 AOW divers & 2 non-divers) are going to USVI in Feb 2025. We are researching accomodations, topside activities, side-trips, out-of-the-way adventures, and finally great shore or tour operator scuba diving.

Info and Goals:

• We are 2 couples: 2 husbands are dive buddies (AOW & enriched air certified; 100+ dives each); wives are adventurers and like snorkeling, hiking, shopping, beaches but don't want massive touristy areas and care more about culture, food and authentic, friendly people
• Looking for good location/neighborhood suggestions for renting a full house (ideally not condo) w/ pool; we have found some good ones on Airbnb and VRBO; but any pointers for areas are appreciated (Northside? South side? East Side?)
• We are expecting to fly into St. Thomas and stay on that island, then day trip (love any "must see" recommendations) including to St. John
• Love to hear dive spot and operator suggestions; we will have a rental car and can do shore dives but also plan on doing boat dives; will probably dive 3 to 4 days out of 8-ish we will be there (flying from Seattle area)
• Any thoughts about St. John mix (either day trip, or even split and stay there for a few days) would be welcome - only one of us has been to USVI and that was 30 years ago
• We like our creature comforts (air conditioning, great food/restaurants, umbrella drinks) but are also adventurous and have hunger to learn and explore the culture and landmarks; definitely do not need chain restaurants, nightlife, or party scene
• I am a photographer and videographer and am always looking for great shots/footage

From research, some of the write-ups here on Scubaboard, and YouTube, we are keeping our expectations low for scuba (compared to Cozumel, Curacao, or Belize), but love to hear some experiences and suggestions from this community.

As always - thanks in advance!

 

[Jaan]

We stayed at Secret Harbor resort in 2021
Here is Nathalie’s write up for inspiration

Scuba Diving Vacation at Secret Harbour Beach Resort in St. Thomas, US Virgin Islands

Scuba diving vacation in St. Thomas, USVI. Secret Harbour Beach Resort and Aqua Action Dive Center review. Scuba diving in US Virgin Islands.

freedomtourtravel.com

Overall we had fun, lots of shrimps in anemones. At the time it was impossible to get to the BVI due to Covid but now we’d probably take the ferry over for a day at least

You searched for Carta - Freedom Tour Travel

freedomtourtravel.com

 

[BrettSeattle]

We stayed at Secret Harbor resort in 2021
Here is Nathalie’s write up for inspiration

Scuba Diving Vacation at Secret Harbour Beach Resort in St. Thomas, US Virgin Islands

Scuba diving vacation in St. Thomas, USVI. Secret Harbour Beach Resort and Aqua Action Dive Center review. Scuba diving in US Virgin Islands.

freedomtourtravel.com

Overall we had fun, lots of shrimps in anemones. At the time it was impossible to get to the BVI due to Covid but now we’d probably take the ferry over for a day at least

You searched for Carta - Freedom Tour Travel

freedomtourtravel.com

Thanks Jaan!

 

[LDBuckley]

Hello friends! Our 4-person group (2 AOW divers & 2 non-divers) are going to USVI in Feb 2025. We are researching accomodations, topside activities, side-trips, out-of-the-way adventures, and finally great shore or tour operator scuba diving.

Info and Goals:

• We are 2 couples: 2 husbands are dive buddies (AOW & enriched air certified; 100+ dives each); wives are adventurers and like snorkeling, hiking, shopping, beaches but don't want massive touristy areas and care more about culture, food and authentic, friendly people
• Looking for good location/neighborhood suggestions for renting a full house (ideally not condo) w/ pool; we have found some good ones on Airbnb and VRBO; but any pointers for areas are appreciated (Northside? South side? East Side?)
• We are expecting to fly into St. Thomas and stay on that island, then day trip (love any "must see" recommendations) including to St. John
• Love to hear dive spot and operator suggestions; we will have a rental car and can do shore dives but also plan on doing boat dives; will probably dive 3 to 4 days out of 8-ish we will be there (flying from Seattle area)
• Any thoughts about St. John mix (either day trip, or even split and stay there for a few days) would be welcome - only one of us has been to USVI and that was 30 years ago
• We like our creature comforts (air conditioning, great food/restaurants, umbrella drinks) but are also adventurous and have hunger to learn and explore the culture and landmarks; definitely do not need chain restaurants, nightlife, or party scene
• I am a photographer and videographer and am always looking for great shots/footage

From research, some of the write-ups here on Scubaboard, and YouTube, we are keeping our expectations low for scuba (compared to Cozumel, Curacao, or Belize), but love to hear some experiences and suggestions from this community.

As always - thanks in advance!

My wife and I are taking my mother-in-law to St Thomas later this month. Staying at the Marriott at Frenchman's Cove. Will be our first time on the island. We plan to dive 1-2 days and, if possible, combine a day of snorkeling for my mother-in-law with the same operator. We're planning a day trip to St John to see the national park and the island. I was hoping to find dive op recommendations here for St Thomas but not seeing a lot yet. Happy to share experiences when we get back if helpful!

 

[BrettSeattle]

Love to hear your observations LD, thanks for offering! Our plans have slightly changed, we got a condo staying on the east side and will be planning a few snorkeling trips, and I might do one dive trip (my dive buddy and his wife are skipping this year, so it is now just my wife and me). Any “best of” you can forward after the trip (restaurants, beaches. Etc) would be appreciated (but zero pressure - enjoy your vacation)! We are planning on doing a day trip over to St. John’s as well and maybe find some good snorkel spots.

 

[LDBuckley]

Love to hear your observations LD, thanks for offering! Our plans have slightly changed, we got a condo staying on the east side and will be planning a few snorkeling trips, and I might do one dive trip (my dive buddy and his wife are skipping this year, so it is now just my wife and me). Any “best of” you can forward after the trip (restaurants, beaches. Etc) would be appreciated (but zero pressure - enjoy your vacation)! We are planning on doing a day trip over to St. John’s as well and maybe find some good snorkel spots.

Absolutely! We're definitely looking for some nice restaurants and cultural sights, and will be happy to share insights and highlights. Sorry to hear your dive buddy isn't joining you, but renting a condo sounds smart. We've had good luck renting houses on Bonaire, though it seems we've shifted to resorts recently. We had a great stay at Golden Rock Resort in Statia that I'd recommend for a small island, luxury experience. Although the local dive op we enjoyed shutdown just after we left, sadly, and the Golden Rock resort recently opened their own dive center under the same name as the former, long-time independent dive op who had the name before the resort opened.

 

[JoeTPhilly]

I used Red Hook Dive Center this February. Red Hook Dive Center They were good but the diving in St. Thomas is pretty boring. I had more fun snorkeling at the various beaches. If I recall correctly Brewers Bay was the best for snorkeling and seeing turtles and even a large ray.

 

[Jersey]

Most of my experience is from 2014 - 2015 (when I worked there) and a return in 2022 with family. I stayed over in the West, Saphire Beach. Great beach for snorkeling, turtles, squid. Boat diving with Red Hook exclusively, which has since changed owners, but they ran a tight ship. Shore diving from Secret Harbor and Coki Beach where I was glad to be diving with a local as there were ripping currents around the point and I would have been caught. Never were very deep or very exciting.

Can't miss beaches Magens (usually lots of turtles maybe some dolphin) and Coki.

For dining Virgilio's in downtown C Amelia is old classic Italian. Oceana in Frenchtown is very interesting, possibly haunted. Enkai for sushi, but I miss the old location. Mafolie was a fav with a bunch of people I worked with, the view is amazing. My Red Hook go to's were XO and Pesce. Udder Delights over by Magens makes milk shakes with alcohol, yum!

The ferrys to St John run from Red Hook, both car and passenger. Easy to take a passenger ferry and use the safari's (pickup trucks with the rears converted to bench seats) to get around St John as parking, driving is even worse than on St T. There is a safari stand as soon as you get off the ferry. If you have only 1 day, plan a day trip to Trunk Bay. Rent chairs and sail shades, they have food and beverages, and have shower and changing faculties. Cool snorkel trail. After a day on the beach, shower up, safari back to Cruz Bay and grab drinks and food. There is a brewery in Mongoose Junction, I've not been since it burned down and was rebuilt, but it was a Friday after work favorite. Cold beer and big German pretzels. ZoZo and Sugar Mill are both nice restaurants on St John.

If you have multiple days to hit St John Beaches, Waterlemon Cay is great snorkeling. Bit off the path, about a 1/2 mile hike to get there. A school of tarpon came in while we were there one day, never saw snorkelers exit the water so fast!!

Have fun!