St Thomas / St John Scuba?

[bcdiver1980]

Hey all - Just booked a trip from July 18-24 to do some diving in the USVI.

Any good shore dives? Would love to meet up with some local divers too. I'm a PADI instructor so pretty self sufficient when it comes to diving, but I will rent some gear while there. Any recommendations on dive outfits?

Thanks!

 

[diversteve]

A lot of it depends on where you're staying - or how much driving you want to do. In Charlotte Amalie, look at Admiralty or Blue Island Divers. If you're out on the East End try Red Hook Diving Center - everyone on their staff is an Instructor or better. My feeling is they get a more advanced clientele.

Out there the sites you want to dive are Carval Rock and Congo Cay. Some of the St. John ops do them also since they're actually closer to SJ. Cow/Calf Rocks are the other known sites but they're shallow. And all the wrecks south of St. Thomas. Wit Shoal is supposed to be a more advanced, current dependent dive.

Another option is the RMS Rhone in the BVI's. It's close enough that the USVI boats do it as an all-day trip. You need a passport to cross. I don't like wrecks and I liked that one - it's the signature BVI wreck. Low Key Watersports does it on Thursdays from St. John.

Low Key Watersports lists a few St. John shore dives on their website.

If there's any shore dive on St. Thomas besides Coki Beach, I haven't heard of it. It's shallow and average - the cruise lines take divers there. I have seen one reference for Hull Bay on the north side but IDK any details.

I'm sure you've seen it but there's a car ferry between the two islands. It takes about 1/2 hr. It leaves from Red Hook.

 

[Malpaso]

Dove with Admiralty last year and highly recommend them.

 

[Carlos Danger]

The best diving in the USVI is on St Croix, mostly on the north and west coasts of the island with lots of great shore diving.