St Thomas US virgin Islands Anyone been there?

[DavidHickey]

Just curious, I'm going to St Thomas next week for 5 nights and I'm finally going to complete my last 2 OW dives and get my certification. We are staying at a place called Secret Harbour. Supposively have a PADI dive center on site, and they said we would just walk out into the ocean from the hotel and complete the 2 dives. The guy said it was beautiful diving right out of the front door. Anyone been there? Or have any other suggestions, dive wise or even just were to go and what to do in St Thomas? Thanks!!!
David

PS. Also I just realized what a pain diving and traveling is!!! Trying to pack 2 wetsuits, 2 BCD's, regulators, fins, masks and everything takes up ALOT of room!!

 

[ABQdiver]

Just curious, I'm going to St Thomas next week for 5 nights and I'm finally going to complete my last 2 OW dives and get my certification. We are staying at a place called Secret Harbour. Supposively have a PADI dive center on site, and they said we would just walk out into the ocean from the hotel and complete the 2 dives. The guy said it was beautiful diving right out of the front door. Anyone been there? Or have any other suggestions, dive wise or even just were to go and what to do in St Thomas? Thanks!!!
David

PS. Also I just realized what a pain diving and traveling is!!! Trying to pack 2 wetsuits, 2 BCD's, regulators, fins, masks and everything takes up ALOT of room!!

Traveling and scuba are harder with all the equipment, especially when the airlines are restricting luggage to 50#. Heck, one of our dive bags weights 23# by itself!

I've been to St. Thomas twice now, but only on cruises for a couple of dives each and then off we go. Still had some good dives. Reef life is pretty good in most locations, and if you can get over to the Rhone, you are in for a real treat!! We used Blue Island Divers and were treated well and had as much time as we could get from our AL80's.

 

[mike_s]

I haven't been to Secret harbor, but the diving in St. Thomas in general was pretty decent while I was there. The resort I stayed at had great snorkling from the shore and we did a shore dive at Coki Beach, (which was sorta ok).

Pick up a case of Cruzan rum while you're there to bring back to your friends.

 

[humanFish]

Just curious, I'm going to St Thomas next week for 5 nights...

...realized what a pain diving and traveling is!!!!!

We are ALL crying for you here on SB


Seriously though, I've been to USVI, but not the resort you are referring to. The reefs are quite nice. Check out the one of the latest issues of Scuba Diving magazine..can't remember what month, but there is a whole section on USVI diving...

have fun!!!

 

[CSD1129]

I'm jealous! Wish I was heading off to St.Thomas. Never stayed at Secret Harbor (But I keep hearing about it...so maybe the next trip). I was down in ST.Thomas for the first time for my birthday in November. I used Chris Sawyer's dive shop. Nice op, big boat, GREAT night dive! He's located in Red Hook.

I really enjoyed diving in St.Thomas and still think it's just as good as Curacao. I was back in ST.THomas for spring break (on a cruise) and I dove with underwater safaris. They're right at thr cruise ship pier. Nice group. I would probably dive with them again, but Chris Sawyer is great.

St.Thomas has some great dive sites, out by buck island, the wreck of the general rogers (AWESOME NIGHT DIVE), and others. I really enjoyed diving there.

ST.THomas is a beautiful island, the people are friendly, and I can only hope to move there someday . I wouldn't go to Magen's bay though. It's pretty, but that's where all the cruiseships go..and it's really touristy. My favorite beach is Coki Beach (Where Coral World is located).

Good Luck!
-Christine

 

[KidK9]

I just got back form there 5 weeks ago. I think that place will surprise you. I dont think it gets the attention it should...but then again I like it that way. I also dive the General Rodgers at night with DiveIn! and had an amazing dive. Not to mention I got engaged on the deck of the boat after the dive. So it was a great night for me. I also dove with Blue Island divers for 3 days and enjoyed them as well. I'll back up that they let you run your tank down. Both of these operations are real nice to dive with. If you can get a dive on the wreck of The Witshoal, do not turn it down! It is an AWESOME wreck.

 

[zboss]

Just curious, I'm going to St Thomas next week for 5 nights and I'm finally going to complete my last 2 OW dives and get my certification. We are staying at a place called Secret Harbour. Supposively have a PADI dive center on site, and they said we would just walk out into the ocean from the hotel and complete the 2 dives. The guy said it was beautiful diving right out of the front door. Anyone been there? Or have any other suggestions, dive wise or even just were to go and what to do in St Thomas? Thanks!!!
David

PS. Also I just realized what a pain diving and traveling is!!! Trying to pack 2 wetsuits, 2 BCD's, regulators, fins, masks and everything takes up ALOT of room!!

The virgin islands are a highly under rated dive area, you will like it a lot.

 

[doctormike]

St.Thomas has some great dive sites, out by buck island, the wreck of the general rogers (AWESOME NIGHT DIVE), and others. I really enjoyed diving there.


Good Luck!
-Christine

Buck Island is very nice, but it is off St. Croix (just got back from there last week)...You can get to St. Croix from St. Thomas by seaplane, or by the fast ferry (which just stopped running for the season).

Haven't been to St. Thomas, but St. Croix was amazing... less developed from what I understand...if you go, definitely check out the dives off the Western shore. MUCH less populated, especially now that the cruise ship pier is under construction. Vis was far better than the stuff in the populated East...

The pier is an incredible beginner dive.. took my newly certified 15 year old son and his 11 year old brother (who did the "discover diving" thing with an instructor). Awesome. Easy.

Mike

 

[RICHinNC]

St T is pretty good.....try an ops called Chris Sawyer...he has a website...google it.

Get over to St John and rent a car and drive around...nice/

OH....the cheapest booze deals going is at KMart right there on St. T.......Cruzan rum....only $3.99 a bottle !!!!!!

 

[colo_diver]

another vote for chris sawwyer..... secert harbor isnt that far away from his shop, but the shop is hard to find as it is hidden from the road.... when you see duffys up in the parking lot pull into the lot across the street the shop is to the left down the drive way......... the USVI is a great destination and good diving. I guess the fact that it is us dollars and english help keep them our little secert.......