Allison Finch
Contributor
I agree with scubachris. I lived in St Thomas (actually, between Tutu and Red Hook) and I wouldn't make it a destination for strictly diving. But the topside activities more than make up for this.
St. Thomas/St. John
- Thread starter HornDiver
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jkennedy
Guest
Enjoy your diving but I was not impressed with the diving in any of the BVI's. Onnced you've been Brac-ed your done...........
nippurmagnum
Contributor
The operators in St. Thomas and St. John dive a lot of the same sites, and some of them :10: are very good. So you could base yourself at either place.
In terms of dives, I would especially recommend Congo Cay. It's got some great pinnacles and walls, about 60-80 ft, and some of the healthiest coral I've seen anywhere.
I also enjoyed a dive at Mingo Bay. It starts out at 20 ft, and you gradually get to walls about 60-70 ft, with some nice channels that tend to have big stuff moving through -- I saw spotted eagle rays and nurse sharks.
I would highly recommend the Dive In operation in Sapphire Beach. It's much more personal than Chris Sawyer, which tends to be a cattle boat.
One last recommendation -- head out to Megan's Bay on a day when the cruise ships are not in town. It has the most beautiful beach I've ever seen, and some phenomenal snorkeling off the rocks at the far end of the beach.
In terms of dives, I would especially recommend Congo Cay. It's got some great pinnacles and walls, about 60-80 ft, and some of the healthiest coral I've seen anywhere.
I also enjoyed a dive at Mingo Bay. It starts out at 20 ft, and you gradually get to walls about 60-70 ft, with some nice channels that tend to have big stuff moving through -- I saw spotted eagle rays and nurse sharks.
I would highly recommend the Dive In operation in Sapphire Beach. It's much more personal than Chris Sawyer, which tends to be a cattle boat.
One last recommendation -- head out to Megan's Bay on a day when the cruise ships are not in town. It has the most beautiful beach I've ever seen, and some phenomenal snorkeling off the rocks at the far end of the beach.
pigletfish
Contributor
We found the diving around St. Thomas and St. John to be pleasant but nothing spectacular. The snorkelling at Waterlemon Key (St. John) was excellent, however - as did one of the previous posters, I highly recommend it. We snorkelled there for hours at a time and saw tons of great fish, turles, rays, and (in the distance) a shark. Saw a really big permit (fish), the only time ever. It was impressive! The islands are beautiful and so are the beaches - I'm sure you'll have a fun trip!
Tim Ingersoll:
they say it's very average diving. I tend to agree... the USVI/BVI do have their share of good wrecks though.
It's also a good all-around destination with a varying above-water topology and geology not often found in the caribbean: there are lots of little islands to explore much like the Bahamas but unlike the Bahamas they have mountains like St. Vincent and the Grenadines.
One of the most enchanting sites anywhere is Eagle Shoal, southeast of St. John. It's not often diveable, so be sure to ask, just in case you get a good day. It's open water, so there will be swells and probably current.
Great rock formations including a cathedral. Covered with fish.
Great rock formations including a cathedral. Covered with fish.
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