paulwall
May 1st, 2012, 05:53 PM
Just got back from St Croix. 7 days, 10 dives of about an hour each.
No pics, sorry.
Stayed at Carambola Bay Renaissance and dived with Sweet Bottom Dive Center (http://www.sweetbottomdive.com/) on site.
Great shop, very safe and courteous.
St Croix has a zero-tolerance lionfish policy and I assisted/spotted in the kill of over 15 lionfish near property. Nearly every dive saw one or two or 3. After one was dispatched, we were joined by a caribbean reef shark, then another, then a black tip and then another. By the time my buddy and I were outnumbered 2-1, the sharks made closer and closer passes, showing their pearly whites. Closest passes were within 10 feet and definitely exhibiting bully behavior.
Also assisted in the capture of 5 or 6 spiny lobster and chased several spotted lobster.
Entry couldn't be easier, just suit up and walk out into the water. Back swim 100-200 yards to the Davis Bay wall and drop down. The wall has a gentle to fairly steep slope, and we had no problem staying in rec range. Very healthy reef with lots of variety, density and color. Corals from Brain to Stag, Banded and spotfin butterflyfish, puffers, spotted drum, flamingo tongue, sea fans, whip coral, lizardfish, and small tropcals rounded out the larger sharks. I even saw a big wahoo cruising the wall on one dive. Many turtles were admired and lots to see on very relaxing dives.
Water temps: 80*, max depth:110, avg depth 45-50, vis was varied from hazy 40' to clear 70'. It's definitely on my to-return list. Oh, and they drive on the left.
No pics, sorry.
Stayed at Carambola Bay Renaissance and dived with Sweet Bottom Dive Center (http://www.sweetbottomdive.com/) on site.
Great shop, very safe and courteous.
St Croix has a zero-tolerance lionfish policy and I assisted/spotted in the kill of over 15 lionfish near property. Nearly every dive saw one or two or 3. After one was dispatched, we were joined by a caribbean reef shark, then another, then a black tip and then another. By the time my buddy and I were outnumbered 2-1, the sharks made closer and closer passes, showing their pearly whites. Closest passes were within 10 feet and definitely exhibiting bully behavior.
Also assisted in the capture of 5 or 6 spiny lobster and chased several spotted lobster.
Entry couldn't be easier, just suit up and walk out into the water. Back swim 100-200 yards to the Davis Bay wall and drop down. The wall has a gentle to fairly steep slope, and we had no problem staying in rec range. Very healthy reef with lots of variety, density and color. Corals from Brain to Stag, Banded and spotfin butterflyfish, puffers, spotted drum, flamingo tongue, sea fans, whip coral, lizardfish, and small tropcals rounded out the larger sharks. I even saw a big wahoo cruising the wall on one dive. Many turtles were admired and lots to see on very relaxing dives.
Water temps: 80*, max depth:110, avg depth 45-50, vis was varied from hazy 40' to clear 70'. It's definitely on my to-return list. Oh, and they drive on the left.