Tim Ingersoll
Contributor
Just back from a long weekend in St. Thomas. We got a real steal on flight and stay at Sapphire Beach Resort. I was travelling with my brother who is a non-diver so I was confined to two morning two-tank dives. I followed the advice on the boards and did my diving with Chris Sawyer Dive Center and am glad I did.
Sawyer operates a shop out of the Grand Bay Resort near Red Hook. He may have other shops but that was the one we used. Boats leave at 8:00 a.m. for the morning two-tank. The boat is new, well-maintained and roomy enough. Friday is the wreck of the Rhone in the BVI. Sunday they seem to try and do something special in the BVI.
I give Chris Sawyer high marks all around for professionalism and the way they run their op. The DM's were truly concerned about the diver's welfare and spent time making sure people were hydrated (always a good sign), checking epxerience level and asking for opinions on potential sites. Underwater the DM's were attentive and watchful. Everyone goes down together and everyone comes up together. Divers in two groups based on experience and air consumption.
The first dive was right out front of the dive shop. The boat ride was literally five minutes. It was the wreck of the Major General Rogers. The wreck is a steel-hulled auxillary coastguard buoy tender, 120 feet long. Sunk in 1972 as an artificial reef. Air temp. 84 F. Water temp 82 F. Max depth 60 ft. to the sand. 40 ft. to the deck. 45 minute dive. Wreck intact and upright. Some penetration in the holds. The wreck is completely encrusted with marine growth. We spotted a very large crab under the bow and another smaller one in one of the old pipes. Small school of snapper. Not a bad wreck. Very similar to the Cayman Salvager off Key West.
The second dive was Coral Garden. Spur and groove coral formations. 50 feet for 50 minutes. I saw a spotted cleaner shrimp which was a new one for me. Funky looking creature.
The next day we did two dives in the British Virgin Islands. Bring your passport! We had to check in with British customs before diving and that involved about an hour wait. Not too bad.
The first dive was off Tobago Island, BVI. I wasn't expecting a wall dive but thats what I got. Max depth 100 feet. Dive time 40 minutes. This area seemed to have more life and is noted for occasional blacktips. We spotted a large turtle as well as a nurse shark, barracuda and a very large hogfish. Also saw a juvenile spotted drum and a Flaming Tongue. A really good dive except for low vis. 40 ft. +/-. I was surprised to find a wall like this in the VI.
The second dive was off Jost Van Dyke. 60 feet for 45 minutes. Very relaxing. Lots of very healthy coral but not many fish. Vis was really low due to the surge. Just puttered around.
Overall I found the dive op to be excellent. The diving was average but I am spoiled. On a scale of one to ten I would put the op at 8 and the diving at 5.
For what it is worth the resort was mediocre but practically free for the price we got. Thank you for whoever told me about Travelzoo.
Sawyer operates a shop out of the Grand Bay Resort near Red Hook. He may have other shops but that was the one we used. Boats leave at 8:00 a.m. for the morning two-tank. The boat is new, well-maintained and roomy enough. Friday is the wreck of the Rhone in the BVI. Sunday they seem to try and do something special in the BVI.
I give Chris Sawyer high marks all around for professionalism and the way they run their op. The DM's were truly concerned about the diver's welfare and spent time making sure people were hydrated (always a good sign), checking epxerience level and asking for opinions on potential sites. Underwater the DM's were attentive and watchful. Everyone goes down together and everyone comes up together. Divers in two groups based on experience and air consumption.
The first dive was right out front of the dive shop. The boat ride was literally five minutes. It was the wreck of the Major General Rogers. The wreck is a steel-hulled auxillary coastguard buoy tender, 120 feet long. Sunk in 1972 as an artificial reef. Air temp. 84 F. Water temp 82 F. Max depth 60 ft. to the sand. 40 ft. to the deck. 45 minute dive. Wreck intact and upright. Some penetration in the holds. The wreck is completely encrusted with marine growth. We spotted a very large crab under the bow and another smaller one in one of the old pipes. Small school of snapper. Not a bad wreck. Very similar to the Cayman Salvager off Key West.
The second dive was Coral Garden. Spur and groove coral formations. 50 feet for 50 minutes. I saw a spotted cleaner shrimp which was a new one for me. Funky looking creature.
The next day we did two dives in the British Virgin Islands. Bring your passport! We had to check in with British customs before diving and that involved about an hour wait. Not too bad.
The first dive was off Tobago Island, BVI. I wasn't expecting a wall dive but thats what I got. Max depth 100 feet. Dive time 40 minutes. This area seemed to have more life and is noted for occasional blacktips. We spotted a large turtle as well as a nurse shark, barracuda and a very large hogfish. Also saw a juvenile spotted drum and a Flaming Tongue. A really good dive except for low vis. 40 ft. +/-. I was surprised to find a wall like this in the VI.
The second dive was off Jost Van Dyke. 60 feet for 45 minutes. Very relaxing. Lots of very healthy coral but not many fish. Vis was really low due to the surge. Just puttered around.
Overall I found the dive op to be excellent. The diving was average but I am spoiled. On a scale of one to ten I would put the op at 8 and the diving at 5.
For what it is worth the resort was mediocre but practically free for the price we got. Thank you for whoever told me about Travelzoo.
