Discover Saint Croix In Americas Own Backyard

Saint Croix island is one of those pieces of paradise, not just for divers looking for great diving in lesser known locales, but for anyone wanting to get away from the crowds and more visited places that have become way too “touristy”. Here divers will find healthy, pristine reefs, a few wrecks, great macro diving, plus the famous “Wall”.

Because it’s off the beaten path, Saint Croix is one of the more affordable islands for a Caribbean destination. You’ll not only find great deals on dive packages, but everything else from accommodations, to great places to eat, to transportation, and more, is all very reasonably priced.

Some of the best Diving in St. Croix is along the “Wall” that runs parallel to the north side. It’s only a couple hundred yards offshore, and can easily be reached with a short swim out from Cane Bay Beach. Stretching approximately 7 miles, it starts about 50’ deep and drops off to somewhere in the vicinity of 3200’.

Cruising along its face you’ll see all sorts of fishes, corals, sponges, turtles and various other marine life, but keep one eye out toward the blue. Reason is you’ll occasionally you’ll see a black-tip shark nosing around, and may be able to get close before it gets spooked and darts off. Also, the odd manta or eagle ray has been known to swoop in for a quick visit.

When Columbus landed near Salt River in 1493, he probably found the reefs surrounding the harbor to be more nuisance than anything. No big surprise since they just complicated his getting to shore. But then he wasn’t a diver. For those of us who are, the giant coral heads, and huge swim-thrus make for lots of fun underwater.

A leisurely cruise will also turn up hawksbill turtles, file-fish, trunk-fish, and a plethora of other creatures. Not to mention the many small caverns and ledges that provide such perfect hideouts for crab and lobster. If you enjoy winding your way through the reef exploring coral outcrops and tunnels that run everywhere, then you’ll never get enough of this part of the wall.

One dive that’s a must do, is the Frederiksted Pier. For Scuba diving in St. Croix, it’s about the best for macro enthusiasts. This pier is not surprisingly huge, as it was built to accommodate cruise ships. However, it’s not being used these days, and underneath is a veritable smorgasbord of sea life. Very “fishy”, to say the least, with lots of critters.

Spider crabs and red & blue banded coral shrimp are everywhere, and several octopus sightings – even during the day. We were actually surprised at the number of octopi. They were flattened against pilings, or lodged in the strangest places. One little guy in particular, was hanging out in the top half of what appeared to be an old broken wine bottle. As one might imagine, this is also one of the best possible night dives.

Any wreck divers wanting to visit will also be pleased to find several wreck sites to dive on. One is located on the northeast side and a couple more on the west end near Frederiksted. The deeper west-side site has a car ferry whose keel lies at 110’ and a tug sitting somewhat shallower around 65’ making them well within most divers limits.

While there are large amounts of growth masking them, the overall structures remain distinct and provide enticing backgrounds for photo shots. The wheelhouse on the tug is an especially good subject whether as a backdrop or by itself. Most of the wrecks rest on a sandy bottom making them stand out clearly. You’ll also find several patches of garden eels in the vicinity.

It’s hard to beat the spectacular diving, or modest prices found in Saint Croix island. Seemingly overlooked by most divers and other Caribbean vacation travelers as well, it’s a piece of “America’s backyard” waiting to be discovered. Do yourself a favor and take a look.

Published by Travel Buff on April 28th, 2008 | Filed under Scuba Diving |