| What do you do upon realizing it's been | | | | for you upon arrival. This worked great |
| more than a year since your last dive | | | | for us, as there was a representative |
| trip, and you're itching to get wet | | | | waiting outside baggage claim when we |
| again? After kicking yourself of course? | | | | arrived holding a placard with our name |
| Well the obvious answer is to drop what | | | | on it. Just signed some papers and left. |
| you're doing and go diving. So I took | | | | Upon departure, I parked at the airport, |
| my own advice and have just returned | | | | locked the keys inside and left it. As |
| from St. Croix in the U.S. Virgin | | | | for where to dive - definitely the north |
| Islands, where my son and I pretty much | | | | shore "Wall". Several sites are an easy |
| dived our brains out for about a week. | | | | swim from the beach - maybe 200 yards |
| We also ate some great food, saw much of | | | | out, then drop down over the wall which |
| the island, and chilled out on our | | | | starts at about 50' and drops to 3200'. |
| balcony overlooking the ocean. So why | | | | Keep an eye to the north where you might |
| St. Croix? Well, why not? For one, I | | | | see the occasional black-tip shark, |
| hadn't been there yet, and prefer diving | | | | manta, or spotted eagle ray swim by. |
| new locations. But I also have a friend | | | | Also make sure you dive Salt River where |
| who used to work there as a divemaster, | | | | the wall has giant coral heads, some |
| and I figured on getting some insider | | | | caves, and huge swim-throughs. The reef |
| perspective. After a few email exchanges | | | | is healthy, vibrant, and full of all |
| with him, and scouting the web, I found | | | | kinds of marine life. I saw several |
| all I needed to get everything booked. | | | | stands of black coral, and an unusual |
| Considering how "last minute" the | | | | number of trunkfish there. While the |
| planning was, the trip came off | | | | north wall is awesome, there are a |
| smoothly. There were only a few | | | | couple places to note on the west end |
| parameters to consider, namely that I | | | | that are also "must do" dives. One is |
| wanted to do it cheap and get in a lot | | | | the wrecks. Actually 2 sites - the |
| of diving - at least 2 tanks a day. Oh, | | | | deeper one has a tug and a vehicle ferry |
| and I wanted to eat some fresh shrimp. | | | | setting about 100' down. Lots of growth, |
| The best diving on St. Croix, is on the | | | | but the structures stand out clearly - |
| famous "Wall" that runs along the north | | | | especially the wheelhouse on the tug, |
| shore for about 7 miles or so. With this | | | | and makes for a super photo shot. Also |
| in mind I found lodging at a small, 9 | | | | on the west end is the Frederiksted |
| room hotel at Cane Bay which is just | | | | Pier, which runs a few hundred yards |
| west of the mid-point of the north side. | | | | out, and is one of the fishiest places |
| As luck would have it, one of the best | | | | I've seen. The debris on the bottom and |
| restaurants on island is also located on | | | | the pilings are home to all sorts of |
| the same property. The hotel is built | | | | critters, including banded coral shrimp |
| right on the shore, which is rocky at | | | | and spider crabs by the dozen. You're |
| that point, and all rooms face the | | | | likely to get "inked" after startling an |
| ocean. The views are outstanding with | | | | octopus trying to blend into the |
| St. Thomas and St. John visible on the | | | | background as you swim by, or watch them |
| horizon, and the ever-present sound of | | | | turning colors while hiding in some of |
| the waves crashing on the rocks. Within | | | | the oddest places. The funniest was this |
| a half mile are a couple more excellent | | | | little guy holed up in what appeared to |
| places to eat, as well as the dive shop | | | | be the top of a broken wine bottle. |
| we used which is right across from the | | | | There's lots more to see and do on St. |
| beach at Cane Bay. I highly recommend | | | | Croix, including some interesting |
| obtaining a rental car for getting | | | | history. It's readily apparent from the |
| around the island. It's far less hassle | | | | dozens of old windmills, that sugar |
| than relying on taxi's and because | | | | plantations once covered the island, and |
| there's lots to see, will save money in | | | | supported a very different economy from |
| the long run. The best way is to arrange | | | | today. |
| the rental beforehand so it's waiting | | | | For more details, check out diving St. |