Diving In St. Croix

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