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