Page 96 - The Virgin Islands
P. 96
Dive Site Descriptions: St. Thomas and St. John
St. Thomas and St. John side of Franko’s Map of the United States Vir- THE ARENA 25’-75’ (8-23m) Adv. Usually a drift dive, “The Arena”
gin Islands: Reading the St. Croix side of the map is just a warm-up, is a natural sand-filled bowl within a ring of volcanic boulders, cov-
because the details on this side of the map are for two islands that ered with gorgonians and filled with corals, sponges, sea rods, and sea
are amongst the busiest, most visited places in the whole Caribbean fans more common to deeper water.
Sea. They are combined and individually amongst the most beautiful WITSERVICE IV 80’-100’ (24-30m) Int. - Adv. This 123’ tug sank
places in the Caribbean Sea as well. In fact, both St. Thomas and St. portside-down after hitting Dry Rocks while towing a barge in 1979,
John are world-class destinations by any standard, and by studying and wasn’t rediscovered until 2001. Now it is covered with corals and
Franko’s Map of St. Thomas and ST. John, you will definitely set your sponges - watch out for black hydroids and fire coral. Hawksbill tur-
sites on a visit there some time soon. St. John is actually where my tles rest here. A huge grouper occupies the stern.
study began, because of its fame for the fabulous Virgin Islands Na- WITSHOAL II 30’ - 90’ (9-27m) Int. - Adv. This is a 328’ WWII tank-
tional Park. It seems that everyone has seen a lovely picture of Trunk landing craft, which was converted to a freighter, and finally sunk in
Bay, even if they did not know it was Trunk Bay on St. John. This side 1985 at 90’ for a reef
of Franko’s Map of the U.S. Virgin Islands has the locations and de- BLACKBEARD’S EYE to 30’ (24m) Int. A shallow tunnel goes to
scriptions of approximately four dozen dive sites, many of which are sunlit pool within Saba Island. After a short exploration in the cave,
famous, such as Trunk Bay’s underwater Trail, and Buck Island (this is this dive leads south to “The Fence”.
not the same Buck Island that is a National Monument near St. Croix) THE FENCE 30’-80’ (9-24m) Int. A big reef spur rises from 80’ to
and are world-class, and many of which are much less visited, owing within 30’ of surface. Star and brain corals dominate. Queen and
to location or remoteness. These islands have just about every kind French angelfish stare at divers. Southern stingrays feed in the sand.
of Caribbean dive there is, and the snorkeling is so easy, interesting MISS OPPORTUNITY 55’-90’ (17-27m) Int. - Adv. This is a for-
and delightful that some scuba divers don’t even bother to scuba dive mer 300’+ hospital barge, sunk in 1985 for a reef. The barge is upside
on their visit, but spend their hours free diving. The dive sites and down, listing starboard. Resident over-size jewfish presides over the
descriptions appearing on this Franko Map of the U.S. Virgin Islands, encrusted wreck .
St. Thomas and St. John side are as follows:
CREAKING ROCK to 65’ (20m) Int. A huge boulder slightly rocks
in surge, making a weird creaking sound. This is often a drift dive. It
is a good place to see spotted drums and pipefish.
