Page 97 - The Virgin Islands
P. 97
SPRAT POINT 25’-50’ (8-15m) Beg. Popular, east-west spur-and- local diver and former submarine captain. East end of a large, flat
groove reef convenient to St. Thomas Harbor. Coral gardens atop shoreline rock has a diagonal crack and resembles a dive flag, and is
spurs include elkhorn, yellow pillar, star and finger corals. Spectacular called DIVE FLAG ROCK. Steep rocky slope descends to sandy bot-
sponges. tom and an old cement truck.
WITCONCRETE II 45’-100’ (14-30m) Int. - Adv. This 300’+ concrete WYE REEF 40’-60’ (12-18m) Beg. Sparse remnants of the royal mail
fuel barge was sunk in 1996 for a reef. Tons of parrotfish, wrasses, blue steamship WYE lie here. This is the sister ship of the extraordinary
tangs, tomtates, bar jacks, French angelfish, and snappers reside here. wreck of the RMS Rhone wreck, which is at Salt Island, British Virgin
GRAINTON 70’ - 105’ (21-32m) Int. - Adv. This 450’, 6,341-ton grain Islands.
freighter wreck sank in the 1930’s, and has collapsed, but there are still BUCK ISLAND COVE & CARTANZA SEÑORA 20-60’ (6-18m)
open holds and spaces to explore. Beg. This boat dive is near a rocky islet with a lighthouse, and is a fa-
ROUGH POINT to 90’ (27m) Adv. This site has 4 pinnacles and “The vorite amongst student divers. The 190’ freighter Cartanza Señora was
Magazine,” a cave with a stale-air pocket. Early divers find reef sharks, sunk for a reef here in 1979, but hurricanes have wrecked the wreck.
tarpon and big barracuda. Tons of silversides and all kinds fish and Remnants make a great fish nursery, which is great for snorkelers.
invertebrates reside here. Caution: Surgy - dive when calm. FRENCHMAN’S CAP (FRENCHCAP CAY) 35’-95’ (11-29m) Int.
NAVY BARGES 25’ - 40’ (8-12m) Beg. Here lie the blasted remains of This dive seldom visited due to strong currents and inconvenient dis-
scuttled Navy barges. Accessible crawlspaces require a dive light to see tance. Numerous canyons, ledges, pinnacles and caves are loaded with
the photogenic colors. Encrusted wreck is a good night dive. marine life.
KENNEDY WRECK 45’-65’ (15-22m) Beg. This 200’ barge which PINNACLE. A 50’ long peak at the cay is called CATHEDRAL COR-
formerly serviced the aircraft carrier USS John F. Kennedy was acci- AL BOWL (JOE’S JAM) 30’-70’ (9-21m) Beg. This wide, natural bowl
dently sunk keel-side up in the late 1980’s. Dark spaces shelter big- is comprised of coral pillars and all kinds of colorful sponges. Many
eyed fishes including squirrelfish and cardinalfish. Great night dive. parrotfishes chomp on the coral and excrete sand for Buck Island’s trio
of beaches.
BUCK ISLAND POINT 20’ - 60’ (6-18m) Beg. Boat dive to north side SUBMARINE ALLEY (SNAPPER VALLEY) 40’-80’ (12-24m) Int.
of islet on photogenic classic coral gardens in spur-and-groove reef. Dive where Atlantis Submarines take people for underwater sightsee-
Snorkeling is right next to Buck Island Point on TEJO’S REEF. ing tours aboard a genuine submarine. The huge coral mounds are too
ANDRÉ’S REEF 20’ - 75’ (6-23m) Beg. Boat dive to reef named after numerous to check out in a single dive. Caution: Divers stay clear of
the submarine!
