Page 61 - Florida and the US Caribbean Isles
P. 61
US Virgin Islands Dive Sites - St. Croix
HAMS BLUFF 15’ - 75’ (5-23m) Int. This site is rarely dived due to dive just offshore. Sometimes currents dictate that the dive site is ac-
big swells and location. Two caves may be entered only on a calm day. cessed via TWIN PALMS, just to the west. Adding to the interest in
Sea life includes green morays, lobsters and nurse sharks. Elkhorn the superb wall are a few old anchors sticking out of a sand chute, with
coral is prevalent garden eels peaking out of the sand. The shallow part of the under-
in the shallows. water here is called CANE BAY GARDEN (25’-50’ (8-15m) Beg.),
VERTIGO 50’-130’+ (14-40m+) Adv. The wall begins at about 85’ which is a nice snorkelling spot, and also a good second dive, because
(14m) at the bottom of a steep sandy slope, and then drops off into the it is rich in brain, star, elkhorn and gorgonian corals, plus colorful
abyss at a spectacular undercutting angle. This drop off is dangerous sponge colonies and fishes too numerous to count. This area is surfed
because a diver can lose track of depth - be careful! The wall hosts a by locals when the winter kicks up.
fantastic array of black corals, gorgonians, sheet corals, barrel sponges PAVILIONS 35’ - 130’+ (11-40m+) Int. - Adv. Here the north shore
and tube sponges, as well as all kinds of fishes. wall cuts toward shore, creating an area with little current or surge.
CARAMBOLA/DAVIS BAY 10’-100’ (3-30m) Int. Snorkel and scuba Sand chutes slope down with a lining of star, brain and pillar cor-
from shore at Carambola Beach Resort on a spur and groove reef in als in the shallower areas, then sheet, black, and whip corals deeper.
shallows. Deeper divers find mountainous star corals with undercuts Sponges of every form overrun the corals.
hosting spectacular elephant ear sponges. The reeftop is loaded with PINNACLE (aka: SEAMOUNT or JIMMY’S SURPRISE) 55’-130’+
parrotfish, damsels, black durgons, tangs and angelfish. Pelagic spe- (17-40m+) Adv. This is a deep pinnacle rising from 90’ (27m) on it’s
cies pass by in the deep. south side, with the north side dropping off to the deep. Currents
NORTH STAR 30’-130’+ (9-40m+) Int. - Adv. Snorkelers can peer often turn this into a drift dive. Sea fans cover the huge pinnacle, and
down into the depths as the wall drop-off begins at only 30’ (9m). the top is a cleaner station where wrasses take care of big customers.
Over the wall at 60’ (18m) is a small cave and then a Danish era an- East of pinnacle are more large coral mounds. Caution: Steep and
chor. A seamount rises from the deep to 115’ (35m) depth for an in- deep.
teresting deep dive. Hawksbill turtles, blacktip reef sharks and pelagic
species are common. The reef top is loaded with juvenile fishes.
CANE BAY (“THE WALL”) 10’ -130’+ (3-40m+) Beg. - Adv. Cane
Bay is a palm-lined cove at the base of cliffs, with St. Croix’s best wall
