Page 63 - Florida and the US Caribbean Isles
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BLUE CHUTE & CHEZ BARGE 70’-100’ (21-30m) Int. A 150’ long SWIRLING REEF OF DEATH/DAN’S REEF 30’-40’ (9-12m) Beg.
barge has been sitting upside-down since 1978, when it was sunk for a This rich reef is full of Caribbean fish and
reef. Divers feed fish here, and a resident barracuda named Marlboro invertebrates. Cleaner shrimp may try to take care of your parasites if
will show his toothy smile, as will Earl, a big green moray who lives you sit still. Contrary to the name, it is not notably dangerous.
under the barge. KING’S REACH REEF 45’-100’ (14-30m) Int. This is a sandy plain
LONG REEF 15’-100’+ (5-30m+) Beg. - Int. This huge barrier reef with an anchorage area at 45’ (14m) depth. Sand is full of garden eels.
stretches for 3 miles outside of Christiansted Harbor. Good coral gar- The gradual slope is covered in bright sponges of all types and moun-
dens found here are a perfect spot for a second dive following a north tainous, star, brain, starlet, sheet, wire and lobed corals.
shore wall dive. A seaward-extending complicated spur and groove FREDRIKSTED PIER 10’-50’ (3-15m) Beg. This is a particularly
system boasts fabulous coral pinnacles. It was formerly full of elkhorn good night dive at the rebuilt pier. Look closely for seahorses, spotted
corals, but Hurricane Hugo thrashed them in 1989. The reef is coming scorpionfish, and big silver tarpon. Remnants of the old pier are still
back just fine. encrusted with amazing, colorful sponges. Night divers will see lots
EAGLE RAY 30’-100’+ (9-30m) Beg. - Int. This sandy slope is made of lobsters.
special by its resident white-spotted eagle rays SPRAT HOLE 25’-55’ (8-17m) Beg. Dive offshore from U.S. Naval
which pass slowly by. It also has a number of good-sized southern Reserve at Estate Sprat Hall. This dive drops down a heavy warship
sting rays. chain tethered to a huge orange buoy. Since this is the leeward side
19TH HOLE 30’-100’ (8-30m) Beg. - Int. This boat dive is short trip of the island, it is usually calm. The sandy bottom is surrounded by
from the dock. It has large coral pinnacles comprised of giant bar- lobed star corals. Garden eels, goatfish and southern stingrays live in
rel sponges, brain corals and mountainous star corals. Nurse sharks the sand.
rest beneath overhangs, and numerous and varied invertebrates shelter ARMAGEDDON PLAIN 70’-115’ (21-35m) Int. - Adv. Dive on jum-
amongst coral mounds. bled pier pilings which were dumped here after the Fredriksted Pier
SCOTCH BANK 30’-85’ (8-26m) Beg. - Int. Named for the dumped was demolished by Hurricane Hugo in 1989. Boats anchor atop
cargo of scotch from a grounded ship from the Truck Lagoon, which is a pile of Hess Oil trucks dumped here for a
1700’s, this dive site features scattered mounds of corals and sponges. reef in the 1970’s.
Of note are large elephant ear sponges, and also the large variety and
number of tropical Caribbean reef fish. The outside wall drops off
steep and deep in typical St. Croix fashion. It is sometimes a drift dive.
