Page 1582 - Dive the Seas and More-2
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are over three dozen dive sites located and CARAMBOLA/DAVIS BAY 10'-100'
accurately described on the Franko’s Map (3-30m) Int. Snorkel and scuba from
of the United States Virgin Islands, St. shore at Carambola Beach Resort on a
Croix side. It is stated by all of the dive spur and groove reef in shallows. Deeper
operators in St. Croix that they have the divers find mountainous star corals with
very best diving in the world. That is why undercuts hosting spectacular elephant ear
they are there. It is also stated that only sponges. The reef top is loaded with
on St. Croix can you dive a wreck, a pier, parrotfish, damsels, black durgons, tangs
a reef and a wall on the same day. It and angelfish. Pelagic species pass by in
should be noted that this bragging is the deep.
absolutely true. In studying St. Croix and
developing this map I put the favorite and NORTH STAR 30'-130'+ (9-40m+) Int.
most known dive sites on the map. - Adv. Snorkelers can peer down into the
However, St. Croix is a very big island depths as the wall drop-off begins at only
and the dive operators there actually have 30' (9m). Over the wall at 60' (18m) is a
many more sites than a single map could small cave and then a Danish era anchor.
possibly show. The dive site names and A seamount rises from the deep to 115'
the descriptions of the favorite dive sites (35m) depth for an interesting deep dive.
on St. Croix, exactly as they appear on the Hawksbill turtles, blacktip reef sharks and
Franko are as follows in clockwise pelagic species are common. The reef top
fashion: is loaded with juvenile fishes.
HAMS BLUFF 15' - 75' (5-23m) Int. CANE BAY ("THE WALL") 10' -130'+
This site is rarely dived due to big swells (3-40m+) Beg. - Adv. Cane Bay is a
and location. Two caves may be entered palm-lined cove at the base of cliffs, with
only on a calm day. Sea life includes St. Croix's best wall dive just offshore.
green morays, lobsters and nurse sharks. Sometimes currents dictate that the dive
Elkhorn coral is prevalent in the shallows. site is accessed via TWIN PALMS, just to
the west. Adding to the interest in the
VERTIGO 50'-130'+ (14-40m+) Adv. superb wall are a few old anchors sticking
The wall begins at about 85' (14m) at the out of a sand chute, with garden eels
bottom of a steep sandy slope, and then peaking out of the sand. The shallow part
drops off into the abyss at a spectacular of the underwater here is called CANE
undercutting angle. This drop off is BAY GARDEN (25'-50' (8-15m) Beg.),
dangerous because a diver can lose track which is a nice snorkeling spot, and also a
of depth - be careful! The wall hosts a good second dive, because it is rich in
fantastic array of black corals, gorgonians, brain, star, elkhorn and gorgonian corals,
sheet corals, barrel sponges and tube plus colorful sponge colonies and fishes
sponges, as well as all kinds of fishes. too numerous to count. This area is surfed
by locals when the winter kicks up.
