The Virgin Islands

Dive Sites in The Virgin Islands

• Cocoloba

  A shallow reef off a small cay near Fish Bay (south) which featured a lot of standard reef fishes. In particular we encountered triggers, file The upper part of the bow section fish, angels, and the occasional lobster. More info»

• Carval Rock

  Sitting outside the gap between Cooper and Ginger Islands, Carval Rock looks a little like a Caravel sailing ship of days past. Look for green morays and lobsters along the ledges that fall away from the rock. Closer to Carval is a jumble of huge boulders. Schools of fishes loiter in the shadows. Large whitespotted filefish, groupers, queen triggerfish and durgon move about the openings to the recesses between the boulders. Lots of fire coral and attendant jewelfish, redlip gobies and damselfishes cover the tops of the boulders. Barracudas and occasional mackerels and kingfish are in mid-water. Sponge-covered boulders, schools of French grunts and blue tang, as well as large trumpetfish hiding in the waving gorgonians, are to be found. Spotted drums and highhats lurk in the shadows beneath the boulders. More info»

• Cartenser Senior Wreck

  A World War I cargo vessel, the Cartenser Senior is a coral-encrusted wreck situated southeast of St. Thomas. It has moved from the place where it had first sunk after divers formed an underwater picket line to stave off imminent destruction by the Army Corp of Engineers, and later was moved again by Hurricane Alan. Sponges and Coral have since dug in their heels, and Christmas tree worms brighten it up. A popular novice 25 feet to 35 feet dive where snapper, parrotfish, angelfish, and sergeant majors are frequently seen. More info»

• Grass Cay

  Situated on the eastern end of St. Thomas, Grass Cay features huge coral heads and large sea fans. The bottom slopes gradually from the island and offers some sandy patches at approximately 55 feet. More info»

• Thatch Cay

  Located at the northwest point of the Island, the dive site of Thatch Cay features archways, tunnels to the depths of 40 feet, interesting coral formations including bright orange tubastrea pillar coral, and delicate black coral, as well as the presence of tarpon, a host of tropical fish, and clouds of silversides. More info»

• Capella Reef

  Off the South side of Capella Island, approximately 2.5 miles South of St. Thomas. This 30 to 70 feet novice to intermediate dive has good visibility (up to 80 feet) and great reefs. Swim through ravines comprised of large igneous blocks. This area is still recovering from 1989's Hurricane Hugo but remains a worthwhile site to visit. More info»

• Carvel Rock

  No Description Available. More info»

• Little St. James Ledges

  A 40 foot dive on the lee side has some deep ledges which serve as shelter to various schools of fish. More info»

• Buck Island Wall

  Buck Island wall can be one of two dive sites - Dive Flag Rock or Andres' Reef. There are pieces of machinery that were left in the 1960's and has been invaded by schools of blue and brown chromis, and the occasional eel or shark. The sand is in 60-70 ft of water and the top of the reef is in 30 feet for a nice multi-level dive. Sting rays and Eagle rays regularly cruise by as well. More info»

• Congo Cay

  This dive is at the western end, near the point, and the normal dive route takes you through canyons, around pinnacles and a sand chute that’s like an underwater ski jump down to 80 ft. For some of the dive, you’ll be treated to white sand and octocorals and at other aerial rocky encrusted coral makes up the terrain housing invertebrates galore. This site is great for fish watchers, who are treated to large schools of silversides, and even the possibility of sharks and bottlenose dolphins. More likely than not though, you’ll be seeing stingrays buried in the sand. More info»

• General Rogers Wreck

  General Rogers is a steel-hulled Coast Guard vessel sitting upright in 65 feet of water. This 120 foot wreck was sank on purpose near Thatch Cay (to the north) and makes a wonderful artificial reef with encrusted corals, numerous fish, and easily penetrable cargo holds. As it is located in a section of the Narrows, it experiences moderate to strong currents, so beware. Crabs and lobsters are regulars at the wreck, and several large groupers make their home in the hold. More info»

• Cow and Calf Rocks

  Cow Rock has a series of swim-throughs with any number of cool critters residing in the crevices and a maximum depth of 45 feet. Regularly seen are lobsters clinging to the ceiling, brittle stars in between the rocks, and spotted drum in the swim-through. There's also the "Champagne Cork" - when there's enough wave action, this swim-through has the distinct feature of sucking you up spitting you out the top - just like a cork. Winding in and around the rocks you will be able to watch the waves breaking out over the tops of the formation. More info»

• WIT Shoal Wreck

  Located off the west end of St. Thomas (past the airport) this wreck dive is one of the best in the Virgin Islands! This advanced dive (current is likely) offers a 500 feet cargo vessel resting in 90-100 feet of water and coming up to 35 feet at the wheelhouse. This wreck has easily penetrable cargo holds and stern walkways with enormous quantities of schooling fish. More info»

• Salt River Canyon

  Located in the historical site of Christopher Columbus's second trip to the Americas, Salt River Canyon is composed of east and west wall sites that is among the most request on the island. Countless species like the big hawksbill turtles, eels, groupers, and snappers are frequently seen in these clear waters. Some really big stingrays in the area. Great for novice divers as well as advanced. More info»