Scuba Diving Caribbean Style

By Dustin P. Prudhomme

Why do so many travelers travel to America’s Paradise? Could it be the lovely beaches, resorts, pools, boat trips, snorkel locations, or diving destinations? Well, depending on who you ask, it would be many of the above, but one of the most rewarding adventures is scuba diving in the Caribbean. While traveling has taken many people to the wonderful Caribbean, everyone should experience the wonderful diving locations throughout America’s Paradise.

While traveling St. John, USVI, everyone should take advantage of what the island has to offer. The island has many great areas to lounge around and renew your spirits while soaking up the great rays of the sun and beautiful views of the Caribbean. Ever wondered what was below the water’s surface? Have you ever seen an ocean’s ecological system from within? While diving has many points that can be dangerous and potentially life threatening, one of the best rewards is the ability to swim within the eco-system of the ocean’s depth. St. John has over twenty five dive spots to offer within a fifteen minute boat ride from the dock.

The first of many local dive shops visited between St. Thomas and St. John is Congo Cay. While Congo Cay is not a deep water diving site, some of the best species live within arm length of the water’s surface. Visibility is often very good and can reach well into forty feet on a normal day. The cay has both rock and coral formations that attract many different species including lobster, fish, and soft coral.

Want a reef that is between four to fifteen feet from the water’s surface? Then you need to boat out to Chocolate Hole and moor up. This dive site is suitable for all levels of experience and normally remains calm compared to most sites. Parrot fish, angel fish, rays, turtles, and many other species can be found in abundance around Chocolate Hole’s Reef.

While most of St. John is designated a National Park, one of the better dive sites is located within the National Park Boundaries and provides an exceptional diving experience. Waterlemon Cay has great drift diving, snorkeling and an abundance of star fish. To get to the best location you will either need to hike the thirty minute Annaberg Sugar Mill Trail and swim out or take a private boat and enjoy the ride along the North Shore.

When looking at three of the best diving spots for all levels of divers, one who has never dived before must wonder, is this the right place for me to go? While vacationing in St. John, one of the most professional dive shops in the Caribbean to visit is Cruz Bay Watersports. Cruz Bay Watersports in located in Great Cruz Bay at the Westin Resort’s Dock. While most resort dive shops are over done and look like corporate America, Cruz Bay Watersports has maintained a professional, experienced, and friendly staff located on site. Whether this is your first time or you have dived many sites before, Cruz Bay Watersports will be able to assist you and your family.

While completing this piece I chose to experience the professional services of Cruz Bay Watersports, and began my scuba career in the Intro to Scuba Program. Because the boat crew maintained a small student to teacher ratio, it afforded me the opportunity to really get to learn the equipment and equalize properly. My first diving experience was that of Congo Cay. Though I thought only going thirty feet deep would not yield me any great sites, I was wrong and glad I signed up for the trip. At first it took me minutes to trust myself that I could actually breathe under water, but I soon began to understand what diving was all about. It was fun, fantastic and energizing. Speaking with the other couples on the boat, I found that they also enjoyed seeing the water from beneath and not always snorkeling atop. After seeing a numerous fish and coral, I was ready to stay afloat all afternoon. I then checked my gauge and decided it was time to surface as I was starting to come close to the end of my air tank.

If you have plenty of experience and are interested in wreck diving, the Caribbean Waters have the Wreck of the RMS Rhone which is an 1865 Royal Mail Ship which sunk in seventy five foot water depths off of Salt Island, BVI. This wreck dive requires an Advance Open Water Certification from PADI or DAN for most dive shops. Come explore what St. John and the Caribbean Sea has to offer to all divers of all ages and technical levels. When will you get your first breath under water?

(Dustin P. Prudhomme is a contributor to Island Vibes Magazine and writes about Caribbean culture, business, sports, and entertainment. For comments, please feel free to contact him at dustin@islandvibesmag.com.)