West End Dive Sites 

The west end of St. Croix offers lake like conditions due to it being the leeward side of the island.  There are 5 major shipwrecks, along with a 6th wreckage site (Armageddon).  In addition, diving out of Frederiksted offers virgin coral reefs with the most variety of marine life.   Sandy Point, the protected turtle nesting beach, provides the west end with a large number and variety of sea turtles.

The Wrecks at Butler Bay, Deep Wreck Tour -

The Deep Shipwrecks at Butler Bay include the 89’ tugboat called the Coakley Bay and the 177’ freighter named the Rosaomira. These two ships lay next to each other in a “T” shape with the Rosa lying across the stern of the Coakley Bay. This makes it easy to explore both of the these vessels on the same dive. The depth starts at 60’ with the deepest point being off the starboard side of the Rosa in 110’. We generally keep a maximum depth of 90’ to ensure 30 minutes of bottom time. The Coakley Bay was donated by Hess Oil Company and sunk in 1999. The boat sits upright with the doors and windows barred to prevent penetration. Although fairly new, the Coakley Bay is already home to a number of different schools of tropicals including goat fish, blue tangs, butterfly fish, and some larger barracudas. 

The Rosaomira was a Venezuelan vessel that arrived in St. Croix with cargo in 1986. While pumping ballast from one section of the ship to allow for the cargo to be unloaded easier, the Rosa capsized (turned over). Two of the crew were killed. It was later discovered that the owner was attempting to smuggle diesel fuel and the captain was unaware. This is what caused the ship to capsize. Upon cleaning up the mess, the ship was towed out to Butler Bay, where commercial divers used explosives to turn her right side up and sink her. 

The Wrecks at Butler Bay, Shallow Wreck Tour - 

The Shallow Wreck Tour starts with the Suffolk Maid, an old North Sea fishing ship that sits in 60' of water. From there you'll proceed past an oil barge, named The Virgin Islander, and on to an underwater habitat. The final ship on the tour is the North Wind, a small tug boat sitting in only 40' of water, which was used in the movie "Dreams of Gold, The Mel Fisher Story". 

Armageddon -

This is the old pier dumping ground that resembles a sunken underwater city. The huge steel girders and long concrete pipes stacked on top of each other is the home to a variety of game fish, including large Snappers, Jacks and Permits. Barracudas are commonly seen touring the area. Along the bottom, the many overhangs offer shelter to lobsters and green moray eels. The occasional currents and 70' starting depth make Armageddon an advanced dive.

Also at Butler Bay we'll find Sugar Reef, an untouched dive site offering a wide variety of soft and hard corals. The large and complete sea fans make this dive a favorite to many photographers.  

Butler's Ledge - 

A very interesting ledge that sits in 30' of water. The ledge is a perfect hiding spot for eels, lobsters and a ton of other creatures. Cruising along the ledge you'll bump in to a part of the movie set from the Mel Fisher Story. After the movie the 'cage' was sunk in 150' of water and Hurricane Lenny blew it all the way back in to 30' of water.

Located approx. 1 mile north of the Frederiksted Pier, this shallow reef site is named for the sugar mill on shore that marks the spot. This great second dive is home to schools of Blue Tangs, and Creole Wrasse's. Periodically, large Trumpet fish and File fish make their way through the area.  

This part of the reef is named for the abundance of cables that run over the reef out into the ocean.  These cables are a part of an old submarine tracking station located on shore.  Since these cables have been laid, there is some very interesting sponge and coral growth along with a wide variety of "critters"

Little Mill Point

Located just south of Mill point, this dive site offers great colors and a great variety of soft corals. The highlights of this site are the cables that are draped over the reef from the closed submarine tracking station. These cables are often suspended in the water with purple and orange sponges growing from them.

Sprat Hole - 

Sprat Hole has developed a reputation of being one of the best coral dive sites on St. Croix. This site is very well protected by the island, offering little weather damage to the reef. There is a good chance of seeing a hawksbill turtle, southern stingrays, and occasionally a nurse shark.  

Rainbow Reef area

This section of reef is on a gentle slope starting at 30' of water and running down to 90'. The reef is very built up with an abundance of hard corals. This area is common to lobsters, moray eels, both hawksbill and green turtles, and barracuda's hovering over the reef.  

This dive is another nice shallow reef which makes horseshoe shapes in the surrounding sandy area.  This area is known for its abundance of Spiny Lobsters and an occasional nurse shark.

Sandy Point - 

This site is located directly off the Sandy Point beach. This beach is the federally protected turtle nesting beach. With the mangroves totally intact, this reef is very healthy with snappers and a huge variety of  small tropicals. Of course, there is a good chance you'll see a turtle here as well.

This site is a patch of healthy coral reef that is located at the west turn of the island.  This site is loaded with schools of your different species of tropical fish along with an occasional turtle.  The boat mooring sits in 50' of water with a steep slope down to 90'.

Kings Reef -

This dive site starts in 40' of water and slopes down to 90' before turning to sand.  Large barrel sponges and common sea fans make this a great photography site.  There are also schools of yellowtail snappers and squirrelfish hanging over the different healthy corals.

This site got its name from the original "alien looking" sponge formations.  This is one reason why the latest film crew chose this spot for some underwater footage for a tourism commercial. The sloping reef runs from 40' all the way down to 100'.   

Tide Box - 

This dive site plays host to some great reef structures emerging from the sandy ocean floor. Back in the summer of 2004, we constantly would see 2 Longsnout Seahorses. Since tropical storm Jeanne we have not been able to locate them, but they are in the area. 

Guess what this site is named after? Of course, all the great fish in this clear, calm, and shallow water. This is a great second dive that typically offers a lot of bottom time. Aquarium is one of the premier sites for photography due to the good variety of color and light.

This site is not as scary as it seems.  This is one of the island's most beautiful reefs with a large variety of soft and hard corals, and an abundance of marine life starting in only 30' of water. Around the mooring you'll find a bunch of little "islands", filled with tropical fish, lobsters, and eels. Always keep your eyes open for stingrays in the sand.  

North Shore Wall Dives 

The North Shore offers several wall diving sites that drop off less than a quarter-mile offshore.  These drop-offs are a favorite to shore divers that like endless chances to experience the "Thrill" from right off the beach.

When the weather is good enough, The N2 The Blue boat is able to go around Ham's Bluff to bring you to several North Shore Wall Sites.  

Here a description of several of the North Shore Dives

An advanced boat dive that can only be done during calm seas. Coming straight off the cliffs of the far North West point. This ledge starts in 20' of water and slides down to 90'. This is a Virgin Dive Spot that offers schools of tropicals, Caribbean Spiny Lobsters, Turtles, and an occasional nurse shark. 

Another Advanced boat dive that starts in 60' under the boat. There are several coral reef fingers that rise off the sand in 10'-20' and run out to the edge of the wall which is in 100'. Larger Trigger Fish, Barracuda's, Eagle Rays, and tons of smaller reef fish are seen in this area. 

The wall dive in front of Carambola Beach. The mooring is in about 35' and right on the side of the wall. There are lots of cuts and mini canyons that make good homes for Spotted Lobsters and an occasional Nurse Shark.  

A sloping wall dive with most of the action on the slope and on top in about 40' of water. Lots of fish and a very nice reef. Visibility can be challenging  because of its location along the cliffs where the swells come in.

One of the most dramatic wall dives on the island which can also be done from shore when conditions are calm. The Wall starts in 25' and drops down over 2000' in less than a half a mile. A lot of turtles are seen here, next to tons of tropical fish on top of the wall. Occasionally a reef sharks will move along the wall.    

Another dive that can be done from shore when the waves aren't breaking in close. A sloping wall starting in 30' of water with colorful corals on top.   

This is a site that is relatively easy to reach from shore with a distance of approx. 100 yards to the wall that starts in 30' of water. The wall has many coral reef fingers that are home to groups of Schoolmasters and Blue Tangs.  

The wall starts in 30' of water and is not as sheer as some of the others, but is nevertheless known for its abundance of marine life. Angelfish, Triggerfish, eels, and Snappers are common at this site.