Travel
- 5 Picturesque Locations In The Caribbean
With its tropical setting, golden sandy beaches and year round sunshine, the Caribbean is one of the most picturesque destinations in the world. There are dozens of stunning destinations in the Caribbean that are just waiting to be explored. Here are...
- 10 Best Scuba Diving Destinations
Scuba diving is more then just a sport. It's an adventure. The clear waters, the beautiful coral reefs teeming with life, the thrill of discovering a wreck or a cave, this are just some of the reasons people like scuba diving. The...
- Extraordinary Sights At Aruba Dive Sites
Despite its close proximity of just 18 miles from Venezuela, the 6 miles wide and 20 miles long island of Aruba is an idyllic location and is renowned throughout the Caribbean for its wonderful beaches, turquoise waters and magnificent water sport opportunities....
- Set Your Sites On Diving In Aruba
The diminutive southern Caribbean island of Aruba, lying less than 20 miles from mainland South America, attracts over half a million tourists from far and wide, each year. Some come for the luxury accommodation, gorgeous beaches and guaranteed good weather,...
- Shore Dives & Snorkeling With Kids
JADS Dive Center offers shore dives or rent tanks from Aqua Windies. Aqua Windies does rent tanks. Using, shorediving.com Aruba as a reference, below are some of my thoughts. Bachelors Beach, Boca Grandi & Boca Andicuri are only divable on a few...
Travel
Best Diving Spots in the Virgin Islands
The Virgin Islands are a group of small and mostly uninhabited islands that are amongst the most popular luxury destinations for yacht charter in the Caribbean. Located in the North-Eastern Caribbean, this archipelago of islands, cays and islets offers a myriad of holiday activities.
A cruise around this enchanting region in the Caribbean is ideal for those of you who are looking for a quiet and peaceful vacation.
When dreaming about this part of the world we conjure up all kinds of images that reflect the diversity of culture we can experience here. A visit will expose you to three different nationalities, numerous variations on language, outstanding natural beauty, open, friendly people, and world class sailing and cruising.
It is also a much sought-after cruising destination for those who are keen on snorkeling and diving, as the crystal clear waters are home to some of the Caribbean’s most colourful marine life as well as a number of outstanding wrecks.
There are a string of first-class dive centres across the region and those hoping to explore the multitude of excellent dive sites while renting a yacht in the Caribbean, are sure to find the perfect underwater adventure.
To help you decide where to dive in this fantastic region we have created this mini-guide to some of the best diving sites in the Virgin Islands.
Cow and Calf Rocks (St Thomas): This site, off the southeast coast of St Thomas, is without doubt the island’s premier diving site, with a number of coral tunnels, reefs and an abundance of marine life. If you don’t fancy diving, this spot is also hugely popular for snorkeling.
Frederiksted Pier (St Croix): Often touted as the very best pier dive in the whole of the Caribbean, Frederiksted Pier is located on the west coast of St Croix in a town of the same name. Here you will find the emerald sea full of exotic creatures, including sponges, banded shrimp, plume worms, and sea horses.
Buck Island (St Croix): Buck Island is located in the waters off St Croix, and is widely regarded as one of the premier diving areas in the Caribbean, with an underwater visibility of some 100 feet. Highlights include huge gardens of coral inhabited by black sea urchins, barracudas, stingrays, and other sea life. This site also offers the best chance of diving with sea turtles, making it the perfect destination for a U.S Virgin Islands yacht charter.
The Wreck of the HMS Rhone (Salt Island): The Rhone wreck is the premier dive site not only in the Virgin Islands, but also in the entire Caribbean. This royal mail steamer, which went down in 1867, was featured in the 1977 film The Deep, starring Nick Nolte.
The Wreck of Chikuzen (Tortola): If you are on a yacht charter in the British Virgin Islands and keen to explore a wreck, then head to the waters off the east coast of Tortola where the 269-foot steel-hulled Chikuzen lies. The hull of the ship, which sank in 1981, is home to a vast array of tropical fish, including yellowtail, barracuda, black-tip sharks, octopus, and drum fish.
Alice in Wonderland (Ginger Island, off Tortola): Another site not to be missed is Alice in Wonderland, in the waters off Ginger Islands. Here you will find a coral wall off the shore of the tiny island, with overhangs, colourful corals, and a wide variety of marine life. This is a deep-dive site with the wall begining at around 3.6m (12 ft.) and sloping gently to 30m (98 ft.).
About the Author: British journalist Suzanna Chambers has lived on the Cote d’Azur for more than a decade, writing articles for various news publications, lifestyle magazines and websites on the uber luxury aspects of the French Riviera. Having sampled many of the exclusive restaurants and bars along the coast in the name of research, she enjoys sharing her tips as to where to go and what to do in the South of France. Suzanna is globally traveled and writes often about luxury yachting, real estate and travel in far flung destinations.
Image by Rennett Stowe via Flickr Creative Commons
Image by Rennett Stowe via Flickr Creative Commons
- 5 Picturesque Locations In The Caribbean
With its tropical setting, golden sandy beaches and year round sunshine, the Caribbean is one of the most picturesque destinations in the world. There are dozens of stunning destinations in the Caribbean that are just waiting to be explored. Here are...
- 10 Best Scuba Diving Destinations
Scuba diving is more then just a sport. It's an adventure. The clear waters, the beautiful coral reefs teeming with life, the thrill of discovering a wreck or a cave, this are just some of the reasons people like scuba diving. The...
- Extraordinary Sights At Aruba Dive Sites
Despite its close proximity of just 18 miles from Venezuela, the 6 miles wide and 20 miles long island of Aruba is an idyllic location and is renowned throughout the Caribbean for its wonderful beaches, turquoise waters and magnificent water sport opportunities....
- Set Your Sites On Diving In Aruba
The diminutive southern Caribbean island of Aruba, lying less than 20 miles from mainland South America, attracts over half a million tourists from far and wide, each year. Some come for the luxury accommodation, gorgeous beaches and guaranteed good weather,...
- Shore Dives & Snorkeling With Kids
JADS Dive Center offers shore dives or rent tanks from Aqua Windies. Aqua Windies does rent tanks. Using, shorediving.com Aruba as a reference, below are some of my thoughts. Bachelors Beach, Boca Grandi & Boca Andicuri are only divable on a few...