If you love Bonaire for it's beach diving, and you love Cozumel for it's marine life, try St. Croix. You may be amazed.
The Diving
Welcome to St. Croix and the little town of Frederiksted, which is located close to many of the top dive sites. Enjoy five days of morning boat dives (2 dives/day) with the crew of Cain Bay Divers. SASS has used this operator in the past and found their crew to be fun and professional. You'll enjoy them too.
Besides 10 boat dives, we have included the unlimited beach dive package. Our accommodations are close to the famous Frederiksted pier. This phenomenal site is known as one of the top macro dives anywhere. In just 20-30 ft of water, you’ll find a wealth of sea creatures including octopus, lobsters, batfish, flying gurnards, tarpon, seahorses and more. You can log some serious bottom time on this one site alone; it’s a great day and night dive. But wait, there’s more. Just down the road is Cane Bay Beach. Here you’ll see lots of shark action on a healthy finger reef system. The reef starts at 25-30 ft so photographers will enjoy endless bottom time capturing pictures of tropical fish and aquatic life. The wall begins at 40 feet and plunges to 3,200ft. Hard and soft corals of every type, cover the wall and adjacent sloping reefs. Nineteenth-century anchors and larger pelagic sea life can be found on the wall. The variety of underwater topography and sheer size make beach dive a different experience each dive. A beach dive here shouldn’t be missed and I hear the bioluminescent kayaking tour is also a must-do. Dive Conditions: The average water temperature is around 82 F in the summer and 80 F in the winter. Most visitors are comfortable in 3mm wetsuits year-round. Visibility generally ranges from 60-100 feet, but it can occasionally be higher or lower depending on weather conditions. Typical marine life includes seahorses, reef sharks, octopuses, queen angelfish and turtles. |
The Accommodations
For this trip, we have booked Cottages by the Sea, a small family-owned boutique beachfront hotel. There are 27 uniquely different cottages. Please see the price list for the cottages we are holding and book early to get your preferred accommodations. Regardless of the choice, all of the beach cottages offer full kitchens, open floor plans, comfortable beds, private bathrooms, easy beach access, cool tropical breezes, private patios, colorful décor, authentic artwork and air conditioning. Enjoy swimming and snorkeling in the warm, calm, crystal clear waters of the Caribbean Sea, or bask in the sun while lounging in one of the beach chairs. Enjoy hunting for sea glass, BBQ grilling, bike riding, kayaking, or reading a book from the guest library. Enjoy your nightly cocktail while gathering with other guests on one of the common patios to enjoy the sunset and while waiting for the elusive “green flash.”
Amenities Include
Cost: Premium Ocean View Diver: $1699 Vacationer: $1199
Classic Ocean View Diver: $1659 Vacationer: $1099
Classic Garden View Diver: $1359 Vacationer: $809
Package Includes
Covid Testing: ALL visitors and residents, aged 5 or older, arriving into St. Croix must provide proof of negative COVID-19 test, OR positive antibody test results, done within 5 days of your travel. You do not need to have a COVID-19 test to return to the US mainland. You must submit an approval test result at www.usvitravelportal.com prior to travel. Airfare: We can help you with airfare. When booking your flight, arrive into St. Croix’s airport Christiansted, Henry E. Rohlsen airport code STX. As of July 22, prices started at $408 when flying out of Detroit. Rental Cars: This is one of the few destinations that a rental car is needed. There are only a few restaurants within walking distance, airport transfers are not included, you’ll want a car for beach dives, stocking up at the grocery store and getting to the dive boat. If you want to share the cost of a rental car, email us and we’ll help to arrange shared car rental with others in our group. |
The Island
Sign up Now!Payment: A $500/person deposit is due to guarantee space on this trip. We will make every attempt to book you in the cottage of your choice. Once the selection has been confirmed, final payment is due. Payments are nonrefundable unless we can refill your space. If this occurs, there will be a $100/person service fee.
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St Croix is the largest of the Virgin Islands— it’s more than twice the size of St. Thomas. It has a unique cultural influence from Spain, Great Britain, the Netherlands, France, the Knights of Malta, Denmark and the United States. All these countries influenced the native Arawak and Carib peoples and you will see it in their arts, crafts, and music.
The topography is also diverse, spanning from mountains to a spooky rainforest and a fertile coastal plain where sugarcane used to grow. There are two historic towns, Christiansted and Frederiksted. Here you can stroll down centuries-old streets and see regal 18th and 19th-century homes. Visit Fort Christiansvaern, which was built in 1749. Visit the rum factory, buy souvenirs and find a picturesque dinner spot. Bring your hiking shoes and traverse Salt River Bay National Historical Park and Ecological Preserve. Dedicated in 1993, this national, ecological preserve and park features the largest remaining mangrove forest in the U.S.V.I., a submarine canyon, plus objects of cultural significance such as a prehistoric ceremonial hall and burial site |