Snorkeling in Saint Croix

If you are looking for the best place to go on vacation in the Caribbean, you should look no further than St. Croix. Considered one of the best for snorkeling and the largest of the U.S. Virgin Islands, St. Croix is worth the trip.

Before you grab your snorkeling gear and head to the islands, there are certain things you need to know before you go. As always, before you go snorkeling at a new location, you must be familiar with the laws, guidelines, and any warnings that may exist.

Keep reading to learn more about snorkeling in St. Croix and the types of adventures you may encounter while you are there.

What You Should Know About St. Croix

Most people know that St. Croix is the largest of the U.S. Virgin Islands which is located in the Caribbean. It is said to be the easternmost tip of the U.S.-owned territories and is located just south of the Tropic of Cancer.

While some of the other islands in this area are extremely fast-paced tourist destinations, the island of St. Croix is more laid back. This is not to say that it is not filled with tourists during peak times, but that despite this, it is a very relaxed island.

Most islanders on St. Croix take pride in their laid-back atmosphere and old-world charm that they try to instill in the many tourists that come onto the island. Although they are a more casual people, they do frown upon tourists who walk around scantily clad in their bathing suit attire.

Although the island is said to be about 23 miles long and 8 miles wide, there is quite a lot of diversity in the environment. This is because you have the dryer end on the east and a mountainous area of the Blue Mountain in the west with fertile flatland in the middle of it all.

The bottom line is that no matter what time of the year you choose to visit St. Croix, you will most likely be met with warm temperatures that average to about 80 degrees year-round. This makes for a more than a pleasant vacation to get away from the fast-paced life you live in.

Best Spots to Snorkel on St. Croix

While most people who live on the island or who have visited frequently will say that no matter where you go on the island, you will find great things to do. However, if you have your heart set on snorkeling, this guide will show you the best places to go.

Cane Bay

Located on the island's north shore, Cane Bay is one of the most frequented places for those who enjoy snorkeling. This is especially true for those who are considered more experienced snorkelers.

This area of the island offers great views of the island and the waters surrounding it as well as excellent places to hang out when not snorkeling. Since you have to swim out a few hundred feet if you want the best places to snorkel, you should have some experience as a great swimmer before you try.

One of the most interesting features of snorkeling in Cane Bay is that while most of the ocean floor can be located about 40 feet down, it drops to about 3,000 feet at the Cane Bay Wall. Located along the Puerto Rico Trench, this area is home to much marine life such as colorful fish, stingrays, coral, sea turtles, barracudas, and more.

Buck Island Reef

Known for its incredible coral reef system, the Buck Island Reef National Monument area is a huge tourist attraction. Located 1.5 miles off the coast of St. Croix on the northeastern end, Buck Island extends to about 880 acres.

Buck Island Reef is known for its extremely calm waters since the reef wraps around the area and protects it from the wilder currents. If you want to get to the Reef, you have to take a charter, a guided day trip, boat transfer, or take your boat, with certain restrictions.

This area is a prime spot for snorkeling since it allows you to see a wide variety of marine life. Some of the marine life you may encounter include blue tangs, reef sharks, hawksbill turtles, eagle rays, and much more.

Frederiksted Pier

This pier is one of the most popular areas on the island especially since it is the place where cruise ships tend to dock. It is said to be the perfect place to hang out and snorkel for families with children.

While certain restrictions may keep you from being able to snorkel at certain times, if you catch it at the right time you will not be disappointed. When a cruise ship is docked at the pier, there is no snorkeling allowed which means you may have to go further up or down the beach to find a place to do so.

The Frederiksted Pier area, however, is home to a wide variety of sea creatures that make hanging in this area worth it. Some of these creatures include corals, lobsters, crabs, seahorses, turtles, barracudas, reef fish, and more.

Rainbow Beach

The calm, crystal clear waters of Rainbow beach create the perfect environment for a large tourist destination. Rainbow beach is one of the most popular places for families and other tourists to hang out on the island.

Since the waters are much calmer, many families find that this is the perfect place to give their children snorkeling lessons. Because of the calmer water, there is a better chance of learning the ins and outs of snorkeling without having to worry about the current and such.

While not the best place on the island for snorkeling since you will not encounter a wide variety of marine life, many people do enjoy the area. This is mostly because of the limited amount of tropical fish and a small patch of coral reef along the area near the restaurants.

Davis Bay

This area is located as a part of the Carambola Beach Resort, which is a prime location if you have experience snorkeling. This is because while extremely scenic, the waters here can get rough with stronger than normal currents coming in at times.

Known as one of the most scenic beaches on the island of St. Croix, this area has everything you may expect from island life. From the coral reef located around the cliffs on the west side of the beach to the canyons and drop-offs that are a part of the Puerto Rico Trench, you will find something to enjoy.

You will find much marine life in this area and should spend some of your time here hanging on the sandy beaches of the area. This is because the resort offers so many amenities that you and your family will enjoy.

When is the Best Time to Go Snorkeling in St. Croix?

Most people who have ever been to St. Croix will agree that no matter what time of the year you visit the island, you will not be disappointed. With so many things to do and see, you will have a great time no matter when you decide to visit.

The peak tourist season is said to be from December to March when the weather is slightly cooler in the mornings and evenings. Keep in mind that the average temperature for the island is around 80℉ during the day and drops to about 70℉ in the evenings.

Sea temperatures average a consistent rate between 79℉ to about 83℉ throughout the year, even during winter months. This means that no matter what time of the year you decide to visit, you can safely be in the water.

Speaking of safety, it is also important to keep in mind that St. Croix, like most Caribbean islands, has a stormy season between July and October. This means that you should use caution in planning your vacation during this time due to possible hurricanes hitting the island.

What You Should Know Before You Go

Like with most vacations you plan to go on, there are certain things you should know and understand about life on the island of St. Croix before planning your trip. While some of these are designed to keep you safe, others are designed to help you fit in better with the locals.

Be Prepared for Anything

It is important to understand that no matter where you are in the world, accidents can happen at any time. This is why it is important to always be prepared and use precautions when participating in activities such as snorkeling or diving.

As part of the necessities that you bring along with you, it may be a good idea to either pack or pick up a first aid kit. This is because anything can happen and it is better to be prepared than to find yourself injured with no way to help yourself or your family.

No Passport Needed for U.S. Citizens

If you are a citizen of the United States, you do not need a passport to enter the island of St. Croix or any of the other U.S. Virgin Islands. This is because the islands are U.S.-owned territory.

They do ask that you bring identification to prove your identity and that you are a citizen of the U.S. This could be proven with government-issued identification and a birth certificate. If you want to bring your passport instead, you can do that as well.

Drive on the Left Side of the Road!

While a U.S. territory, the island of St. Croix has not always been that way. For whatever reason, you just need to know that drivers navigate their vehicles on the left side of the road in the direction they are headed.

You should also know that while they are driving their cars on the left side, drivers themselves are on the left side of the car like in the United States. This can get quite confusing to people everywhere.

Embrace the Island Time Culture

Many people assume that being on an island means that the residents there are lazy laid back people who do not follow certain social norms. This couldn’t be farther from the truth although they do tend to be more laid back.

Keep in mind that there is a real difference between lazy and laid back and the island of St. Croix is a laid back people. This means that they may not follow the same guidelines about keeping to a set schedule, especially if it is a beautiful day outside.

You Can Take Your Bottles of Rum Off the Island

While in most foreign countries, you are not allowed to take certain alcoholic beverages on the airplane with you. In many cases, you may have to ship your purchases home and pay certain duties on them.

On St. Croix, however, which is home to the Cruzan and Captain Morgan rum producers, you can feel free to purchase and take home your bottles of rum. Be advised that they allow about six bottles, however, they will be checked just like your oversized luggage instead of allowing you to take it on the plane with you.

Rest assured, however, that they take great care of your bottles when you let them know. This means that they are not going to sling your rum around as they might do with your standard luggage. This means getting home with intact bottles of rum that came straight from the manufacturers.

Final Thoughts on Snorkeling in St. Croix

Some final thoughts about snorkeling on St. Croix are that you should always use the utmost precautions when you are snorkeling. This is because many snorkeling deaths have occurred to people who were not well prepared.

If you enjoy snorkeling and take the proper precautions, St. Croix is likely one of the most beautiful places you could visit in the world. The island is full of various marine life that can be seen during the large variety of snorkeling adventures you could endure.

The bottom line is that St. Croix is a great place to visit whether you plan to snorkel, dive, or just hang out on the beach. Like with other vacations, planning your trip carefully can be the biggest difference between having a great time and not enjoying your time at all.

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