USVI-On-Line

So this will be our first trip back since 2008 when we were married on Peace Hill. Since then I've been scuba certified, or will be in a week or so. I want to do some open water diving, but also want to try some shore or shallower diving before taking the super big plunge. Can anyone recommend some diving spots that we can either dingy too or swim to from shore?

21 days left till we are there!

I haven't seen that many people doing beach dives during our trips, although I'm sure that they do.

If it were me, I'd want someplace with an easy entry and parking as close as possible so that I wouldn't have to lug my gear very far topside before and after the dives.

Of the places we've been, Haulover South probably fits the bill best.

If you do go on a charter don't be shy about telling them that you're new. That way they should ensure that you're not put in a situation that you may not feel comfortable tackling just yet.

FWIW, my family are all certified divers, but we mostly stick to snorkeling on STJ. Since there is so much to see that is so easily accessible from shore, we don't hassle with hauling all of our gear down with us. My wife and I have done a couple of charters and rented their gear, and the diving was good, so if you do go that route, enjoy!

About 4 years ago while snorkling at Kiddle, I saw two people enter the water with dive equipment on. I wasn't sure if one was a teacher, the other a trainee, however this might be a good place to start. It is a rocky beach area as well as entrance into the water. The snorking is always very good in this bay so I imagine farther out/scuba diving would be great!

Kiddel Bay is great to shore dive from. My husband and I did it several yrs in a row for several reason.
1. We stayed at a villa right up the hill from the bay.
2. I tend to get sea-sick on a boat.
3. You can pull your jeep very close to the water to unload gear but pull the jeep back up to park, don't leave it down on the beach while diving.
3.Easy surface swim to the reef or dive right under and make your way out
4. Lots of great stuff to see on the western side of the bay, reef and rock formations with swim thoughs
(you can easily see the reef and rocks from Google Earth)
5. this beach is almost always empty even during the high season in Feb.


Pelican Rock which is near Haulover is a nice calm spot as well. I've always done it from a boat but I believe it can be accessed from the shore of Haulover south

Little Lameshur is another that's easily accesed. I've only snorkeled there but it would be a nice shallow dive and you could see the reef up close from below instead of just looking from above. A short haul of gear from car to beach.

jofus

I have been shore diving both from Haulover south and Kiddel bay and they were both very good. Kiddel might be a little harder to get to, but in my opinion worth it. Nice topography and we saw a lot of fish and several turtles.

Good luck and have fun.

Being a relatively new diver myself, I suggest that you dive with one of the STJ dive shops a few times to get familiar and comfortable with diving, their equipment and STJ. We have now made enough dives where we are considering taking shore dives on our own. When you sign up for a boat dive, let them know that you have little experience and that you want an easy dive that will not challenge you too much. Low Key takes their students to Congo Cay and Grass Cay. That's where we started. Those are excellent dive sites for us beginners.

We have always been interested in diving the Cinnamon Cay, but never did. The walk from the parking to the water is very long. If we could get them to agree to allow us to unload near the consession building we would do it.

JIM