The U.S.Virgin Islands offer some of the clearest waters in which to dive in the Caribbean. There are a host of dive shops available that can take the millions of tourists along well-beaten paths...but where do the locals go? Since I lived in St. John, I'll fill you in on some secret dive locations that you'll love to experience.
Although the waters of Haulover Bay can be finicky due to its location and remote openness, it offers a great little beach dive. One of the benefits, of diving this spot, is that you can pull your car up along the side of the road and haul your gear to the beach in a matter of minutes. Once you are ready, swim out and to the left; that's where you'll find the coral and most of the fish. The dive is best from 15 to 40 feet. When you are done with the dive, plan on relaxing as you gaze across the Channel at Tortola and the beautiful hillsides along St. John's coast.
Salt Pond Bay has become more of a tourist beach in the past few years, so expect to find plenty of people milling about in the crystal clear shallows. The main problem with this dive is the long hill that stretches down to the beach. Carrying your gear, plan on taking a fifteen minute stroll to the beach. This dive will also require quite a long swim out to the best spot; around fifteen minutes with a relaxed kick and air filled BC. If you don't mind the hike or the swim, you will be rewarded with a beautiful dive around a coral formation that just barely peeks above the waves. The dive is around 65 feet and, due to the swim out and back, should only be done by experienced and fit divers. You'll see many schools of fish and the occasional shark. If you're not into a long swim or seeing sharks, there is a small coral formation located almost dead center in the Bay; it's not as spectacular a view as the formation that is farther out, but you can still see fish and enjoy an easy shallow dive.
Newfound Bay can only be reached by boat, which has kept this spot a secret that only cruisers and locals know about. You can stick to the shallows for the best coral views. With an average dive of only 15 feet, plan on spending quite a bit of time underwater. There are a host of lobster hiding in the nooks and crannies, so keep a sharp look out for their antennas. The Bay is also where a huge barracuda hangs out, and since they're territorial, you might get lucky enough to see this giant gentle wolf of the sea.
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