From walls to reefs, wrecks to piers, St. Croix is one of the best Caribbean destinations for divers due to its diverse underwater landscape. The animal life is on overload: sea horses, frogfish, octopus, turtles, jawfish, shrimp, baitfish—the list goes on. Best of all, St. Croix does not require a passport for travel for U.S. citizens. I spoke with Michelle Pugh, owner of Dive Experience in Christiansted and member of the Women Divers Hall of Fame, to learn which five dive sites can't be missed. Plus, I’ve got tons to keep you busy on non-dive days.

Best Dive Sites in St. Croix

Turquoise Bay

Located on St. Croix’s Long Reef, Turquoise Bay has sand and coral ridges. It’s also known for an abundance of green sea turtles, but you’ll also see green eels, reef sharks, eagle rays, elkhorn coral and sea fans.

Depth: 60 feet

Salt River Canyon East Wall

A wall that drops to 1,000 feet, Salt River Canyon East Wall has a maximum diveable depth of 80 feet. “The coral and sponge life is incredible,” says Pugh. “Along the wall will be reef sharks, yellowtail snappers, blue and gray chromis, barracuda and turtles.”

Depth: 80 feet

Salt River Canyon West Wall

A shallow dive, the Salt River Canyon West Wall is replete with swim-throughs. Pugh says it’s an optimum place to view black coral branches, reef sharks, flounder and sea horses. As a bonus, manta rays tend to pass by during summer if there’s a plankton bloom.

Depth: 20 feet

Blue Chute

You can find Blue Chute by the mooring in front of the long sand chute that leads to a 120-foot sunken sand barge. The mooring rests at 42 feet and the shallow end of the barge is 65 feet. “The wreck is home to many fish and crustaceans,” says Pugh. “The reef sharks enjoy this spot. When going back to the boat, one usually sees stingrays in the sand areas.”

Depth: 99 feet

Stingraysted

Stingraysted (named as a play on words for the two towns on St Croix: Christiansted and Fredricksted) is a sand plateau with a sloping wall of coral heads. It’s a popular place for stingrays of all sizes as well as flounder and jawfish. “Octopus are found here in the coral heads or sometimes just walking along. We have the day octopus here!” says Pugh. “On the wall, there are lots of lobsters under the coral heads.”

Depth: 60 feet

Related Reading: 5 Best Dive Sites on Oregon’s South Coast

Other Water Activities in St. Croix

Buck Island Reef National Monument

The Buck Island Reef National Monument is a protected area that includes 176-acre Buck Island along with 18,839 acres of submerged land and coral reefs. The reef is thought to have been formed around 7,000 years ago, with elkhorn coral being the primary species. Established as a national park in 1961, the monument includes the first underwater trail in the National Park Service. Located about 7 miles (about a 30-minute boat ride) from Christiansted, visitors of all skill levels can snorkel the trail, home to 500 species of fish and 40 types of coral. Afterward, kick back on one of two pristine beaches or enjoy some local hiking.

Buck Island Power Boat Trip & Snorkeling with Caribbean Sea Adventures

For a relaxing dive break, consider snorkeling during this half-day tour which includes guided snorkel time at Buck Island Reef National Monument (so you can tour that trail) with a snorkeling lesson to get you started. The first stop, Turtle Beach, has picturesque white sand beaches covered with artistic-looking driftwood perfect for photos.

Rainbow Beach

Rainbow Beach is the best destination for all types of watersports including snorkeling, jet skiing and paddleboarding. On Sundays, it’s a local tradition to hang out at Rainbow Beach where many locals enjoy the day with a picnic and live music. Want to beat the crowds? Head to Rainbow Beach on Thursday mornings.

Related Reading: Top 3 Reasons to Visit the Diving Capital of Latin America

Topside Attractions in St. Croix

Crucian Heritage and Nature Tourism Hamilton Tour

Alexander Hamilton left his mark all over Christiansted. Stops on this walking tour include the Christiansted National Historic Site’s Scale House and Fort, the Custom’s House and the Christiansted Wharf. While the structures no longer exist, you’ll also pass by the sites of Hamilton’s former boyhood home and his mother’s dry goods store. Plus, you’ll see the impressive 1700s St. John’s Anglican Church, places Hamilton lived after his mother’s untimely death and the firm where Hamilton clerked for Beekman and Cruger.

Estate Little Princess

Take a self-guided walking tour of a sugar plantation from the 1730s with many buildings and structures still intact, including the Great House, windmill and factory. The former plantation is now a 25-acre nature preserve and home to the Nature Conservancy’s Coral Innovation Hub which opened in 2022 to advance coral science around the world.

Where to Eat in St. Croix

El Leon

Feast on authentic Mexican fare (yes, in the Caribbean!) with locally sourced ingredients. El Leon’s festive decor is enhanced by the quality of the food, which includes tacos, burritos and street corn. Sweet tooths can be sated with the tres leches, churros and spicy Mexican chocolate cake selections.

Breaker’s Roar

Enjoy drinks and light bites at this tiki-inspired lounge which boasts 30 unique cocktails in a chic environment (think upholstered benches and rich, wood accents). Don’t miss a cocktail made with a local USVI spirit, Cruzan 151 rum, like the lime and grapefruit “Zombie” or the pineapple and passionfruit “Pi Yi.”

Where to Stay in St Croix

King Christian Hotel

This 74-room hotel sits directly on the Christiansted waterfront and features custom-designed terra cotta flooring, bespoke furniture and floor-to-ceiling marble bathrooms. For divers, the hotel’s placement on the Christiansted boardwalk means you can easily make those early morning dive calls.

Dive Shops

Dive Experience; divexp.com

St. Croix Ultimate Bluewater Adventures; stcroixscuba.com

Latitude 17 Scuba; diveintostcroix.com