St. Croix is a special place for me. My parents and I moved there in the 60's and I grew up snorkeling,
sailing and diving all around the island. Living there had a profound effect on me: with the exception
of a brief incarceration in a New England prep school I have never lived more than a short distance
from the ocean.

It was here that my Dad taught me diving, spearfishing, boat handling and to always think twice and act
once, especially underwater. What he taught me has kept me safe on many dives in many oceans.
Thanks, Dad.

All photos were taken with a Nikon D-70 digital SLR camera in a Nexus housing. Underwater light
was provided by two Sea & Sea YS-120 strobes.

Click on the small image to see it full-size.           Click here for slideshow.           Google Maps

Map of St. Croix	Christiansted	Fort Christianvaren	Harbor as seen from the fort	Christiansted as seen from the fort

Fort gates	Danish customs house

Fredriksted Pier is one of the best macro locations in the Caribbean. This pier is known for
seahorses; they like to wrap their tails around the sponges on the pilings. The sponges on the pilings
provide shelter for a myriad of juvenile life.

Seahorse	Seahorse	Seahorse	Sponges on piling	Juvenile French Angel on piling

Divemaster Ann and a stingray	Colony of French Grunts under the pier	Green Frogfish and sponges on a piling	Baitfish wrapping around a piling	Divemaster Ann and the baitfish

Trumpetfish	Oscellated Frogfish	Oscellated Frogfish

The west end of St. Croix is also know for wrecks. There are 5 wrecks near Butler Bay, all within a couple
hundred yards of each other. These wrecks provide truly excellent diving and are a great complement to the reefs
and the pier.

Wreck at Butler Bay	Sponges on a wreck	A diver approaching a wreck	Sponges taking over the bridge	Relaxing between dives

Exploring another wreck	Diver above a sponge-covered wreck	Gray Angel on wreck	Cleaner Gobies on a sponge	Divemaster Ann and a sponge colony

Do any Internet search on St. Croix and chances are you'll see a mention of Cane Bay. The north shore of St. Croix is
home to a steep dropoff, unique to the Virgin Islands. The dropoff is easily accessable from shore and the proximity
of the Cane Bay Dive Shop and several beach bars makes this a popular dive site.

View of beach and dive shop, Cane Bay	Ruins of a sugar mill as seen from the ocean	Hawksbill Turtle	Diver and Sponges	Diver and Sponges

Juvenile Hawksbill Turtle	Cleaner Goby on Brain Coral	Arrow Crab in Barrel Sponge

Salt River is an estuary on the north shore of the island. It's of historical interest because Columbus stopped off
there in 1493 on his second voyage to the New World. The dropoff is close to shore, but since it's past the barrier reef
a boat ride is required.

Hawksbill Turtle	Blackbar Soliderfish, Salt River	Flamingo Tongues	Adult Hawksbill Turtle	Flamingo Tongue on Sea Fan

Peppermint Goby on Star Coral	Lizardfish	Red-spotted Hawkfish

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