Caribbean
St. John
U.S. Virgin Islands
Tarpon schools at Carval Rock and coral cays a short boat ride out
25–30°C · 77–86°Fvis 30 m · 100 ftbeginner
Country
Diving in the U.S. Virgin Islands
3 dive destinations in the U.S. Virgin Islands, up to 60 km apart. Water temperature across them runs 25–30 °C. All 3 are in season in Jun and Dec–Apr. 16 named dive sites have their own pages.
St. Thomas · photo Becky A. Dayhuff, Environmental Educator
- Destinations
- 3
- Dive sites
- 16
- Water
- 25–30°C
- Most in season
- Jun and Dec–Apr
RegionCaribbean
Where are the dive destinations in the U.S. Virgin Islands?
- 1St. JohnMar–Apr
- 2St. ThomasJun
- 3St. CroixDec–May
Numbers match the table below. Land outline: Natural Earth (public domain).
How do they compare?
| # | Destination | Best months | Water | Visibility | Depth | Level | Access | Sites |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | St. John | Mar–Apr | 25–30°C | 18–30 m | 5–18 m | Beginnersites from beginner to advanced | Day boat | 4 |
| 2 | St. Thomas | Jun | 25–30°C | — | 9–24 m | Beginnersites from beginner to intermediate | Day boat | 7 |
| 3 | St. Croix | Dec–May | 25–30°C | 15–35 m | 5–40 m | Beginnersites from beginner to intermediate | Shore, Day boat | 5 |
When is the best time to dive the U.S. Virgin Islands?
The most destinations are rated good or prime at the same time in Jun and Dec–Apr: 3 of 3. Each row is one destination's own season rating.
| Destination | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1St. John | Good | Good | Prime | Prime | Good | Good | Fair | Fair | Fair | Fair | Fair | Good |
| 2St. Thomas | Good | Good | Good | Good | Fair | Prime | Fair | Fair | Fair | Fair | Fair | Good |
| 3St. Croix | Prime | Prime | Prime | Prime | Prime | Good | Good | Fair | Fair | Fair | Good | Prime |
| Good or prime | 3 | 3 | 3 | 3 | 2 | 3 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 3 |
Which destinations combine into one trip?
Destinations that fit within 200 km of each other end to end and share at least one month rated good or prime. Distances are straight lines between destinations, not travel routes.
65 km end to end
In season together: Jun and Dec–Apr
All 3 destinations in the U.S. Virgin Islands
Swim-through rocks, a multi-level reef wall and two big wrecks
25–30°C · 77–86°Fbeginner
Swim off a beach onto a wall that drops past 900 metres
25–30°C · 77–86°Fvis 35 m · 115 ftbeginner