snorkeling in the V.I.
Rick Stuart
This was intend as a letter to a Tim Sullivan at AT&T Bell
Laboratories in Naperville IL. He inquired about St John, a U.S.
Virgin Island, in net.rec.scuba artical 165. I thought some other
people might be interested so I am posting it in this news group.
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Tim:
My wife and I spent a week in St Thomas in the summer of `84. We
visited St John for a day by taking a tour of the island. If you like
nature you'll like St John. Most of it is some sort of forest preserve
donated by the Rockafellars (sp?). Judging from that one day tour I wouldn't
expect to find much of a night life on St John, but it doesn't sound
like your looking for that anyway. In the afternoon the tour guide took
us to a snorkelling area with well marked under water signs. This was,
however, a disappointment. Most of the coral appeared dead or covered
with silt from the large number of snorkelers who visit the sight.
There are most likely other places to snorkel in St John if you inquire
about them.
As far as scuba is concerned, don't miss this chance to dive! You are
visiting an area that offers an excellent opportunity for this activity.
I would recommend you take a Basic Open Water course from an internationally
recognized organization such as PADI or NAUI before you go. Since it
appears you don't have the time your still in luck. Almost everybody
offers a introductory scuba lesson. The lesson and dive will probably
take up the better part of a day. I only have met one diving instructor
while in St Thomas, but I feel confident enough to recommend him. Joe
Vogel is located on St Thomas. He teaches out of his house and will
most likely take you there for the morning to "scare" as much sense into
you about diving as you can take :-). Then you will go out for a
shallow dive to get used to the equipment. If all works out well you
can arrange for subsequent dives and get to see some real coral and fish!
This is how my wife and I got introduced to diving and, consequently, we
took lessons locally to be certified as Open Water Divers.
As far as restaurants, the Mafaly (sp?) on St Thomas has great broiled
tuna and a very tender prime rib. You find it half way up the side of
the island so take a cab to get there.
Concerning sailing, although I have never done this, I might recommend
you spend a day aboard someone else's sail boat and let them worry about
how to get around. Ask around, many groups and couples own sail boats
and take a dozen or so people for all day trips which usually include
lunch.
Most of what I have talked about is on St Thomas and you will be on St
John. Let me point out that there is a boat which you can take between
the two islands. I think the trip is well under an hour.
On other thing, you shouldn't need anything more than a birth certificate
or voter's registration card to prove to anyone who you are in the U.S.
Virgin Islands. But, if you want to travel to any of the British Virgin
Islands I believe you will need a passport! The B.V.I.'s are very close
and you never know! Check all this out with the U.S. Virgin Islands
office in downtown Chicago.
There is an article on page 20 about the U.S.V.I.'s in the December `85
issue of Underwater USA which talks about snorkelling and diving. There
is also a list of dive shops for all three of the islands.
Have fun...
Rick Stuart
969-8800 ext 2457
Tellabs
Lisle, IL
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If I am inaccurate on any point please correct me. Let's hear from
anyone else who's been anywhere!