Love scuba diving? Can't get enough freediving? And what about mermaiding? Join Blue Planet for a week in St. Croix, the largest of the U.S. Virgin Islands, where you can enjoy all 3 of these underwater adventures! Whether you are newly certified or an advanced diver, diving is easy, accessible and offers an array of experiences for everyone. Dive a wreck, wall, pier and reef all in one day! AND you can travel there without a passport!

St. Croix

Formerly the stomping grounds of some of history’s most famous pirates, the Virgin Islands are now invaded by visitors who arrive daily by air and by sea. Christiansted and Frederiksted, the two main towns of St. Croix, flourished as commercial ports during the eighteenth century and nineteenth century. Distinct architecture reflects the seven flags -- Spanish, Dutch, British, French, Knights of Malta, Danish and American -- that have flown over the island.

Sea life is abundant in the U.S. Virgin Islands. More than 500 species of fish, 40 types of coral and hundreds of invertebrates inhabit the water. Vibrant blue tang, silvery horse-eye jacks, queen triggerfish, spiny Caribbean lobster, spotted eagle rays, creole wrasses and cleaner gobies are just a sampling of the marine life populating the underwater terrain. As sun sets, octopus, seahorses and moray eels make their appearance. Hawksbill, green and leatherback turtles call the USVI home and can be seen on many a dive.

Scuba Divers

Minimum dive certification/experience: Perfect for beginners. A great spot to complete your Advanced Open Water Diver and more.

We'll head out on 2-tank morning boat dives for 5 days with our friends at Cane Bay Dive Shop. The best scuba diving is along “The Wall” that runs about 7 miles parallel to the North Shore of St. Croix. There are more than twenty different dive sites to explore within one mile in either direction of Cane Bay, as well as the "must-do" Frederiksted Pier, the wrecks at Butler Bay and other west end dives. We can also shore dive at Cane Bay and experience amazing night dives at the Pier!

Scuba divers are welcome to continue diving for the rest of the week OR try your hand at freediving or mermaiding!

Freedivers

Minimum dive certification/experience: You should have completed at least PADI Basic Freediver. A great spot to complete your PADI Freediver certification and more.

We'll start the morning with stretching and static apnea in the pool before we head to nearby Cane Bay or Frederiksted Pier for constant weight and free immersion practice. Both of these sites are also perfect for exploring underwater and enjoying the freedom and silence of diving on one breath. We will also freedive from the dive shop's boat 2 afternoons (PADI Freediver certification, or above, required)!

Mermaids

Minimum dive certification/experience: You should have completed at least PADI Mermaid. A great spot to complete your PADI Advanced Mermaid certification, so you can join in ocean and boat diving.

St Croix offers fantastic mermaiding opportunities! Earn your Advanced Mermaid certification at Cane Bay or Frederiksted Pier and then practice your technique among the captivating sea life. We will even have a photographer available to capture topside and underwater stills and video! We'll mermaid in the beautiful Cane Bay, among the sea life under Frederiksted Pier, and from a boat 2 afternoons (Advanced .

All three?

Yes, you can scuba dive, freedive AND mermaid! You just can't scuba and then participate in breath-hold activities on the same day. If you'd like to scuba dive plus one of the others, select the scuba package, and we will adjust the activities to accommodate the schedule.

Other Activities

From visiting historic Fort Frederik and following the Heritage Trail to hiking the rainforest and wading in secluded tidal pools, there is much on St. Croix that awaits your discovery. Buck Island Underwater National Park is one of St. Croix's most popular attractions, boasting 704 acres of clear water and sandy shores. Estate Whim Plantation, the Cruzan Rum Factory and casinos are the other popular attractions on the island. Plus there's kayaking, sailing, windsurfing, biking and more to keep you busy! Sunset sail, anyone? Or a rum and beer tour?

Cane Bay Dive Shop

The Cane Bay Dive Shop is a PADI 5-Star IDC Dive center that's been diving the north shore of St. Croix for almost 30 years. In addition to boat dives, we can do shore dives right in Cane Bay, plus dive the Frederiksted Pier.

The Landing

Experience the best of St. Croix’s North Shore. The Landing’s accommodations are designed for those who want to blend comfort with adventure. Wake up to mountain views, grab breakfast at the on-site restaurant, and walk across the street to the legendary Cane Bay Wall. Each cottage features a full kitchen and air conditioning, and the property includes hiking trails right on-site. After a day in the water, kick back on your private deck to watch the Caribbean sunset.

Travel

When traveling to the U.S. Virgin Islands, U.S. citizens enjoy all the conveniences of domestic travel -- no passport required! You should plan to fly into St. Croix (STX) on Saturday, October 10. You can fly home at any time on October 17, or stick around and extend your trip. Please email or call the shop before booking your flight!