Diving in St. Thomas & St. John

Best Time to Dive in St. Thomas & St. John

The warmest water temperatures in St. Thomas & St. John occur in January, averaging 27.1°C. The coolest conditions are in December at 27.1°C.

Monthly Water Temperatures

• January: 27.1°C (air: 25.0°C)
• February: 27.1°C (air: 24.6°C)
• March: 27.1°C (air: 24.7°C)
• April: 27.1°C (air: 25.2°C)
• May: 27.1°C (air: 26.3°C)
• June: 27.1°C (air: 27.0°C)
• July: 27.1°C (air: 27.3°C)
• August: 27.1°C (air: 27.5°C)
• September: 27.1°C (air: 27.7°C)
• October: 27.1°C (air: 27.5°C)
• November: 27.1°C (air: 26.6°C)
• December: 27.1°C (air: 25.8°C)

Marine Life in St. Thomas & St. John

Home to 488 recorded species including 390 reef fish, 39 hard corals, 14 sharks & rays, 11 other, 7 whales & dolphins, 6 seagrass & algae.

Dive Site Difficulty in St. Thomas & St. John

St. Thomas & St. John has 21 beginner, 4 intermediate dive sites - suitable for divers of all levels.

Recommended Packing List for St. Thomas & St. John

Based on average water temperature of 27.1°C.

• Shorty or Rashguard - warm 27°C water needs minimal exposure protection
• Mask - essential for every dive
• Fins
• BCD - buoyancy compensator
• Regulator - your most safety-critical piece of gear
• Dive Computer - tracks depth, time, and NDL
• Surface Marker Buoy (SMB) - essential for boat pickups
• Dive Torch - useful for crevices and colour at depth
• Underwater Camera - capture your diving memories

Marine Protected Areas in St. Thomas & St. John

• Virgin Islands National Park - Marine Protected Area (IUCN Category V)
• Buck Island Reef National Monument - Marine Protected Area (IUCN Category Ia)
• Salt River Bay National Historic Park and Ecological Preserve - Marine Protected Area (IUCN Category V)
• Buck Island - National Wildlife Refuge (IUCN Category IV)
• Green Cay - National Wildlife Refuge (IUCN Category IV)
• Booby Rock - State Conservation Area (IUCN Category V)
• Carval Rock - State Conservation Area (IUCN Category V)
• Cockroach Cay - State Conservation Area (IUCN Category V)
• Congo Cay - State Conservation Area (IUCN Category V)
• Cricket Rock - State Conservation Area (IUCN Category V)
• Dog Island - State Conservation Area (IUCN Category V)
• Dutchcap Cay - State Conservation Area (IUCN Category V)
• Frenchcap Cay - State Conservation Area (IUCN Category V)
• Kalkun Cay - State Conservation Area (IUCN Category V)
• Leduck Island - State Conservation Area (IUCN Category V)
• Saba Island - State Conservation Area (IUCN Category V)
• Shark Island - State Conservation Area (IUCN Category V)
• Steven Cay - State Conservation Area (IUCN Category V)
• Sula Cay - State Conservation Area (IUCN Category V)
• Whistling Cay - State Conservation Area (IUCN Category V)
• Frank Bay - State Conservation Area (IUCN Category V)
• St. Croix East End Marine Park - Marine Protected Area (IUCN Category IV)
• Virgin Islands Coral Reef National Monument - Marine Protected Area (IUCN Category V)
• St. Thomas East End R Reserve - Marine Protected Area (IUCN Category IV)
• Saba Island - Specially Protected Area (Cartagena Convention) (IUCN Category V)
• Cas Cay-Mangrove Lagoon Marine Reserve & Wildlife Sanctuary - Marine Protected Area (IUCN Category IV)
• Virgin Islands - National Park (IUCN Category II)
• Buck Island Reef - National Monument (IUCN Category III)
• Virgin Islands Coral Reef - National Monument (IUCN Category V)
• St. James Marine Reserve and Wildlife Sanctuary - Marine Protected Area (IUCN Category IV)

Getting to St. Thomas & St. John - Nearest Airports

• Cyril E. King Airport (STT), Charlotte Amalie - 9 km away, approx 25 min travel time
• Terrance B. Lettsome International Airport (EIS), Beef Island - 41 km away, approx 59 min travel time
• Luis Munoz Marin International Airport (SJU), San Juan - 117 km away, approx 143 min travel time