Cow and Calf Rocks - St. Thomas & St. John

Cow and Calf Rocks, just off St. Thomas, is one of our favourite spots for a reason. It’s a series of substantial rock pinnacles, a genuine topographical standout. We like to drop in at the Calf, the smaller of the two, and let the current nudge us along towards the Cow. It’s often a drift, which we enjoy. The current, usually mild but sometimes frisky, brings in the bigger stuff. You’ll weave through rock formations, ducking into crevices and overhangs. Keep an eye out for frogfish; they’re masters of disguise here, tucked into sponges. Onestripe eels poke their heads from the sand. We’ve seen cero darting past in tight formations, and the occasional lemon shark cruising the perimeter. The coral isn’t as extensive as some other sites, but the sheer size of the rock structures, draped in scattered pore rope sponges and some impressive grooved brain coral, makes up for it. This site is definitely one for divers who appreciate dramatic underwater landscapes and the chance to see larger schooling fish.

Location: St. Thomas & St. John, US Virgin Islands, Caribbean
Coordinates: 18.310000, -64.860000
Type: pinnacle
Maximum Depth: 10-25m
Difficulty: Intermediate

Marine Protected Area: St. Thomas East End R Reserve

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)

Nearest Dive Centres to Cow and Calf Rocks

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.

Notable Species

Mustard hill coral (Porites astreoides) - Hard Corals
Massive Starlet Coral (Siderastrea siderea) - Hard Corals
Gutong (Sparisoma aurofrenatum) - Reef Fish
Parrotfish (Thalassoma bifasciatum) - Reef Fish
Great star coral (Montastraea cavernosa) - Hard Corals
Yellowhead Wrasse (Halichoeres garnoti) - Reef Fish
Blue Doctor (Acanthurus coeruleus) - Reef Fish
Finger Coral (Porites porites) - Hard Corals
Gutong (Scarus iseri) - Reef Fish
Barber (Acanthurus bahianus) - Reef Fish
Lettuce Coral (Agaricia agaricites) - Hard Corals
Bicolor Damselfish (Stegastes partitus) - Reef Fish
Dark Green Parrotfish (Sparisoma viride) - Reef Fish
Sammy Johnson (Scarus taeniopterus) - Reef Fish
French grunt (Haemulon flavolineatum) - Reef Fish
Sharpnose Pufferfish (Canthigaster rostrata) - Reef Fish
Butterfly (Chaetodon capistratus) - Reef Fish
Longspine Squirrelfish (Holocentrus rufus) - Reef Fish
Cola (Ocyurus chrysurus) - Reef Fish
Barred Hamlet (Hypoplectrus puella) - Reef Fish

Recommended Packing List for Cow and Calf Rocks

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