Dog Island - St. Thomas & St. John
Dog Island is a relaxed introduction to diving in the USVI, particularly good for those just getting their fins wet. The shallow 14-meter maximum depth means plenty of light penetrates, illuminating the sand channels and scattered coral heads. We often spot southern stingrays here, gliding gracefully over the seafloor, and the occasional nurse shark tucked under a ledge. It’s a gentle drift on most days, making it an easygoing spot to build confidence while still enjoying some classic Caribbean critters.
- Location
- St. Thomas & St. John, US Virgin Islands, Caribbean
- Coordinates
- 18.296000, -64.817600
- Maximum Depth
- 14m
- Difficulty
- Beginner
Marine Protected Area: Dog Island
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)
Nearby Dive Sites in St. Thomas & St. John
- Buck Island Point (Submarine Alley) - 18m
- Cabrita - 13m (reef)
- Cabrita Pinnacle - 15m (pinnacle)
- CARIDAD - 6m (wreck)
- Cartanser Sr. Wreck - 10-18m (wreck)
- CHARMAINE (?CHARMAINE II) - 35m (wreck)
- Christmas Cove - 10m (reef)
- Coki Point Beach - 14m
- Cow and Calf Rocks - 10-25m (pinnacle)
- Cow Rock - 14m
- DAISY - 23m (wreck)
- DIFFERENT DRUMMER - 2m (wreck)
- Flag Pole Little St James - 11m
- French Cap Pinnacle - 22m (pinnacle)
- General Rogers (Wreck) - 21m (wreck)
Nearest Dive Centres to Dog Island
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 Dog Island
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