miss oportunity - St. Thomas & St. John

We love Miss Opportunity, though the name always makes us chuckle. It’s a purposeful sinking, a 300-foot former WWII oceanographic research vessel, and she sits upright and mostly intact at 24 metres. Drop down the line and you can practically hear the creaks and groans she must have made going under. Our favourite part is the penetration into the stern. You can make your way through a few rooms, torches cutting through the dimness, and then pop out on the main deck again. It’s an intermediate dive, currents can pick up a bit, so keep an eye on the dive guide. The wreck itself is home to so much life now. Look closely and you’ll spot West Indian fuzzy chitons clinging to the metal, and Atlantic blue tangs flitting through the superstructure. We’ve often seen Atlantic tarpon here, shimmering silver ghosts patrolling the darker sections of the holds. Sometimes, if you’re lucky and the light is just right, a massive school of Atlantic sergeant majors will swirl around the bow, a living, breathing curtain that momentarily blocks out the sun. It’s a great dive for photographers who appreciate the drama of a large, explorable wreck and the marine life it attracts.

Location: St. Thomas & St. John, US Virgin Islands, Caribbean
Coordinates: 18.334700, -65.001100
Type: wreck
Maximum Depth: 24m
Difficulty: Intermediate

Marine Protected Area: Saba 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)

Nearest Dive Centres to miss oportunity

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 miss oportunity

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