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St.
Thomas combines the natural beauty of the islands with
a cosmopolitan atmosphere. Charlotte Amalie, the capital of
the U.S. Virgin Islands, is one of the most beautiful harbors
in the world and the most visited port in the Caribbean. Elegant
dining, exciting nightlife, and world-class duty-free shopping
are abundant in Charlotte Amalie. The city's reputation as
the shopping mecca of the Caribbean draws visitors from all
over the region and around the world.
A mountainous island, St. Thomas offers stunning vistas in
almost every direction. While Charlotte Amalie is full of
energy, St. Thomas also provides natural wonders such as the
indescribably beautiful Magens Bay and stunning views of the
Caribbean from 1,500 feet above sea level. Drake's Seat is
particularly famous for its vistas.
 St.
John, the smallest of the three U.S. Virgin Islands, retains
a tranquil, unspoiled beauty uncommon in the Caribbean or
anywhere else in the world. Settled in the early 1700s by
Danish immigrants attracted to the island's potential as a
sugar cane-producing colony, St. John soon blossomed into
a thriving society. The ruins of the Annaberg Sugar Plantation
and other smaller plantations on the island attest to the
island's agricultural history.
Today, two-thirds of St. John is part of the Virgin Islands
National Park, featuring fascinating trails, secluded coves,
and dazzling white beaches. The Reef Bay Trail takes hikers
through dense forests, plantation ruins, and rock outcroppings
marked by well-preserved petroglyphs. Trunk Bay, Hawksnest
Bay, Cinnamon Bay, and Maho Bay are just four of the dozens
of beaches. Cruz Bay, the center of activity on St. John,
contains colorful shops, lively bars, and fabulous restaurants.
St. Croix's rich culture and history, along with its
beautiful beaches and world-class recreational activities,
create an experience unlike any other in the Caribbean. Since
the day Christopher Columbus first arrived at Salt River on
St.Croix more than 500 years ago, sugar and rum have shaped
the island's life and land. Fifty-four sugar mills, each with
imposing windmill towers and factory chimneys, still rest
in the shadows of stately eighteenth-century and nineteenth-century
homes. Located on the west end of the island, Estate Whim
Plantation is just one example of these "greathouses."
With acres of rolling green hills, St.Croix's plantation estates
also bore crops of okra, cabbage, corn, and other vegetables
still prominent in Caribbean cuisine. As the sugar industry
declined after the 1960s, tourism became the most important
industry on the island.
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. Today, visitors to St. Croix can enjoy a number of
indoor and outdoor activities, from fine dining, shopping,
and a casino, to golf, scuba diving, and horsback riding.
St. Thomas offers plenty of shallow reef sites teeming with
colorful tropicals and tons of soft corals. Sites such as
Cow and Calf Rocks provide caves, caverns and swimthroughs,
while Sail Rock has fast current thrills and the chance to
see large critters.
Diving St. John is quite similar to St. Thomas. Lots of dives
with extended bottom times. Check out the Major General Rogers,
a Coast Guard tender ship, intentionally sunk in just 65'
of water as an artificial reef. You will be amazed at the
swarms of schooling fish and large barracuda patrol the wreck
on a regular basis.
What so different about diving St. Croix? Walls! Sites such
as Cane Bay Drop-Off provide walls starting in as little as
40'. Along the crest of the walls, hard and soft corals are
found in abundance. St. Croix also offers a great selection
of wreck and shallow reef dives.
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Dive
Services and Accommodations
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Antilles Resort Management
PO BOX 24786
Christiansted
St Croix
00824
Tel.: 340-773-9150
Fax.: 340-778-4009
E-Mail: reservations@antillesresorts.com
Web: http://www.antillesresorts.com
We're located in the American Caribbean on St. Croix and St.
Thomas where there's the best of warm island beaches and tropical
magic, with all the benefits of travel in a US territory.
St.
Thomas and St. Croix Resorts. There's a rate range from family-friendly
modest through full luxury. Pick a location - beach or yacht
club, in-town bustle and night life, scuba diving and watersports,
or a little farther out, quieter - it's your choice. |
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Chris
Sawyer Diving Center
6300 Est. Frydenhoj, Suite 29
Compass Point Marina
St Thomas VI 00802-1411
Ph. 1-877-929-3483 toll free
Ph. (340) 775-7320
Fax. (340) 775-9495
sawyerdive@islands.vi
www.sawyerdive.vi
If you are interested in St. Thomas or Virgin Islands scuba
diving, the Chris Sawyer Diving Center is a PADI 5-Star facility
offering excellent reef and wreck diving, referral dives, dive
packages and dive-hotel packages right here in America. We are
proud to say that 20 years after starting the Chris Sawyer Diving
Center, it is the largest and most successful dive operation
on St. Thomas, and maybe in all the Virgin Islands. |
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Underwater
Safaris
9007 Havensight Mall, Suite C
St. Thomas USVI 00802
Tel.: (340) 774-3737 (340) 774-1350
Fax.: (340) 774-3738
E-Mail: wwo@islands.vi
Web: http://www.scubadivevi.com
Operating since
1985, Underwater Safaris is a PADI Gold Palm Instructor Development
Center Resort Facility with a record for safety unequaled by
any other organization. The dive boats are U.S. Coast Guard
inspected driven by a licensed captain, and all instructors
are PADI-trained with years of experience leading both certified
and non-certified divers. |
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Getting
There
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| Arriving
By Air |
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The
U.S. Virgin Islands have daily, non-stop flights from
New York, Newark, Baltimore, Atlanta, and Miami. Connecting
flights are availabe to and from Chicago, Los Angeles,
Dallas, New York, Miami, and Atlanta via the San Juan
hub. In addition, there's connecting service from Canada,
Europe, South America, and the Far East. Commuter service
between San Juan and St. Croix and St. Thomas is also
available.
These airlines offer service from the U.S. mainland to
the U.S. Virgin Islands.
American Airlines
Continental
Airlines
Delta
Airlines
United
Airlines
U.S.
Airways
Inter Island Travel
Travel between the U.S. Virgin Islands is simple and convenient.
St. Thomas to St. John is just 20 minutes from
by ferry (and 75 minutes to St. Croix (seasonal - November
to May). There is also daily direct service between St.
Croix and St. Thomas by small plane. The trip takes about
25 minutes. Helicopter service also connects the islands.
Don't limit your choices, because you can easily include
all three islands in your visit.
Ferry Service - V.I.
Fast Ferry
The following companies provide service between St. Thomas
and St. Croix, and
San Juan and St. Thomas / St. Croix:
Air
St. Thomas
Air
Sunshine
American
Eagle
Bohlke
International Airways
Cape
Air
Leeward
Island Air Transport (LIAT)
Seaborne
Airlines, Inc. |
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Entry
Requirements
Passports for U.S. Citizens are not required for the U.S.
Virgin Islands, but you must be prepared to show evidence
of citizenship upon leaving (such as a birth certificate
and photo ID). Citizens of countries other than the U.S.
should follow U.S. travel regulations. Travel outside
the U.S. Virgin Islands requires a birth certificate or
valid passport. Health certificates are not required if
you're entering from the U.S. or Puerto Rico; citizens
entering from other countries should follow the same guidelines
as for the mainland U.S. |
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| Getting
Around on the Islands |
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Driving
Any U.S. driver's license is good for 90 days on the USVI,
and while the minimum age for drivers is 18, many agencies
won't rent to anyone under the age of 25. Driving is on
the left-hand side of the road, even though the steering
wheel will be on the left-hand side of the car. In addition,
the law requires everyone in the car to wear seat belts.
Many of the roads are narrow, and the islands are dotted
with hills, so there's ample reason to put safety first.
A variety of automobiles are for rent, from sporty four-wheel
drives to air-conditioned sedans. Mileage is unlimited,
you pay for gas. |
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| St.
Thomas |
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Taxis
are common throughout St. Thomas. Buses run regularly
between Charlotte Amalie and Red Hook (on the eastside
of the island) and Charlotte Amalie and Bordeaux (to the
west). For more information, call the VITRAN office at
774-5678. Charlotte Amalie also offers city buses for
local transport and to and from the airport.
Most major car rental companies and several local rental
companies rent automobiles on St. Thomas, offering everything
from four-wheel-drive jeeps to luxury sedans and minivans.
Most major roads are well-maintained asphalt. |
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| St.
Croix |
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Buses
run regularly between Christiansted and Frederiksted from
5:30am to 9:30pm except Sunday. Service is also available
from both cities to and from the airport. Exact change
is required. For more information, call the VITRAN office
at 773-1290, ext. 2291.
Taxis are readily available on St. Croix. In Christiansted,
taxi stands are located near the Government House on King
Street, and on Market Square. Frederiksted's taxi stand
is next to Fort Frederik.
Most major rental companies and several local rental companies
rent automobiles on St. Croix, offering everything from
four-wheel drive Jeeps to luxury sedans and minivans.
Parking can be limited in Christiansted. Most major roads
are well-maintained asphalt. |
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| St.
John |
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Taxis
are available on St. John. Visitors can take a two-hour
tour of the island by taxi for a set fee. For more information,
call the Taxi Commission at 776-8294.
Buses run from Cruz Bay on the west side of the island
every hour on the half hour to Coral Bay on the east side
of the island. Fares are one dollar each way.
A limited number of auto rentals are available in Cruz
Bay. |
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Traveler
Tips
- The
U.S. Virgin Islands are in the Atlantic standard time
zone, one hour ahead of Eastern standard time (during
daylight savings time only).
- Most
visitors drink the local tap water without any problems.
- Should
you rent a car, remember to obey traffic laws wear
your seat belt, and dive on the left side of the road!!
- English
is the official language.
- Currency
is the U.S. dollar. Traveler's checks and all major
credit cards are honored.
- The
U.S. Postal Service provides mail services for USVI.
- You
can direct-dial from the United States Virgin Islands
to the U.S. mainland. The service connects callers
to Europe and South America.
- The
electrical current is the same as in North America
(standard 120 volt/60 cycle).
- Tipping
of 15 percent to 20 percent is customary for good
service. Some hotels automatically add a service charge.
- Bring
casual clothes for warm weather, as the average temperature
ranges between 77F and 83F. Swimsuits should not be
worn around town. Bring plenty of sunscreen and use
it!!
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Request
More Diving & Accommodations Information
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