PADI 5-Star Dive Center located directly across the beach from St Croix’s famed “Wall” dive site. Get your tanks and dive equipment or rent snorkeling gear. Offering both shore and boat dives.
340-718-9913
Dive Experience
In 2004, owner Michelle Pugh was inducted into the “Woman Divers Hall of Fame”. Boat dives out of Christiansted Harbor. Offering dive training from Discover SCUBA to Open Water SCUBA Instructor.
340 773-3307| M-Sa 8AM-6PM; Sundays 8AM-4PM
Teroro II and Dragonfly
Captains Heinz and his son Carl have over 30 years of experience of sailing on St. Croix. This father and son team is passionate about sailing, the local environment and ensuring their guests have a memorable time enjoying the reef at Buck Island. Sail out on the 42′ sailing catamaran Teroro II with Captain Heinz or aboard the 38′ trimaran Dragonfly (up to 6 guests maximum) with Captain Carl. Both boats sail out of Green Cay Marina. All snorkeling gear and guidance included.
340-718-3161
Big Beard’s Adventure Tours
Join Big Beard’s on either a full day sail or a half day excursion to one of the world’s most beautiful beaches and snorkeling destinations – Buck Island National Park! Trips leave 3 times a day. Full day tours sail on 42ft catamaran, Renegade , and include a beach BBQ at Big Beard’s “private” beach hideaway. Half day trips cruise out on 42′ green power catamaran, Adventure. Read our Article on the adventure and the Beard!
340-773-4482
Caribbean Sea Adventures
Caribbean Sea Adventures specializes in small group tours and private charters to Buck Island. With 6 boats to choose from they can customize your trip to match your idea of the perfect day on the water.
Offering public and private charters, sunset sails, snorkeling, scuba diving, and wedding ceremonies at beautiful Buck Island Reef National Monument.
Caribbean Sea Adventures limits public excursions to 80% of each vessel’s U.S. Coast Guard capacity ensuring that guests never miss out on the personal attention their crew has become famous for.
Website: www.caribbeanseaadventures.com
340-773-2628 | Open 8am – 5pm 7 days per week
info@caribbeanseaadventures.com
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Lyric Sails
Enjoy a truly unique sailing experience as you watch the incredible Caribbean sun set off St Croix’s beautiful West End. Not your average “booze cruise” Lyric Sails features different musicians each night spanning a multitude of musical genres. This is a full sensory experience as your taste buds will also be treated to a scrumptious spread of lite bites. And of course, the rum is kept flowing along with other beverages, alcoholic and non, at their topside bar.
Lyric Sails is a unique sailing musical venue and charter company located in the beautiful US Virgin Islands. Their 63-ft, custom built sailing catamaran–“Jolly Mon”– offers Sunset Sails, Full Moon Sails, Stargazing Sails, Special Musical and Fine-Dining Events, and tranquil Yoga and Meditation cruises.
Lyric Sails also offers private day sailing charters out of Frederiksted. They can take groups from 1-25 people.
340-201-5227
Jolly Roger
Buck Island charters: Spend a full or half-day aboard the Jolly Roger with Captain Mike & his at Buck Island National Park. Boats depart from the Christiansted Boardwalk. All snorkel gear and guidance through the underwater trail included. Jolly Roger only carries a maximum of 20 guests to Buck Island per trip.
Evening sunset sails aboard the Jolly Roger Catamaran include complimentary Rum Punch.
340-513-2508
Expedition: Shell Island
Many who have visited St Croix have had the pleasure of kayaking and exploring historic Salt River Bay – the site of Columbus’ second visit to the “New World”. And most have heard of Buck Island National Monument. But not so many have ventured out to St Croix’s other offshore beauty – Shell Island (aka Ruth Island) – located on St Croix’s South shore.
This wonderful little spit of sand and sea shells was created when the container port was dredged by the former HOVENSA oil refinery and offers a different way to explore St Croix. A short paddle across the channel makes it a relatively easy adventure.
Virgin Kayak Tours will meet you at the Molasses Pier where they put in your kayak to paddle out. With their Hobie Mirage kayaks you can pedal and paddle at the same time, the trip is really enjoyable with lots to see. They even have tandem kayaks for those who want to bring out the kiddos or use the power of two.
My sister setting out on our adventure
Scuttled wreck along the way
Crossing the channel to Shell Island.
Once you reach Shell Island, there is a wonderful little lagoon and a small fishing camp. The beach is serene, protected and like something out of a movie! It really is the perfect spot to relax after the journey.
The protected lagoon is a great place to beach kayaks and enjoy the afternoon.
The incredible view looking back to St Croix
My only regret was that I didn’t bring my snorkel gear! 
Fishing camp on the lagoon.
The best island fire pit I’ve seen!
Queen conch is abundant around the island, giving this little sandy spit her moniker – Shell Island.
After you’ve settled in, it’s time to go exploring. The South side of the little cay is loaded with coral from the dredging and budding black mangroves.
Aerial black mangrove roots push up from the wet sand like drinking straws to provide oxygen to the plant.
A beautiful growing black mangrove on this man-made cay.
Sea grapes provide lush foliage on Shell Island.
The South shore of Shell Island is littered with coral from the dredging of the channel.
If you’re looking for a new St Croix adventure – I highly recommend a trip out to Shell Island. Contact our friends at Virgin Kayak Tours to visit Shell Island, Salt River and the Biobay!
Find more images of St Croix at cindyleigh.smugmug.com
Virgin Kayak Tours
There’s no better way to explore the shores of St Croix than by a kayak! Jill & Bryan Upkyke of Virgin Kayak Tours have got you covered! They will outfit you with a Hobie Mirage (peddle and paddle!) to get you going in no time. They take out small groups to explore popular island spots and some more exclusive locales too.
Rent a kayak for the week to explore on your own or choose from one of their many tours:
- Historic Salt River Tours where Columbus encountered the natives on his second trip
- Salt River Biobay night tours – see the glow!
- North West Coast of St Croix over to the Tide Pools
- Shell Island on St Croix’s South Shore – a must see!
340-514-0062
Rates starting at $50pp
Looking for a place to stay? Check out glamping at it’s finest at Cane Bay Campground
Columbus Landing 1493 St Croix
In 1493 Christopher Columbus landed on what would later become St Croix, US Virgin Islands at Salt River Bay changing the course of the island’s history and setting the stage for 7 European Flags to fly over the island. This is the only spot in the United States where Columbus actually landed and was the first violent altercation between the Old World and the New. Salt River Bay National Historical Park and Ecological Preserve marks an area of incredible history not only for the island but for the world in general.
For thousands of years, Arawak (Igneri and Taino) and Carib Indians inhabited the area now known as Salt River Bay/Columbus Landing. Archaeological research dating back to 1880 shows that the land here was a major religious and cultural area and had long-term permanent settlements. Arawak is a broad term that refers to the indigenous peoples of South America and the Caribbean who spoke a common language and had a shared culture. Taino is more commonly used for the “Island Arawaks” who stretched from the Greater Antilles up through the Lesser Antilles (where St Croix can be found) as opposed to the mainland Arawaks. These first inhabitants of the Caribbean Islands had a rich culture and history and previous excavations at Salt River revealed the only ceremonial Ball Court in the Caribbean here on St Croix, lending to its historical significance. The area was thriving with indigenous peoples cultivating manioc, soursop, papaya, guava, sapote, yellow sapote, guava, sapodilla, and avocado and fishing in the locally rich waters.
Read more detail about the indigenous peoples of Salt River: Archeological Investigations at Salt River Bay National Historical Park and Ecological Preserve
On November 14, 1493, Columbus with his fleet of 17 ships landed on St Croix in search of freshwater and local guides to “help” them along the rest of their journey. A small party ventured onto the island and found a sparsely inhabited village. According to historic records, they found Taino Indians who said they’d been captured by Caribs taking over the island. (note: there is still debate as to who these peoples actually were – Taino vs. Carib) Columbus and his crew were en route taking the villagers back to their ship when they encountered a canoe with several Carib men and women. A skirmish ensued with Columbus’ men firing on the Indians and the Indians retaliating with arrows. Each side lost a man to the fight. At the time of this encounter, it is estimated that there were 20 Indian villages on St Croix with a total population of approximately 1,200. Columbus “claimed” the island for Spain calling it Santa Cruz.
For the next 100 years, the Spanish battled the local Taino and Carib Indians close to annihilation. By the early 1600s, the island of Santa Cruz was deserted.
Nowadays, the Virgin Islands celebrate Virgin Islands/Puerto Rico Friendship Day in lieu of Columbus Day owing to the historic connections between the peoples of St Croix and Puerto Rico that date back to long before European contact.
Salt River National Historical Park and Ecological Preserve is now a part of the US National Park system and is a wonderfully serene spot to explore the natural wonders of our island.
History and nature buffs can book a kayak tour with Virgin Kayak Company to explore the mangrove coves and learn about the history from artist and tour operator Bryan Updyke. I highly encourage a visit to their shop at the Columbus Cove Marina where you can see Bryan’s Taino-inspired artwork at his Caribbean Indigenous Arts & Crafts Museum that has been influenced by the indigenous pre-Columbian peoples of St Croix.
SCUBA divers can explore the underwater canyons in Salt River Bay teeming with life. In recent years, tech divers have explored the canyons to depths of 300 feet+.
Take an evening kayak tour of Salt River and experience the wonders of the Bio Bay – a smaller inlet of Salt River Bay that teems with bioluminescent dinoflagellates that light up the water like Avatar!
The beach at Columbus Landing is quiet and rarely busy. It offers great swimming and has a reef just offshore for snorkeling. There’s little to no shade and no facilities, so be sure to bring a cooler and some shade and most importantly, practice “Carry in, Carry out”.
Salt River and Columbus Landing are just one more reason to get out and explore our beautiful island while you are here!
