Cane Bay

Cane Bay is a shore dive on the north shore of St. Croix, in the US Virgin Islands. Parking is next to the beach, and the walk to the entry is a 100-yard sand chute on either side of the concrete boat launch ramp. Waves are usually small year-round, so entry and exit are easy.

The coral starts about 75 yards offshore at a depth of 10 feet (3 metres), and you can find coral in as little as 5 feet (1.5 metres) of water, so snorkelers see plenty close in. The wall begins about 200 to 250 yards out, where the bottom drops from about 40 feet (12 metres). Due north of the entry point is a large seahorse-shaped formation that is a good photo spot, followed by several coral-encrusted anchors and a sand chute that leads to the drop-off. The drop-off is near vertical at about 80 feet (24 metres), and the bowl drops to 200 feet (61 metres) before going straight down to 600 feet (183 metres). The wall off St. Croix reaches more than 13,200 feet (4,023 metres).

Reef sharks, sea turtles and schooling reef fish such as tangs, wrasse and triggerfish are common sightings. Eagle rays, dolphins, hammerheads, jacks, barracuda and squid are possible. Parrotfish, trumpetfish, creole wrasse, black durgeons, blue chromis and damselfish are on the reef, stingrays rest in the sand, turtles feed on the reef and an eel may hide behind the coral.