Cane Bay
Cane Bay St. Croix · Cane Bay dive site
17°46.44'N 64°47.58'W
Depth
5–12m
Bottom
sand
Alarm Radius
75m
Holding
Good
Recommended Anchor Alarm Radius
75m
75m for good holding on sand in 5–12m. Northern exposure to ENE trades — choppy in strong trade conditions. Best for day stops for diving. The Cane Bay Wall begins at 10m directly off the shore — snorkellers and divers in the water throughout the day; maintain very slow speed at all times. Check north swell before overnight commitment.
About This Anchorage
Cane Bay on St. Croix's north coast is one of the most celebrated dive sites in the entire Caribbean — the Cane Bay Wall plunges from approximately 10 metres to over 900 metres, beginning only 70 metres from the shoreline and accessible to both snorkellers (who can see the beginning of the wall in the shallows) and scuba divers. The wall is draped with black coral, sponges, and large sea fans. Nurse sharks, eagle rays, hawksbill sea turtles, and large pelagic fish patrol the wall. Cane Bay Dive Shop (one of the most respected dive operations in St. Croix) is located right on the beach. The anchorage itself is open to the north and the ENE trades, making it better suited to day stops for diving than overnight stays. Salt River Bay with its NPS historical park is just 1nm to the east — the two can be combined in a day's exploration.
Protected From
S · SE · SW · E
Exposed To
N · NW · NE
Anchoring Rules
- Anchoring fee
- Free anchoring in sand
- Permit required
- No
Restrictions: Anchor only in sand — the drop-off (Cane Bay Wall) begins close to shore; divers and snorkellers in the water throughout the day — SLOW SPEED and vigilant lookout at all times; stay well clear of dive flag areas.
Hazards
- !Divers and snorkellers throughout the water — mandatory slow speed; divers may be directly below at any point on the approach to the wall
- !Northern exposure to ENE trades — anchorage becomes choppy to uncomfortable in trade winds above 15kt
- !North Atlantic ground swell can enter — check forecasts before overnight commitment
- !Cane Bay Wall begins very close to shore at 10m — do not anchor in the vicinity of the wall (anchor away from the wall in deeper sand)
Skipper's Tips
- →The Cane Bay Wall is one of the ten greatest dive sites in the Caribbean — even if you don't dive, the beginning of the wall is accessible to snorkellers in the shallows
- →Cane Bay Dive Shop is one of the most respected operations on St. Croix — guided wall dives with their professional staff are excellent value
- →Combine Cane Bay with Salt River Bay (1nm east) — dive the Cane Bay Wall in the morning and explore the Salt River NPS historical site in the afternoon
- →The north coast of St. Croix (Cane Bay, Salt River, Christiansted) is one of the most diverse and interesting day sailing areas in the USVI — plan two to three days for this circuit
- →Anchor away from the wall itself — the Cane Bay Wall is a critical marine habitat and anchoring near or on it would cause irreversible damage
Facilities
Cane Bay Beach bar/restaurant adjacent to the dive shop. Basic refreshments available. Cane Bay Dive Shop rents equipment and offers guided wall dives. No fuel or general provisioning.
Nearest provisions: Christiansted (8nm E) (8nm)
Best Months & Season
Dec, Jan, Feb, Mar, Apr
December–April. Best for day stops for diving. Northern exposure limits overnight comfort in trade wind conditions. One of the Caribbean's finest dive destinations — essential for diving sailors.
Recommended Anchor Types
Nearby Anchorages
Set Your Anchor Alarm to 75m
In St. Croix, Christiansted Harbour's barrier reef and ENE trade winds make secure anchoring essential. Safety Anchor Alarm monitors your GPS position continuously so you can explore the Danish colonial town and Buck Island with confidence.
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