Frederiksted Pier snorkel

The cruise pier at Frederiksted, on the island's west end, is also St. Croix's favourite shore snorkel. Coral and sponges cover its pilings and the old mooring dolphins, schools of fish hang in the shade underneath, and turtles and eagle rays swim through. The water is calm and never deeper than about 30 feet, and you go in from shore with no boat needed.

At night it changes. Octopus, moray eels, crabs, lobsters and seahorses come out around the pilings, and the night dive here is one that beginners can manage. Guided snorkels and shore dives leave daily from a dive shop on Strand Street in town, which also rents gear.