Difficulty
beginner
Viz (last reported 19274h ago)
Max Depth
23 ft
Snorkeling and Scuba Diving at Frederiksted Pier
The old Frederiksted Pier was destroyed years ago in a storm, and was recently rebuilt to modern standards to accommodate cruise ships and other large vessels. Within the next 5 years, there should be enough marine life accumulation to warrant a trip out to its end. Luckily, however, a few pilings from the old pier still exist with incredible communities of soft coral still just a few meters off shore. This is a very easy dive, and an especially nice night dive!
All West-bound roads lead to Frederiksted. Once in the small town, look seaward, find the pier, point your car in that direction, and you can't miss it! The pier is right next to the old Fort Frederik, built in 1752. Your non-diving members will have plenty to explore while you are living it up underwater.
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shore
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(15)
Brent Mattson
Oct 8, 2022, 11:23 PM
scuba
Swirling Reef of Death
Zentacle
Sep 21, 2021, 1:07 AM
scuba
Have your buddy help you get your tanks down the wall.
You will find plenty of parking about 20 meters from the shore entry.
The coral ledge is perfect for getting your tanks on. It's an easy walk to the deeper water.
Redeye Diver
Apr 20, 2013, 12:00 AM
scuba
Great place to take students on first night dive. Can't get lost, great vis, also make a very nice macro dive.
Originally posted on shorediving.com
Gene Stagnaro
Apr 1, 2008, 12:00 AM
scuba
Call before you go over. If ships are in they won't allow you to dive there.
Originally posted on shorediving.com
Gary
Feb 15, 2008, 12:00 AM
scuba
I'm going back to St. Croix in March 08. I lived on St. Croix for 6 months. The best thing about the pier was when you had bad weather on the island you could always go to the protected West coast pier. Don't pass up the small creatures on the pier columns. Really! Look at the small stuff. You will not be disappointed! You will see Seahorses, tons of small crabs, Sea Slugs, a Frog fish or two, Barracudas and Turtles. Lightly touch a small Christmas tree worm and see what they do. You can rent a tank across the street and jump in the water. Convenient.
Originally posted on shorediving.com
Anonymous
May 21, 2007, 12:00 AM
scuba
I did a Discover Scuba dive at the pier. I was very nervous because I had a bad diving experience before. It was a great dive and I got comfortable very quickly. There are plenty of critters directly beneath the pier.
Originally posted on shorediving.com
Joel H
Jun 12, 2005, 12:00 AM
scuba
May 27th. Vis better than 50 feet. All of Strand St. was closed for construction, as is the street at the beginning of the pier. All the side streets were full of parked cars. We parked at the park (marked street parking) on the north side of Fort Frederik. We swam from the park beach, but you could walk to the pier on the walkway on the seaside of the Fort (enter on north side of pier). Great snorkel or beginner dive.
Originally posted on shorediving.com
Dan and Barb
Feb 27, 2005, 12:00 AM
scuba
Although the rating above don't show it, the site was excellent for finding sea horses, but they are still hard to find! No crowds.
Originally posted on shorediving.com
Jackie
Aug 3, 2004, 12:00 AM
scuba
Unfortunately, the island has recently (in the last month) started to develop the pier area. The local roads are closed and you can only access the pier by giant striding off the pier. This is OK- but the exit involves climbing over slippery rocks while holding onto a rusty metal girder on the side of the pier. Not an impossible exit- but not easy. I would not recommend it for night, although the local dive shop said people still go. The construction seems to have affected the sea life- there was lots of silt and particulates in the water, lower vis and covering much of the rocks. The stanchions which are encrusted are nice enough, with some resident life, but not really worth the dive IMHO. It is no longer comparable to Bonaire piers.
Originally posted on shorediving.com
Samantha M.
Jan 19, 2004, 12:00 AM
scuba
The Frederiksted Pier was the best shore/Pier Dive I have ever done! I saw Seahorse, ells, octopus, bat fish, a hawksbill turtle and tons of tropical fish all on one dive.
Originally posted on shorediving.com
Steve Cunningham
Oct 29, 2003, 12:00 AM
scuba
This is one of the best dives on the island, there is a lot of left over construction material when this new pier was built so there is a lot of places for juvenile fish to hide, every dive is different and has millions of assorted fish
Originally posted on shorediving.com
Brian Toner
May 14, 2003, 12:00 AM
scuba
I always heard you should go do the pier when you're on St. Croix. They were right. I did a day dive and a night dive here, and of course it was very different. There are a few old pilings there from the old pier that are really great for life not found out on the reef. The new pier isn't as developed yet. The night dive was great, got lots of good photo. I love to do piers -- they are always so colorful.
Originally posted on shorediving.com
Eric
May 28, 2002, 12:00 AM
scuba
Seven dives at this site. Snorkel out under the pier and enjoy many surface fish, sometimes in schools of thousands. Drop down ninety feet at the end and scuba back. There are piles of debris from the old pier that are teeming with life. Octopi, seahorses, frogfish, eels, shrimp, lobsters, and fish galore, from the tiny juvenile drum to the big beautiful-eyes puffer. A slow, relaxing dive with varied life to see. Good day or night.
Originally posted on shorediving.com
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