Watersports
St John offers a little of everything for watersports enthusiasts. It's best to buy your own mask before you come or at a dive shop in Cruz Bay - rentals are often shabby and if they don't fit right water will seep into your mask and ruin the experience. Divers will not find much on their own, but PADI training and excursions for certified divers can be booked to shipwrecks, larger reefs and underwater caves. All kinds of chartered sailing excursions are available - most leave Cruz Bay at about 10am, returning at 4pm and include lunch. You can go through one of the services mentioned below, inquire inside Connections or just look at advertisements tacked on telephone posts. Adventures in Paradise Cruz Bay tel 340/779-4527. Offers sport fishing, sailing charters, snorkel trips and parasailing. Arawak Expeditions tel 340/693-8312. This adventure outfitter offers kayak expeditions (US$40 for half-day, US$75 for full-day) around St John and surrounding islands. Longer trips include camping on deserted beaches and inn-to-inn multi-island packages. Cinnamon Bay Watersports Center tel 340/776-6330 or 1-800/539-9398. This campground facility rents snorkel equipment, offers windsurfing lessons and can help book other watersports activities. Cruz Bay Watersports Palm Plaza, Cruz Bay tel 340/776-6234, . This ultimate dive shop offers PADI and NAUI training and daily two-tank/two-site dives that leave at 8.30am and return by 12.30pm (US$85). Packages are available. Ask about the popular Jost Van Dyke trip, which is equal parts snorkelling and drinking. Low Key Watersports Wharfside Village, Cruz Bay tel 340/693-8999, . Life's a party at this PADI five-star training facility that offers great night dives and wreck dives to the Major General Rogers , a Coast Guard vessel that went down off St Thomas about 25 years ago, and the RMS Rhone , a mail vessel that sunk in 1867 just off the BVI's Salt Island. General two-tank/two-site dives go for US$80. Noah's Little Arks Wharfside Village, Cruz Bay tel 340/693-9030. Rent an 11ft dinghy and motor yourself around the island for exploring and snorkelling. Make sure to ask for a map of the reefs; if you break the motor you pay for it. Ocean Runner tel 340/693-8809. Offers 20, 22 and 25ft powerboat rentals. You must have experience with boats, but basic lessons and day captains are available. Prices vary by season and size of boat, but be ready to pay at least US$225 for a full day. Proper Yachts Mongoose Junction tel 340/776-6256. This outfit has been serving watersports enthusiasts since 1970. They charter bareboats and captained yachts for snorkel and scuba trips or sightseeing sails.
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