Christmas Cove

Beginner-friendly reef dive with diverse marine life and shallow depths.

Boat Access
5m Avg Depth
10m Max Depth

About this dive site

This dive site, Christmas Cove, is nestled on Great St James island in the US Virgin Islands, renowned as an excellent location for beginner divers and underwater training. Divers primarily explore a vibrant reef system that originates from a small rocky island in the center of the cove. As a protected No-TAKE area, it offers a pristine environment for marine life observation.

The cove teems with a variety of marine species, making it a lively underwater ecosystem. Common sightings include Southern stingrays gracefully gliding across the sandy bottom, colorful queen triggerfish, elusive spotted moray eels peeking from crevices, and schools of bright blue tang. The reef itself showcases diverse hard and soft corals, providing shelter and sustenance for countless smaller fish and invertebrates.

Christmas Cove is suitable for diving year-round, with consistently warm Caribbean waters and generally calm conditions. Its shallow depths and rich biodiversity make it particularly appealing for Discover Scuba Divers, Open Water students, and snorkelers. Freedivers will also appreciate the clear waters and accessible marine life. Visitors should remember its No-TAKE status, ensuring the preservation of this thriving underwater sanctuary for future enjoyment.

DivingFreedivingSnorkeling

Site Ratings

Big Marine Life Good
Macro Marine Life Very Good
Landscape Quality Good
Water Visibility Very Good Viz

Plan Your Visit

beginner friendlycoral reefsnorkelingfreedivingmarine lifeshallow dive

Things to Note

Difficulty:

Beginner

Shallow depths, calm conditions, and abundant, docile marine life make it ideal for new divers.

Current Strength:

Mild

Plan Your Dive

Ready to explore Christmas Cove? Find dive operators and book your adventure.

This dive site information and pictures are sponsored by Aqua Marine

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