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Dive Review of Low Key, Sawyer Dive, Cruz Bay/Westin /Lavender Hill Condos in
Virgin Islands

Low Key, Sawyer Dive, Cruz Bay/Westin /Lavender Hill Condos, Feb, 2009,

by Kenneth Katz, nJ, united States (Sr. Reviewer Sr. Reviewer 11 reports). Report 4705.

No photos available at this time

Ratings and Overall Comments 1 (worst) - 5 (best):

Accommodations 5 stars Food 5 stars
Service and Attitude 5 stars Environmental Sensitivity 4 stars
Dive Operation 4 stars Shore Diving N/A
Snorkeling 3 stars
Value for $$ 4 stars
Beginners 4 stars
Advanced 4 stars
Comments This may have been my fifteenth trip to St. John. The island is magical. A disneyland for adults. Even my wife who doesn't dive loves every second on island. The accomodations are very fine, the restaurants are varied and of super quality, if a little expensive. After all it is an island.. The beaches can compete with anyplace. The diving is varied with mounds, tongue & groove, canyons, slopes, drops, pinnacles and even a little drift. There are several wrecks worth exploring. Depth is limited to about 80 FSW max. The one exception being French Cap where we bottomed at 105 FSW. The visibility there was infinite. I spent one week at the Westin. A first class in everyway hotel. Cruz Bay Watersports runs daily two tank dives every morning but Thursday when they head to the Wreck of the Rhone for the day. They pretty much stay around the northern cays(Mingo, Lovango, Congo, etc) but the did run the boat to French Cap one morning(40 minutes of cruising time each way) I did 3 days of 55-58 minute dives. Lots of small fish and critters, nice corals and a turtle and octopus on everydive.
I took Rescue Dive class and Emergency First Responder with Low Key on the waterfront at Cruz Bay. Jason Moody was my instructor and he did a great job. They had sent the manuals in advance so I was academically prepared. We thoroughly covered everything and did three days of in water scenarios. A final day was spent on first responder. Nice boats though access was walking up to your waist to the boat carrying your gear. Set it up myself. Probably best anyway.
The last five days with Sawyer Dive were absolutely fantastic. On one day it was just me and the Dive Master Miki. We did an unnamed wreck as a drift..Took many photos. Perry the boat captain was very accomodating. He didn't have a strict timetable so he took us to sites that were out of the loop. It was great for me because I'm so familiar with the many used ones.
I just want to stress. This is a great place to go if your spouse doesn't dive. All places have a pool, plentiful coffee spots and shady spots to read. For the history buff there are sugar mill ruins and there are several hiking trails to explore in the National Park. I would suggest renting a jeep and exploring the east end and Coral Bay. There are enough north shore uncrowded beaches. You never have to go to the same one twice.

Reporter and Travel

Dive Experience 251-500 dives
Where else diving Cozumel, BVI, Bahamas, St Lucia, Bonaire, Grand Cayman, Belize
Closest Airport Getting There

Dive Conditions

Weather sunny Seas calm, no currents
Water Temp 78-79°F / 26-26°C Wetsuit Thickness 3
Water Visibility 75-125 Ft/ 23-38 M

Dive Policy

Dive own profile no
Enforced diving restrictions A mixed bag. Cruz Bay and Low Key were a DM led dives. Sawyer dive was less people and they knew me so we were more relaxed
Liveaboard? no Nitrox Available? N/A

What I Saw

Sharks None Mantas None
Dolphins None Whale Sharks None
Turtles > 2 Whales None
Corals 3 stars Tropical Fish 4 stars
Small Critters 4 stars Large Fish 3 stars
Large Pelagics N/A

Underwater Photography 1 (worst) - 5 (best):

Subject Matter 3 stars Boat Facilities 3 stars
Overall rating for UWP's 3 stars Shore Facilities N/A
UW Photo Comments All boats had a separate bucket for cameras. The Boat Captain would hand the camera to you in the water.
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Note: The information here was reported by the author above, but has NOT been reviewed nor edited by Undercurrent prior to posting on our website. Please report any major problems by writing to us and referencing the report number above.

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