🇻🇮United States Virgin Islands

Scuba divers should use a buddy, site-specific certification limits, conservative gas and decompression planning, a computer and appropriate signaling. Do not use an advertised wall depth as a dive target. Never enter wreck interiors, caves or overhead rock routes without appropriate training and permission. The Frederiksted cruise pier may be closed to diving during ship calls. NPS restricts scuba in navigation channels and selected protected areas; Buck Island underwater trail is not a scuba route. Snorkelers should evaluate surf, safe exits, currents and long swims such as Waterlemon Cay. Freedivers need a trained rescue buddy and must never dive alone or hyperventilate. After heavy rain check coastal water advisories. Allow a DAN-recommended no-fly interval after diving, with longer delays as indicated for the profile. Boats should have working oxygen, first aid, radio and a documented emergency action plan.

Emergency medical services operate across St. Thomas, St. John and St. Croix. The Roy Lester Schneider Hospital is on St. Thomas, the Governor Juan F. Luis Hospital is on St. Croix, and the Myrah Keating Smith Community Health Center provides local assessment on St. John. Serious or specialist cases may require transfer. Do not promise a local operational recompression chamber, immediate transfer or a fixed response time: those were not independently confirmed. For a suspected decompression injury, call 911, provide high-concentration oxygen if trained and available, then involve Divers Alert Network at +1 919 684 9111 for medical advice and routing. Marine VHF channel 16 is the standard maritime distress channel; tell responders your island, GPS position and boat/site name.

Federal protections: Virgin Islands National Park and the adjacent Virgin Islands Coral Reef National Monument protect St. John coastal reef and seagrass ecosystems. In the Coral Reef National Monument, NPS prohibits anchoring and extraction; designated park anchoring and mooring rules vary by jurisdiction. The current NPS compendium also restricts scuba and snorkel access near navigation channels. St. Croix: Buck Island Reef National Monument prohibits collecting, fishing and snorkel-trail scuba, while permitting scuba only at designated sites. Its West Beach anchoring permit notices conflict, so ask NPS directly before arriving in a private vessel. The separate St. Croix East End Marine Park has no-take, recreation, turtle preserve and open zones. Species and visitors: Observe turtles from a distance, keep beach lights down near nests, respect the Sandy Point nesting closure, never touch coral or collect shells in protected zones, and secure fins above the reef. USVI prohibits sunscreens containing oxybenzone, octinoxate and octocrylene; choose suitable mineral alternatives and protective clothing.