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Boat entry

Buck Island Reef

U.S. Virgin Islands - St. Croix, United States
Open Water suggested1–12 m (3–40 ft) depthBoat entryRash guard or 2mm shorty typical

Boat dive — see Entry & access.

Buck Island Reef at a glance

Buck Island Reef is a boat dive site in U.S. Virgin Islands - St. Croix, United States with depths of 1–12.2 m (3–40 ft). Typically most favorable Sep · from 3 years of archive data. Divers commonly see hawksbill sea turtle, Elkhorn coral, and Spotted eagle ray. Recent reports put the water around 30°C (85°F). Check the latest conditions and entry details before you go.

Favorable window now· until 18:00 · sunset 17:50

Forecast for this hour · 16:00 · run 15 h ago
1.3 m (4.1 ft)waves — about a meter and a half expected (waves — about four feet expected)

Tap a factor for its source and model point · Forecast 30°C · seasonal avg 30°C ( · Forecast 85°F · seasonal avg 86°F)

Site hazards: Fragile elkhorn coral, protected no-take rules, boat traffic, sun/heat exposure, shallow reef surge, sharp coral/urchins, and limited facilities away from the boat. Snorkel trail is closed from sunset to sunrise.

Read the full hazards ↓

Dive windows this week

Sun7:00–18:00 favorable

1.3 m waves · 15 kn wind (4.1 ft waves · 15 kn wind)

Mon7:00–18:00 favorable

1.3 m waves · 14 kn wind (4.4 ft waves · 14 kn wind)

Tue7:00–18:00 favorable

1.0 m waves · 11 kn wind (3.4 ft waves · 11 kn wind)

Wed7:00–18:00 favorable

0.9 m waves · 12 kn wind (2.9 ft waves · 12 kn wind)

Thu7:00–18:00 favorable

1.1 m waves · 12 kn wind (3.4 ft waves · 12 kn wind)

Fri7:00–15:00 favorable, 15:00–18:00 moderate

1.1 m waves · 13 kn wind (3.5 ft waves · 13 kn wind)

Sat7:00–18:00 favorable

0.9 m waves · 10 kn wind (3.1 ft waves · 10 kn wind)

Favorable windowModerate window— no window

Every forecast dive window each day, site-local time, from wave and wind forecasts. Numbers under each bar are daylight averages.

First light 5:52 · Sunrise 6:14 · Sunset 17:50 · some windows run past sunset

Source: Open-Meteo marine · model point 0.6 km from site · updated 25 Oct, 01:21 GMT-4

Forecast only — always assess conditions on site.

Compare this weekend’s windows near Buck Island Reef

Forecast · NOAA tide model

Tide & slack timing

Loading tide predictions

Recent diver reports

Dated firsthand observations from divers — not current conditions.

No diver reports for this site yet. — one dated observation helps every diver after you.

Dived here today — did the forecast match?

What Divers Say

Known for: Elkhorn coral, tropical reef fish
Best time: Best on settled trade-wind days with good visibility and low swell; check NPS alerts and operator conditions before departure.

Based on community reviews and site data. Conditions vary — always verify before diving.

Best months, historically

What conditions have historically been typical at this site, month by month — not a forecast.

  1. January, 32% of days have historically been favorable, water has typically been 27°C (81°F), waves have typically been 1.6 m (5.3 ft), wind has typically been 17 knots
  2. February, 38% of days have historically been favorable, water has typically been 27°C (80°F), waves have typically been 1.6 m (5.3 ft), wind has typically been 18 knots
  3. March, 63% of days have historically been favorable, water has typically been 27°C (80°F), waves have typically been 1.4 m (4.5 ft), wind has typically been 15 knots
  4. April, 59% of days have historically been favorable, water has typically been 27°C (81°F), waves have typically been 1.4 m (4.7 ft), wind has typically been 15 knots
  5. May, 77% of days have historically been favorable, water has typically been 28°C (83°F), waves have typically been 1.2 m (4.1 ft), wind has typically been 15 knots
  6. June, 43% of days have historically been favorable, water has typically been 29°C (84°F), waves have typically been 1.5 m (4.8 ft), wind has typically been 17 knots
  7. July, 38% of days have historically been favorable, water has typically been 29°C (84°F), waves have typically been 1.6 m (5.1 ft), wind has typically been 18 knots
  8. August, 53% of days have historically been favorable, water has typically been 30°C (85°F), waves have typically been 1.4 m (4.7 ft), wind has typically been 17 knots
  9. September, 83% of days have historically been favorable, water has typically been 30°C (86°F), waves have typically been 1.2 m (3.9 ft), wind has typically been 14 knots, historically most favorable
  10. October, 74% of days have historically been favorable, water has typically been 30°C (86°F), waves have typically been 1.3 m (4.2 ft), wind has typically been 15 knots
  11. November, 53% of days have historically been favorable, water has typically been 29°C (84°F), waves have typically been 1.4 m (4.7 ft), wind has typically been 16 knots
  12. December, 39% of days have historically been favorable, water has typically been 28°C (82°F), waves have typically been 1.6 m (5.4 ft), wind has typically been 16 knots

September has typically had the largest share of favorable days here. Conditions vary year to year — this is historical context, not a forecast.

Based on 3 years of archive data. Bar height shows the share of days each month whose conditions have historically scored favorably.

Marine life seen at this site

Species noted at this site — not a promise of what you’ll encounter.

Species seen here

Rough labels: “Commonly seen” usually means two or more recorded sightings near this site in public dive logs (GBIF), “Occasionally seen” one; “Seasonal” and “Rarely seen” come from dive-guide research. Not a measured rate.

The underwater calendar

When these animals are most recorded around Caribbean & Bahamas — from open sighting data, not a promise.

Watch the whole year animate on the Migrations map

Fills & rentals nearby

No dive shops mapped within 25 km (16 mi). Know one? Add it to the map.

Data updated July 2026

Site details

Buck Island Reef is an NPS marine protected area off St. Croix with a marked underwater snorkel trail, elkhorn coral formations, and two designated shallow scuba moorings. Most visitors access it by permitted tour boat or private boat rather than by shore. Treat it as a protected reef experience first: no collecting, no coral contact, and use only legal anchoring/mooring areas.

boatreef

Fragile elkhorn coral, protected no-take rules, boat traffic, sun/heat exposure, shallow reef surge, sharp coral/urchins, and limited facilities away from the boat. Snorkel trail is closed from sunset to sunrise.

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