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Salt River Canyon

U.S. Virgin Islands - St. Croix, United States
AOW suggested6–35 m (20–115 ft) depthBoat entryRash guard or 2mm shorty typical

Boat dive — see Entry & access.

Salt River Canyon at a glance

Salt River Canyon is an advanced boat dive site in U.S. Virgin Islands - St. Croix, United States with depths of 6–35 m (20–115 ft). Typically most favorable Sep · from 3 years of archive data. Divers commonly see Humpback whale, Spotted eagle ray, and Yellowtail snapper. Recent reports put the water around 30°C (85°F). Check the latest conditions and entry details before you go.

Moderate window now· until 16:00, then favorable until 18:00 · sunset 17:50

Forecast for this hour · 10:00 · run 8 h ago
1.2 m (4.1 ft)waves — about a meter 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: Extreme wall drop-off, depth temptation, current, boat traffic, possible overhangs/swim-throughs on West Wall, gas-management demands, and remote boat pickup. Treat the deep wall as beyond recreational limits even when the reef top is shallow.

Read the full hazards ↓

Dive windows this week

Lightest wind: Fri
Mon7:00–16:00 moderate, 16:00–18:00 favorable

1.2 m waves · 11 kn wind (3.9 ft waves · 11 kn wind)

Tue7:00–18:00 favorable

1.0 m waves · 9 kn wind (3.2 ft waves · 9 kn wind)

Wed7:00–18:00 favorable

0.9 m waves · 10 kn wind (2.8 ft waves · 10 kn wind)

Thu7:00–18:00 favorable

0.8 m waves · 9 kn wind (2.5 ft waves · 9 kn wind)

Fri7:00–18:00 favorable

0.8 m waves · 8 kn wind (2.7 ft waves · 8 kn wind)

Sat7:00–15:00 favorable, 15:00–16:00 moderate, 16:00–18:00 favorable

0.8 m waves · 9 kn wind (2.5 ft waves · 9 kn wind)

Sun7:00–18:00 favorable

0.8 m waves · 9 kn wind (2.6 ft waves · 9 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 5:53 · Sunrise 6:15 · Sunset 17:50 · some windows run past sunset

Source: Open-Meteo marine · model point 3.6 km from site · updated 26 Oct, 01:22 GMT-4

Forecast only — always assess conditions on site.

Compare this weekend’s windows near Salt River Canyon

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: Yellowtail snapper, black durgon, sea fans and sponges
Best time: Best in calm north-shore weather and manageable current; February-March may offer humpback whale sounds/sightings but conditions still control the dive.

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 (5.2 ft), wind has typically been 18 knots
  2. February, 32% 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 19 knots
  3. March, 65% 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 16 knots
  4. April, 61% of days have historically been favorable, water has typically been 27°C (81°F), waves have typically been 1.3 m (4.4 ft), wind has typically been 16 knots
  5. May, 78% of days have historically been favorable, water has typically been 28°C (83°F), waves have typically been 1.2 m (3.8 ft), wind has typically been 15 knots
  6. June, 48% of days have historically been favorable, water has typically been 29°C (84°F), waves have typically been 1.4 m (4.5 ft), wind has typically been 18 knots
  7. July, 41% of days have historically been favorable, water has typically been 29°C (85°F), waves have typically been 1.5 m (4.8 ft), wind has typically been 19 knots
  8. August, 56% of days have historically been favorable, water has typically been 30°C (85°F), waves have typically been 1.4 m (4.5 ft), wind has typically been 17 knots
  9. September, 87% of days have historically been favorable, water has typically been 30°C (86°F), waves have typically been 1.2 m (3.8 ft), wind has typically been 15 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 1.2 m (4.0 ft), wind has typically been 15 knots
  11. November, 59% of days have historically been favorable, water has typically been 29°C (84°F), waves have typically been 1.4 m (4.5 ft), wind has typically been 17 knots
  12. December, 43% of days have historically been favorable, water has typically been 28°C (82°F), waves have typically been 1.5 m (5.0 ft), wind has typically been 17 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 recorded at this site, by month

Recorded observations — evidence of past sightings, 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.

  • Black Triggerfish recorded here Oct (1 record)

    Melichthys nigermost recent 2016

  • Queen Triggerfish recorded here Oct (1 record)

    Balistes vetulamost recent 2016

Newest record here: 2016. Counts are occurrence records near this site from public biodiversity datasets (GBIF), grouped by calendar month across all sampled years. Sightings vary — past records are context, not a prediction.

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

Facts from OpenStreetMap, corrected by the community — listed by distance only. Details change; confirm with the shop.

Shop facts come from OpenStreetMap and community corrections, shown nearest first. PickADive lists facts and contacts only — no listing is sponsored or ranked.

Data updated July 2026

Site details

Salt River Canyon is a boat-access St. Croix wall system at the edge of the Puerto Rico Trench, usually dived as East Wall/Barracuda Bank and West Wall/The Pinnacles. Moorings and reef tops start in shallow-to-mid recreational depths, but the canyon walls drop far beyond recreational limits. The site is known for dramatic topography, reef fish, sea fans, sponges, rays, turtles, and occasional pelagic life.

boatreefwall

Extreme wall drop-off, depth temptation, current, boat traffic, possible overhangs/swim-throughs on West Wall, gas-management demands, and remote boat pickup. Treat the deep wall as beyond recreational limits even when the reef top is shallow.

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