CRUISE PIER SNORKELING AND WALKING AROUND FREDERIKSTED

We were staying on the island and beach hopping on this day and decided to head over to the pier, where it is claimed to have the best snorkeling on the island. I just knew I had to check the area out. Ask anyone that's been to St Croix or lives on the island and they will tell you the best snorkeling is at the cruise pier. I wasn't going to pass up that opportunity (even though we are scheduled to scuba dive there tomorrow). I had read that you are not allowed on the pier and had to enter on the side or off the side of the pier. I had also read that you cannot snorkel there when the cruise ships are docked. I figured today would be the perfect day.

We found a place to park right in front of the pier on the side road and it was so hot out. I went to the back of the vehicle to gather all of our snorkeling equipment and then this happened.

The skies opened up and it was POURING! The family ran under the side of a building and I stayed under the hatch of the car laughing. Well, we were already wet and well you can snorkel in the rain, but man was it pouring. I assured them it would stop soon and WE WAS DOING THIS!

And just like that...it was over and we were on our way to the pier. We followed several divers on to the side of the pier. We looked down. They were about to step off into the water. Um, ok, I can do this but HOW do we get back up? There was nothing but rocks along the side and quite frankly, I didn't see myself climbing those without risking my life. Just saying...

The area leading to the pier and on the right side of this picture is the path the divers take.

We headed to the other side to check it out because I knew you could get in that way as well. Right at the corner there was an area we walked down and onto the rocks. It was definitely an entrance, but it was going to be a slippery one (see the cut out area at the bottom of this picture, that was the "path")

This picture is along the side of the area. As you can tell, they are doing some work in the water and had it blocked off.

If you notice in the next picture, there are some steps on down a ways. However, we didn't even notice that until we came out of the area and I took the picture.

Ok, we are doing this. I eased my way in on the slippery rocks as the husband held his breath, lectured me to go slow and at some point I'm sure his face turned white a few times. Whew, I had made it. That was a chore in itself. The rest of the family came in and off we went.

The water got deep quick as we headed out and around the barriers to the right of us in the water where they were working. There were rocks along the side after we made it around the work area and Sakari was busy diving down like she always does as we looked on.

She explores every crevice and came up with something to show Karl. An Arrow Crab.

I don't think I've seen him push away so quickly before and thrash his head back and forth. He was having no part of it. Remember the scared blank look I told you he got during his very first dive in the Mexican Riviera a few months ago? Yea, I'm pretty sure he had that look on his face again. He refused to hold it and when we came up out of the water he's like "I'm not holding a spider!!" LOL Oh dear Karl. You will learn all these creatures some day. hehe

We came across a family of squids as we went along. It's hard to see against the green sea floor but there were quite a few in the area.

Banded Butterfly Fish

Trunkfish

We started seeing more and more schools of fish in this area and was getting close to the old pier remains.

We finally reached the remains of the old pier and immediately noticed something really huge down at the bottom:

There were several scuba divers down there as well. Can you see the turtle? I believe it was a Leatherback Turtle. It was extremely large and the biggest I had ever seen before. It's right along the pier leg. It's time like this I wish I was diving to get up close for better pictures.

We were ready to explore around the pier remains. It was covered in beautiful coral everywhere you looked. I was only wishing that we were actually able to go up and down them exploring. But, that would have to come on a different day when we are diving. There was still a lot to see from the surface though.

Karl was doing such a good job at snorkeling. I think he's getting the hang of it and he said he was enjoying it. He was pretty amazed at everything under there. Aww, they made the ❤️ symbol.

There was just so much to look at that my eyes and brain was in overload.

The original pier was destroyed in 1989 by Hurricane Hugo. There are decades of coral growth and sponges located on the remains still standing and obviously a great place to snorkel and dive at.

We had been out there for awhile and knew that Karl was probably getting tired. I didn't want to over-do him and told them we would head back. It was a pretty far swim back to shore so we took breaks here and there along the way. There was an area along the rocks that he was able to stand on for a minute, and then off we went. The hubby and Sakari decided to go under the pier and out the other side while Karl and I swam around.

We were almost back around to the construction area when we noticed something coming at us...

We eventually made it back and it was a successful snorkel for us. I will admit, since it was pretty far out and in deep water, I probably would have never done this on my own. Things like this usually freak me out unless I'm with a group. I'm not sure why.

Here's a video I took of our adventure:

Of course the rain had dried up after the downpour in town and we decided to walk around the area to check out Frederiksted while we were here. We put our things in the car, dried off, grabbed some money in case there was shopping and off we went by foot.

Here's where we snorkeled at...you can see where they have it blocked off and doing construction and you can see the remains of the old pier we were at. It doesn't look far does it? But when you are out there in the water, it's a lot further than it appears.

As we strolled along, we would soon notice that most things were closed or boarded up. It wasn't at all what I expected to see. The town seemed very run down and quite honestly, I was left scratching my head how this area is where the cruise ships come. Buildings were falling apart, things caving in. This could be a beautiful historical area if redone. Does it come to life when the ships are docked? Am I missing something? Along the waterfront it was pretty, but go one block over and...eeek!

I did manage to find some cool artwork along the way

We did stop along the way to see about getting something to drink. However, after finding a corner store, we checked the dates on all the pop and almost all of them were expired. After searching each and every bottle, we managed to find a Diet Pepsi that was good for another 2 months. I jumped with joy and held out all hope that I would be able to taste my Pepsi as it normally does. I twisted the cap, the psshhhh sound was released, then the goodness touched my mouth and....ick! It was just as bad as what we have already purchased at the grocery store. Really flat, shook up, and yucky tasting. Ugh! It was over 90° outside and humid. Yes, I drank it, yes I complained with every sip that I took. I added extra effects of a sourpuss face too!

Along the waterfront it was pretty.

Once we made it back to the car, we decided it was time to head out. This really wasn't a town to hang out in because there was nothing to do...other than snorkel.

I found the I ❤️ STX sign but we were too tired to get out.