Dive Review of Low Key Watersports/Westin in
Virgin Islands/St. John

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Low Key Watersports/Westin: "Fun, But, Mediocre Diving For Experienced Divers", Sep, 2021, by Michael D Smith, OK, US ( Reviewer 4 reports). Report 11603.
No photos available at this time
Ratings and Overall Comments 1 (worst) - 5 (best):
Accommodations		Food
Service and Attitude		Environmental Sensitivity
Dive Operation		Shore Diving	N/A
Snorkeling	N/A
Overall Rating
Value for $$
Beginners
Advanced
Comments	First visited St. John in 1993. My girlfriend at the time, now wife, got her Open Water Certification on that trip. It was a quaint, charming island, which has become an extensively developed tourist destination. September is probably a good time for divers to visit St. John as it is a low season lull before the holidays. We enjoyed being back in the Caribbean islands after a few years of non-diving travel, and the easy diving was just right for an experienced diving couple in their mid-to-late 70’s. Where does the time go? The Westin Resort is an expensive, beach front, sprawling, family oriented place. Not our normal diving accommodations, but St. John is no longer “3000 drunks clinging to a rock”, as the locals described it on our first visit, almost 3 decades in the past. Most of the, now numerous, upscale, restaurants close during September, but, Morgan’s Mango, a favorite from our ‘93 trip was open. We enjoyed two visits, dining at the bar on Ceviche, House Empanadas, and, fresh grilled fish. Chatting with bartenders Kiley and Jason about the changes to the island was an added treat. The Beach Bar right across the street from Low Key became a regular post-dive stop, Cold beer and Macho Nachos always hit the spot. Low Key is a first rate operation, comfortable boats, excellent guides, good briefings etc., which has recently changed hands from the original owner, whom we met in ‘93, and he was on our boat for a couple of dives to French Cap, the premier dive site of the island, French Cap is a pinnacle in 75’ of water with coral mounds, ridges and cuts tapering to a sandy bottom. It is only visited when the seas are pretty flat, otherwise, it is a rough 20 minute boat ride, not a favorite with tourists and new divers. We dove it in’93, and we were really glad to dive it again this trip. The coral is in very good shape and there is an abundance of typical Caribbean reef fish, and other critters. A couple of 30” lobsters, several Barracuda, a couple of Nurse Sharks, a Hawksbill Turtle, and a handful of Lemon Sharks were the highlights. One of the sharks took a fish 25’ feet from the divers and another circled and swam through the group several times. Missing was the resident, 6’ Green Moray from our first trip. Both of our two dives there were almost an hour. The other sites provided leisurely diving in the 40’ to 50’ range, with plenty of reef fish and small critters to see, like Banded Shrimp, turtles and Lobster, but certainly not extraordinary. The coral is in decent shape and some Elk Horn is making a comeback here and there. Several schools of Blue Tang and one really large school of Silver Sides were fun to be in the middle of. Mostly younger divers taking Open Water courses, so the guided dives were rather short, 45 minutes max. Lion Fish are not a problem, I saw only one small one, guides and locals spear them from time to time. So, in general, it was a nice place to vacation, and get back in the water after a long absence, and is good diving for those newer to the sport. Several excellent beaches, kayaks to rent and good snorkeling. We probably won’t return, but enjoyed our two weeks there, especially after being so isolated for so long. Next stop, Grand Turk in February 2022.
Websites	Low Key Watersports
Reporter and Travel
Dive Experience	251-500 dives
Where else diving	Caribbean locations: Cozumel, Bahamas, Belize, Bahamas, Exumas, Caymans, Roatan, USVIs, BVIs, Turks & Caicos. Cocos Islands in the Pacific.
Closest Airport	St. Thomas, USVI	Getting There	Very accessible via all major airlines. Be advised that departing from the St. Thomas airport is the most frustrating travel experience I have ever been subjected to.
Dive Conditions
Weather	sunny	Seas	calm
Water Temp	82-°F / 28-°C	Wetsuit Thickness	3
Water Visibility	60-75 Ft/ 18-23 M
Dive Policy
Dive own profile	no
Enforced diving restrictions	Guided diving.
Liveaboard?	no	Nitrox Available?
What I Saw
Sharks	Lots	Mantas	None
Dolphins	None	Whale Sharks	None
Turtles	> 2	Whales	None
Ratings 1(worst) - 5 (best):
Corals		Tropical Fish
Small Critters		Large Fish
Large Pelagics
Underwater Photography 1 (worst) - 5 (best):
Subject Matter	N/A	Boat Facilities	N/A
Overall rating for UWP's	N/A	Shore Facilities	N/A
UW Photo Comments	[None]

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Dive Review of Low Key Watersports/Westin in Virgin Islands/St. John

Low Key Watersports/Westin: "Fun, But, Mediocre Diving For Experienced Divers", Sep, 2021,

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

Overall Rating

Reporter and Travel

Dive Conditions

Dive Policy

What I Saw

Ratings 1(worst) - 5 (best):

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

Dive Review of Low Key Watersports/Westin in
Virgin Islands/St. John