Tutto Bene offers traditional southern Italian dishes and innovative daily specials prepared by Chef David Vargas and Sous-Chef Negust Kazas. The wait staff at Tutto Bene's is recognized as the very best in the Caribbean. St. Croix's premier Italian restaurant is open from 6 p.m. to 10 p.m. seven nights a week. For a special dining experience, ask about seating in the kitchen at the Chef’s Table (advance reservations only), or for groups up to 30 guests in The Family Room.
Atlantis Submarine
This will be an experience to remember! The Virgin Island's only real submarine tour. Space is limited so call for reservations; Tel 340-776-5650.
See a whole new view of the Virgin Islands when you dive under the sea on a scuba adventure. There are many reefs, wrecks and drop-offs that rim St. Thomas, St. John and St. Croix that offer unlimited hours of underwater exploration for both beginner and experienced divers alike. Conditions are perfect. Warm calm seas, excellent visibility up to 60- to 80-feet, fantastic fish-filled coral reefs at depths of only 20- to 30-feet, and nearly 60 dive sites easily accessible by beach or boat.
St. Thomas
There are more than 40 dive sites surrounding St. Thomas. Most are shallow and only a short distance from shore. For example, an easy boat dive is to the Cartanza Sr., a wonderfully coral encrusted World War I tramp steamer that lies 35-feet down in a sheltered cove off Buck Island, south of Charlotte Amalie's harbor. Advanced divers will enjoy descending on the 327-foot W.I.T. Shoal, a old transport ship sunk upright in 90-foot of water off St. Thomas' west end. Covered with brightly colored corals, the engine room is the known home of a 600-pound jewfish. Yet another excellent offshore dive is on a pair of Navy barges, purposely sunk in only 45-feet of water by a post World War II underwater demolition team during a training session. Stingrays and sea turtles playfully guard the route between the two ships.
Reef dives include Flat Cay, a playground for tropical fish and an excellent night dive; Dry Rocks, where grottos and overhangs create a hide-and-go seek opportunities with the sea life; and Easter Reef, a sea mount lying in 80-foot of water and home to sea turtles, eels, and even sharks.
Shoreside diving is excellent at Coki Beach where grunts, wrasses and angelfish are so friendly they'll eat from your hand. Local concessionaires sell fish food from quaint beach huts. Coral World Ocean Park is located here with fascinating exhibits like an underwater observatory, marine garden aquariums and touch pond with sea cucumbers and starfish. Those who would like to dive but aren't certified or too timid to try a resort course can test the waters with Sea Trekkin. To Sea Trek, pull on what looks like a huge space helmet that's connected to a constant stream of pressurized life-giving air. Then, explore a 60-yard submarine path at 15-feet deep lined with fantastic sea life and flaming coral in hues of reds, oranges and yellows.
St. John
Less than three miles separates St. John and St. Thomas by way of Pillsbury Sound, therefore these two islands share many of the same dive sites. These include Congo Cay, Grass Cay, the Mounds at Mingo, and the Arches and Tunnels of Thatch Cay.
Experienced divers will want to venture out to Carvel Rock and Eagle Shoals. Carvel Rock, to the northwest of Cruz Bay, offers dramatic rock formations and a wide variety of sea creatures, corals and sponges in 20- to 75-foot depths. The currents here can make this dive challenging on a rough day. Eagle Shoals, off the southeast coast of Coral Bay, is a site you may have all to yourself due to steep ocean swells. The reward for braving these conditions are exciting swim-throughs and sea life galore in only 20- to 40-feet of water.
St. Croix
Wall dives are especially popular on St. Croix. At Cane Bay, feathery black coral outcroppings and multicolor sponges start at a depth of 40-feet and plummet into a vertical underwater wildness to 600-feet. For something shallower, try the Frederiksted Pier. Numerous fish, sponges and sea horses encircle this 250-yard concrete dock. A trio of wrecks is nearby: the Northwind at a depth of 45-feet; the Suffolk Maid, a North Sea trawler, is at a 65-feet; while less than 100 yards away, the Rosamaria, a 70-foot container ship, sits upright in 100-feet of water. To the north of the island, the Buck Island National Marine Park boasts an underwater snorkel trail and surrounding environs for diving are excellent.
How To
There are full-service PADI (Professional Association of Diving Instructors) and/or NAUI (National Association of Underwater Instructors) dive shops on all three U.S. Virgin Islands. The destination's popularity and strong competition between dive shops mean that standards are excellent, instruction is high-quality and equipment is usually in top condition.
Certified divers much show their C-card (certification of training) in order to rent air tanks, equipment, obtain air fills and join guided tours. Uncertified diver-wannabes will find most dive operators offer full certification courses that can be completed in as little as three days. Those who merely want to test the waters can take a two- to three-hour 'resort' or 'introductory' course. These courses don't lead to certification, but they do offer the experience of shallow pool or beach diving as well as a short 30- to 40-foot dive.
Scuba buffs will want to purchase multi-dive packages especially during the busy December through April season. This will assure a seat on a dive boat and a cost savings over dive trips booked individually.
Please click on the Activities Directory for a list of SCUBA and dive professionals in the USVI.
Tutto Bene offers traditional southern Italian dishes and innovative daily specials prepared by Chef David Vargas and Sous-Chef Negust Kazas. The wait staff at Tutto Bene's is recognized as the very best in the Caribbean. St. Croix's premier Italian restaurant is open from 6 p.m. to 10 p.m. seven nights a week. For a special dining experience, ask about seating in the kitchen at the Chef’s Table (advance reservations only), or for groups up to 30 guests in The Family Room. 
This will be an experience to remember! The Virgin Island's only real submarine tour. Space is limited so call for reservations; Tel 340-776-5650. 
