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Scotch Bank
 Christiansted, St. Croix, Virgin Islands (U.S.)
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Max Depth: 141-150ft/43-46m
Average Viz: 71-80ft/22-24m
Entry Type: Boat
Bottom Composition: Sand
Aquatic Life: Plenty To See
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Spring: 76-80°F/24-27°C
Summer: 81-85°F/27-29°C
Fall: 81-85°F/27-29°C
Winter: 76-80°F/24-27°C
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Scotch Bank is a boat accessible salt water dive site, located in Christiansted, St. Croix, Virgin Islands (U.S.). The maximum depth is 141-150ft/43-46m. The average visibility is 71-80ft/22-24m.
This site is named for an area of the Green Cay Slope wall system. The story goes that a freighter hauling, amongst other stuff, a load of Scotch ran aground attempting to enter Christiansted Harbor. (The entrance to the harbor is via a channel but this freighter took a shortcut). Some of the cargo had to be dumped to allow the ship to become light enough to float off at the next high tide. In theory there are very old bottles of scotch to be found. The mooring is set in 25’ feet of water right next to a wall that slopes down to around 130’ before leveling off a bit down to 160’ where it drops thousands of feet.
From Franko maps;
SCOTCH BANK 30’-85’ (8-26m) Beg. - Int.
Named for the dumped cargo of scotch from a grounded ship from the 1700’s, this dive site features scattered mounds of corals and sponges.
Of note are large elephant ear sponges, and also the large variety and number of tropical Caribbean reef fishes. The outside wall drops off steep and deep in typical St. Croix fashion. It is sometimes a drift dive.