Seasonal· St Thomas· Virgin Islands (BVI, USVI and Spanish Virgins)
Winter Ground Swell (North Shore)
18° 22.2′ N · 64° 56.1′ W · approximate
North Atlantic storms send big ground swells onto St. Thomas's north shore in winter, turning Magens, Hull Bay and the Brass and Hans Lollik anchorages into surf zones and closing north-side dive sites.
Practical
Position approximate: Magens Bay, as the reference point. Coast Pilot: Magens Bay is open to the northwest and exposed to rollers; swells between Inner Brass and Dorthea Point are largest in winter; Ornen Rock can break in a heavy ground swell; Santa Maria Bay is seldom used because of rollers. Wikipedia: North Atlantic storms occasionally generate large waves in Magens Bay in winter. Red Hook Dive Center: Thatch Cay's Arches and Tunnels may be undiveable at times of year because of weather. Use the south-coast anchorages (Christmas Cove, Charlotte Amalie, Water Island) when a north swell is forecast.
Best for
Choosing south-side anchorages in winter
Season
Roughly November to April