How to Get Up Close and Personal with Sharks in the USVI

Taking a trip to the U.S. Virgin Islands soon? This may be your chance to get up close and personal with one of the ocean’s most famous predators.

While you may think of destinations such as South Africa or Australia as more notable for shark populations, the sharks that call the U.S. Virgin Islands home are nothing to scoff at, and there are a few ways you can get face-to-face with them during your trip.

At Coral World Ocean Park on St. Thomas, a shark encounter experience allows you to dive right into a pool of juvenile sharks. The all-ages experience is in a controlled environment, which may make some hesitant travelers feel more at ease when interacting with these misunderstood creatures. Plus, a portion of the cost of the experience goes toward shark conservation efforts.

If, though, you’re ready to dive into the wild headfirst, you can book an experience with USVI Shark Diving. The provider offers diving excursions off the coasts of both St. Thomas and St. John, allowing you to observe sharks in their natural habitats with the help of experienced guides. Dives are available for all experience levels and, in addition to Caribbean reef sharks, tiger sharks, hammerhead sharks and nurse sharks, divers can also expect to spot other marine life, too, from dolphins to rays, moray eels to reef fish.