Packing guide
USVI dive gear
USVI dive gear can stay simple: warm water means a light wetsuit, and most operators rent the heavy items. What makes the difference is the small stuff, including the right sunscreen, a surface marker and good booties for shore dives.
- Wetsuit 3 mm or shorty
- Sunscreen reef-safe only
- Shore dives bring booties
Exposure protection for Virgin Islands water
Water temperatures in the US Virgin Islands usually run from the high 70s °F in late winter to the low or mid 80s °F in late summer. For most divers, a 3 mm full suit or a shorty is right. If you feel the cold, do several dives a day, or are visiting in January and February, a full 3 mm suit with a hooded vest gives extra warmth without much bulk.
A full-length suit has another advantage: it protects you from scrapes on wrecks and pier pilings and from stinging hydroids and the occasional jellyfish. If you only want a rash guard, bring one with long sleeves and wear it for snorkeling too.
Bring or rent?
Most dive operators in the islands rent BCDs, regulators, wetsuits and weights, and tanks are included in the dive price. Many divers bring their own:
- Mask, snorkel and fins. A mask that fits is the most important item to bring from home.
- Dive computer. Use your own so you know how it works and it carries your dive history from day to day.
- Wetsuit. Light and easy to pack, and you know it fits.
- Regulator and BCD if you prefer your own setup. Rental tanks in the Caribbean are often aluminium with yoke valves, so if your regulator is DIN, check with your operator or bring an adapter.
The USVI dive gear checklist
- Mask, snorkel and a spare mask strap
- Fins, plus booties if you use open-heel fins
- 3 mm wetsuit or shorty, and a long-sleeve rash guard
- Dive computer with fresh battery
- Surface marker buoy (SMB) and whistle
- Dive light for night dives and overhangs
- Certification card, nitrox card and logbook
- Reef-safe mineral sunscreen
- Defog, a small save-a-dive kit and spare o-rings
- Dry bag for the boat and a refillable water bottle
- Seasickness remedy if you are prone to it
- Proof of dive insurance
Extra gear for shore diving
If you plan to dive from shore, as many visitors do on St. Croix, a few extras help. Booties with firm soles protect your feet over rocks and rubble, and a dive flag on a float lets boats know where you are. A light is essential for the famous night dive under the Frederiksted Pier. See the St. Croix scuba diving guide for the best shore entries.
Sunscreen rules
The US Virgin Islands have banned the sale and use of sunscreens containing oxybenzone, octinoxate and octocrylene to protect the reefs. Check the label before you pack, choose a mineral sunscreen based on zinc oxide, and apply it well before getting in the water. Covering up with a rash guard and a hat cuts down how much you need.
Gear for wreck and current dives
For the deeper wrecks off St. Thomas, a dive light, a full wetsuit and a computer you are confident reading are the main extras; see the USVI wreck diving guide. On current-swept sites such as Carval Rock off St. John, a well-fitted mask and strong fins matter more than anything, and an SMB is essential in case you surface away from the boat.
Still deciding when to go? Water temperature changes the wetsuit you need. See the month-by-month table in the USVI dive trip planning guide.
Dive gear questions
Do I need a wetsuit in the Virgin Islands?
Some divers manage in a rash guard, but most are more comfortable in a 3 mm suit or shorty, especially after several dives in a day. A suit also protects against scrapes and stings.
Can I rent all my dive gear in the USVI?
Yes, most operators rent a full set of gear. Many divers still bring their own mask, computer and wetsuit for comfort and fit.
What sunscreen is allowed in the USVI?
Sunscreens with oxybenzone, octinoxate or octocrylene are banned. Mineral sunscreens based on zinc oxide are the usual choice.